If you do a little scouring on the Internet, you can come across snippets of information about new Microsoft tests that are in development or in the beta process. As I mentioned in an earlier blog, taking a beta exam can be a boon, yet frustrating, as the exam developers are still working out all the kinks with the test. So what you see for a beta test is still a work in progress and could be aggravating to the test taker – but still well worth the experience.

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There were some interesting responses in regards to my recent post about an apparent shortage of IT workers in the US and the desire by some firms to bring in workers to offset this shortage.

First of all, statistics rarely tell the whole story. In some cases the same statistic can be presented in such a fashion that it can be used to prove and disprove the same position. So merely basing a decision that there is a shortage of 200, 000 developers in the US on such a broad category can be misleading. Developers in what discipline – Cobol? So that needs to be clarified. Also, how long has this “shortage” lasted and are there developers in training (at Universities etc.) now that could fill this shortage in a year or so?

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I had this question from a student last week. This student was taking a Windows Server 2003 class (as part of a series of classes) and asked if they should just skip the 2003 MCSE track altogether and take the Windows Server 2008 MCTS/MCITP exams. What my answer was I’ll save for later.

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Once again the “shortage” of IT personnel in America has resurfaced and the debate continues. Is the shortage genuine – are there really not enough Americans who can code? According to the Software and Information Industry Association (SIIA), there is such a shortage. They are urging congressional leaders to support H.R. 5882 which “would help reduce the U.S. workforce shortage by making available to highly skilled foreign-born workers those employment-based green cards from previous years that have gone unused because of government processing delays”.

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I was teaching a class a few weeks ago and the subject of the certification test for the class came up. The gist of the conversation was that a few of the students wanted the focus of the class to shifting from one of a learning environment to one of test-preparation - specifically a “focused” test-preparation environment. This was not the intent of the class and I could not and would not condone this action.

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Who is the face of the IT Pro world to the corporate environment (or the ever growing consumer support side – think of the various large electronics stores with their own IT staff to perform installations repairs etc)? Is it the network administrator or the Exchange Administrator? Or is it one of the developers or DBA types? Or is it one of the helpdesk people – those poor folks who has to go out and fix a computer or assist a user with a problem for the 12th time – whatever the situation, it is one of the helpdesk people who generally assists with a problem first.

In my last blog I talked about the MCDST (Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician now I will discuss the new Vista certifications. As before, there is still a need for

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Is it the network administrator or the Exchange Administrator? Or is it one of the developers or DBA types? Or is it one of the helpdesk people – those poor folks who has to go out and fix a computer or assist a user with a problem for the 12th time – whatever the situation, it is one of the helpdesk people who generally assists with a problem first. Now you might be asking just how this is applicable to the Microsoft Certification world? Well, until 2004, there wasn’t a Microsoft certification that covered the desktop world. Sure, there was the 70-270 XP exam, but that wasn’t really a desktop certification. One was introduced – the Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST).

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In my last few blogs I have talked about the different punishment standards recently introduced by Microsoft for individuals and test-centers. A test-center (CPLS) only faces a suspension, where as the individual faced a life-time ban. I think we need to further address the punishment for cheating by CPLSs – uh “test-centers”

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In my last blog I talked about the different punishment standards recently introduced by Microsoft. A test-center (CPLS) only faces a suspension, where as an individual faces a life-time ban. I think we need to further address the punishment for cheating – by both individuals and by CPLSs – uh “test-centers”.

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Microsoft recently announced a new measure to crack down on certification exam cheating (http://www.networkworld.com/newsletters/edu/2008/070708ed1.html) and I applaud their efforts. I have stated before (and countless others have said the same thing) that to increase the value of a certification, you must curtail the ability for people to cheat. I believe a lot more could be done, but that would involve a large commitment of time and money – but hey, it is only their certifications and certification program that is affected right?

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Got you interested with that header didn’t I? Well, what about trainers – what separates the excellent trainers from their “page-turning” colleagues? You guessed it – a deep understanding of the product, real-world experience and the ability to convey their knowledge in a way that their students can follow.

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This topic came up in class a few weeks ago about the value of real world experience vs. knowing only what comes from a textbook. This is applicable whether you are a trainer or by someone applying for an IT job. You have to have real world experience – you can, in many cases, get by without a certification – but you can’t do your job without having hands-on experience.

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You have your MCSE on Windows Server 2003 and you want to upgrade to Windows Server 2008. The first thing to remember is that this is a series of new certifications and while there is an upgrade path, you are not earning an MCSE on Windows Server 2008 rather an MCTS or MCITP on windows Server 2008. Also remember that the era of the MCSA/MCSE certifications has ended – it is now MCTS and MCITP (and others beyond the scope intended here) and have an entirely different focus.

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You have your MCSA on Windows Server 2003 and you want to upgrade to Windows Server 2008. Or you are not certified at all and want to earn the MCTS on Windows Server 2008. The first thing to remember is that this is a series of new certifications and while there is an upgrade path, you are not earning an MCSE on Windows Server 2008 rather an MCTS or MCITP on windows Server 2008. Also remember that the era of the MCSA/MCSE certifications has ended – it is now MCTS and MCITP (and others beyond the scope intended here) and have an entirely different focus.

