Windows 2000 track general - Is MCSA worth the paper it is wrote on?

Author

Is MCSA worth the paper it is wrote on?

Luchnia

2002-05-30, 12:54 pm

Not long ago I attended a local job fair and was rather surprised. I spoke with many tech companies there and found them truly ignorant about MCSA cert! I mean, I don't think anyone even acknowledges the MCSA. There were many local recruiters there that knew the MCSE cert, but seemed pretty dumbfounded over the MCSA. It was almost as if they did not even know it was a MS thing.

Microsoft touts all this and that over the MCSA and yet, in the IT world no one seems to give a rat's butt about it. You can waive an elective if you have A+ and Net+ and pass some MS test and walla, you are MCSA.

Well, they sure don't waive an elective if you are going for the MCSE! If the A+ and the Net+ are good enough to waive a elective for MCSA, why not MCSE? This makes you realize MS doesn't put much "heart" into their own MCSA cert as being anything but padding the MS billfold!

I cannot even find employers that even acknowledge the MCSA cert as being anything at all hardly. Has MS put as much time into letting the companies know how "fantastic" this cert is?

My plans are to be MCSE soon and finish the CISCO track (CCNP). I have three test left for MCSE (216, 219, and not sure what elective yet-maybe exchange or security), but am concerned that MS has been playing the "game" with this new MCSA cert.

Is anyone getting any differing opinions on this from employers and such? From my talking to companies the MCP, and of course, the MCSE is what has notoriety, as well as CISCO.

Just a curious party here

Luchnia

2002-05-30, 3:29 pm

Now don't get too serious about my grammer for using "wrote." You just have to know how country folks type things....HAHAHA

Peace

necrophantasm

2002-05-31, 11:32 am

The MCSA is just another way for Microsoft to get more money and companies/recruiters that I have talked to don't put any real merit into that certification. Most of them don't even put a lot into an MCSE (honestly). However, from what I have been told the Cisco track is well respected and will help you get into a position. MCSE is noted (even an MCSA is something else to toss on your resume), but its not going to get you a job or make an employer go "wow". If you get it on your way to MCSE, why not? Hell, the 70-218 test is easy if you have passed the core (especially compared to the alternatives of Exchange, SQL, or more design tests). So I agree with you that its pretty worthless, but at least taking that one test will help you get a certification thats at least recognized by the industry.

KScheler

2002-05-31, 4:48 pm

I agree, employers may not say "WOW" but you can use 218 as an elective for the MCSE, so "why not"? I'll be taking the 218 in a few weeks and I hear it's not that tuff compared to some of the other electives.

Gundyman

2002-06-03, 9:51 pm

Consider MCSA, just like passing part I of A+.

freak

2002-06-09, 8:51 pm

I disagree. I think that it is a great cert, that is gaining in popularity.

I certainly hope that hiring managers out there realize what this cert has to offer. Not everyone wants to be an Engineer. There is nothing wrong with being an Administrator. Heck, they usually cost less, and they usually do the job just fine, especially in smaller shops where the design work is left to outside consultants.

Luchnia

2002-06-10, 3:36 pm

Great points freak. I think it is a good cert, it is just the way IT businesses looks at it. If those in the work force, those "hiring managers" as you put it, would look at the cert like MS "pushes" it, it sure would help those of us "peons" (HAHAHA--like me) get some sort of IT position. I read the mags and WOW the big MCSA cert will get you this or that...well, ya know what I mean. I cannot even get anyone to consider that cert, yet. However, I know there is some that recognize it. Just got to find them.

I might want to be an engineer MCSE at some point, but at my age, administering is fine for me for now

Heck, I might even see if I can tweak some horsepower in this Linux box I got set up here. *chuckle* vrrrrooooooooom

freak

2002-06-10, 3:42 pm

In your case, in my resume, I would not only feature the fact that I have an MCSA, but I would also make sure to list all the individual tests that you passed. It makes it more "official" and more impressive, especially for those out there who don't really know what an MCSA entails.... just a thought

wbafrank

2002-06-10, 6:08 pm

Freak's points it also confirms how much you have actually learnt before going onto bigger and better things.

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