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Be Certifiable! The Basics of MCSE and MCP |
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It is not always who you know, but what you know. That is
why obtaining Microsoft certification can be a valuable asset
to your career. Of course, it does depend on what career path
you want to take as to whether you want to get either MCSE
training or MCP training or anything else for that matter.
So what do those abbreviations MCSE and MCP stand for anyway?
MCP stands for Microsoft Certified Professional and MCSE
is an abbreviation for Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer.
What exactly does having a Microsoft certification mean anyway?
We know that it looks good on a resume and opens new doors
in your career. Did you know that being certifiable - in Microsoft
anyway - sometimes will also boost your pay? Experience counts
for a lot, but having a Microsoft certification or two does
not hurt either!
So what does it take to be and MCP or MCSE? Lots of studying!
The MCP courses and MCP exams are geared toward a more rounded
technical professional. Candidates for MCP must pass one current
certification test from Microsoft. Passing one of the exams
demonstrates that the candidate has a consistent level of
technical expertise.
With the Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer path, there
are MCSE boot camps that help prepare candidates for the MCSE
exams. These MCSE boot camps are intense classes often packed
into a full two week period instead of the traditional weekly
MCSE training classes in preparation for the MCSE exams. This
path is more involved. MCSE certification is standard in the
IT field and prepares you for anything from the design of
a system's infrastructure to analyzing the company's needs
before implementing a design.
Unlike those individuals who take the MCP training to prepare
for MCP exams, students of MCSE have a course of study that
is more intense. Instead of one test to prepare for, they
have seven tests that they are required to pass to get their
Microsoft certification. Yikes! Seven! They have five main
exams to take as well as two electives. The five required
MCSE exams are broken down into four operating system exams
and one design exam. The two electives typically deal with
other issues in design and implementation not covered in the
five core tests.
After learning a few basics, it is easy to see that the MCP
or Microsoft Certified Professional is really just a stepping
stone to bigger and greater things in the world of Microsoft
certification. The individuals who go for the MCP have a leg
up on those peers who have no technical experience. They will
have a better grasp on technical issues and usually stay a
step ahead of trends. The MCSE is more specialized and appeals
to the techno geek with a penchant for design and implementation.
They like knowing how stuff works. So market yourself and
become certifiable!
About the Author:
James Croydon, Microsoft Certified Professional and MCSE Online
advisor - focusing on MCSE Online Certification and MCSE Courses
Online
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