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Continuing on with the saga of our new IT members – what should they take after the CCNA? I would ask my class – but I am at a disadvantage right now as they are out at lunch (in the positive sense) right now, so I can’t ask for their advice. But before the new members they jump into a series of Microsoft classes, we need to further their education a little – namely with a good grounding in security. Not understanding the implications of security will bring nothing nut unpleasant circumstances to the new members. So – let us send them off to get their Security+ certification.

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Remember that this is the MICROSOFT Subnet - this is where I talk about Microsoft certification, issues etc. So what I am going to recommend next might cause some to wonder if I have been at the catnip again….

“Class – last time we met you recommended that our erstwhile newbies get their A+ and Network+ certifications. They have done that and have some experience under their belts – so what should they work on next?”

A voice from the back of the classroom asks “Does it have to be a Microsoft class?”

I think about it for a minute and respond “no…not necessarily”

Voice from the back of the classroom responds – “How about them getting their CCNA?”

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Now if this isn’t going to stir the proverbial pot! This is not a slight to all of you programmers or DBA types – this and several other blogs will cover the classes and certifications that I feel an IT Pro should possess (leaving all conversation of real-world experience out of this –I’ll cover that topic in other blogs). But, what you have is a person new to the IT field and you want to give them some advice on what classes and certifications they should take first?

Class – any guesses? Yes – you in the black t-shirt with the Mt Dew in your hand - what do you recommend?”
“Uh – how about A+ and Net+?”
“Great suggestions! – and thus it begins”

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In an earlier blog I had stated that the only “real” way to accurately test the knowledge of an examinee was to have them take a “hands-on” test; either with physical equipment or through virtual machines. Only by demonstrating your ability to perform tasks on the technology being tested could you demonstrate that you have both the knowledge and mastery of the subject matter. Microsoft has developed five exams that use Performance-based testing with a new one due out in a few months.

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This is not as straight forward a question as it might seem at first glance. How to answer this would depend on the IT Pro in question and what experiences he/she might have in the IT field. If the individual is new to the IT field and has minimal to no experience than you are looking at a different exam than if they do have some hands-on experience. There are simply too many concepts, confusing nomenclature, subnetting, pieces and parts to try and learn the IT field in a short of period and pass some of the more difficult tests. There is also the first-test nervousness that must be overcome as well.

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Ever since the days of the paper MCSE, there has been some debate over the value and worth of a certification.  There was a time when having an MCSE was a qualifier - that immediately differentiated you from the masses and aided in you securing a job.  Then the Paper-MCSE's arrived - the Reconstruction Era carpet baggers of the certified world.  They quickly devalued certifications to the point where many employers just didn't count the MCSE with as much credit as it deserved.  This has now changed and just in time.  Microsoft has debuted a new certification that immediately ends paper certifications and will be highly regarded in addition.  The new "Master's" series was announced this week in Redmond, WA.

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You have spent tremendous time and effort to earn a certification only to have re-certify a few years down the road.  Some might gnash their teeth in protest over this and assume it is only a ploy by the various certification entities to part more money from our pockets and others just think it ridiculous, yet I believe there is validity in this concept of having to recertify or earn continuing education credits.  Ours is a field that changes constantly.  New technologies are released or new versions of current technologies.  There are always new updates and service packs that are released. In other words, the IT field is always changing and we have to keep up with these changes or we risk falling behind the technology power curve.

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This is another one of those "sticky" questions. How far should I, as an, instructor help prepare a student for a certification test? Depending on the student - they might feel that we should take the test for them...just kidding. But it is a valid question that needs to be addressed.

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Once upon a time – way too many years ago, I attended my first computer training class. I had no idea what to expect from the class nor what I should expect from the trainer. All I had to compare for this first experience in the IT training realm was my first days at college (which was much earlier than this first day in the classroom). I was excited but had some reservations about the success of this class.

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Deciding which certification has the most value or means the most to you is a difficult question to say the least - what one person holds dear or found difficult another may find otherwise. Some might say it was their first certification test that they took (always nerve wracking!) for others it might be their MCSE or CCIE - but whatever the certification, there is at least one you hold dearer than the others. Whatever the case, I am sure we all remember our first certification more clearly than most - after all, it was the first!

The first certification exam is always the worst!

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So there you are in the testing hotseat. You are finally taking the dreaded exam you need to achieve the MCITP. You have spent weeks preparing for this test at nights - reading material and practicing with virtual machines. You have studied so much in fact, that you can recite numerous powershell commands off the type of your head.

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Most of us have taken at least one if not several (or more) certification exams. The question is - where did these exams come from and how did they end up in their final format that we stress over? Contrary to popular opinion, there is actually a long process that each exam goes through before it is officially released. One of the last steps in this development cycle is releasing the exam in a Beta format. A Beta exam has several purposes - one of which is used to help determine the quality of the questions.

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When it comes to testing - what is your favorite format?

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This subject came up in class today when talking with my students. Many of the students in the class are preparing for a certification test and wanted to know how the other students were going to prepare for their exams. This was a group of very experienced professionals most of whom had numerous certifications and I thought this would be an interesting topic to pursue. So I posed the question this question to them: "What do you use to prepare for certification exams?" The responses were varied and quite Illuminating. Some of these students have an impressive study regimen!

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I used to think that the Army was bad about acronyms - basic training wasn't only about instilling discipline and adapting to the military lifestyle, but also to learn the acronyms used in daily conversation, what amounted to a foreign language - I was convinced that they didn't use words, just acronyms. This long-held view has now been changed. I tip my hat to Microsoft Learning and the certification acronym roulette they have introduced.

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