Tips and Tricks for Getting Vista Certified

This white paper will explain the new certification streams for Windows Vista offered by Microsoft and thelaunch of an exciting new Boot Camp offered by Global Knowledge: the Microsoft Certified IT Professional:Enterprise Support Technician Boot Camp. It will describe the Boot Camp in detail—what areas of theWindows Vista operating system you need to know in order to pass the exams, and what exams are requiredfor certification. Most importantly we are also going to tell you how to have success when attending a BootCamp, what tips and tricks you need to know to properly prepare, attend, and pass. But first, a...
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Tips and Tricks for Getting Vista CertifiedExpert Reference Series of White Papers Tips and Tricks for Getting Vista Certified1-800-COURSES www.globalknowledge.comTips and Tricks for Getting VistaCertifiedMark B. Wilkins, MCSE, MCT, MS Certified IT Pro: Enterprise TechIntroductionThis white paper will explain the new certification streams for Windows Vista offered by Microsoft and thelaunch of an exciting new Boot Camp offered by Global Knowledge: the Microsoft Certified IT Professional:Enterprise Support Technician Boot Camp. It will describe the Boot Camp in detail—what areas of theWindows Vista operating system you need to know in order to pass the exams, and what exams are requiredfor certification. Most importantly we are also going to tell you how to have success when attending a BootCamp, what tips and tricks you need to know to properly prepare, attend, and pass. But first, a little back-ground information.Before the MCITP CertificationThe first specialized certification designed for client support personnel started a few years after Windows XPwas released and was called the Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician. The overall goal of this certifi-cation stream was to certify desktop technicians could properly support Windows XP end users. This overallskill set included the knowledge to run Windows XP with a good understanding of the core features plus theability to troubleshoot the Windows XP operating system and the bundled core applications such as OutlookExpress and Internet Explorer.You were required to pass two exams in order to become an MCDST. The first exam, Supporting Users andTroubleshooting a Microsoft Windows XP Operating System Exam (70-271), dealt with the operating systeminstallation, maintenance and troubleshooting. The second exam, Supporting Users and TroubleshootingDesktop Applications on a Microsoft Windows XP Operating System Exam (70-272), tested you on overall con-figuration and setup.Passing these two exams made you a Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician as well as a MicrosoftCertified Professional; (passing just one certification exam awards you the MCP designation.)Note: And you can still become an MCDST for Windows XP as these two exams are not going to be retired.Microsoft will continue to support the MCDST; in fact Windows XP is due to be supported for a few moreyears; even if you can’t purchase Windows XP, support will be around for five years or so.MCITP vs. MCDST:What’s Changed?Microsoft has had a credibility problem for a number of years with the certification streams that they offer.(You may have heard of the term “Paper MCSE.”) Credibility was a valid point in the certification industry.There are, and continue to be, web sites that will supply you with the real exam questions and answers for anominal fee, typically 50 to 75 dollars for exam. Therefore you can hunker down with a large cup of Joe andCopyright ©2007 Global Knowledge Training LLC. All rights reserved. Page 2start memorizing answers. After a few days, you, too, can become a Microsoft Certified Professional in any des-ignation as practically all certification exams can be found on the Internet.That is, up until now. Microsoft is aggressively going after these web sites and has already put several of themout of business. And the older MCDST and MCSE (Microsoft Certified System Engineer) certifications, while stillbeing supported by Microsoft and the computer industry have reached their end of life.Late 2006, Microsoft confirmed that a new certificate model was going to be launched in 2007. The new certi-fications specialize in specific technology areas; for example Exchange 2007, Windows Vista, and SharePoint allhave the new certification streams as a Certified IT Professional or Specialist. Windows Server 2008 certifica-tions have just been announced, and they follow the same specialized path.Microsoft is moving away from the older model of a Microsoft Certified System Engineer, based on the currentserver operating system version, to a specialized model. Well, it is true that you may take more tests if youwant to be certified, for example, in Windows Vista, Exchange 2007, and Windows Server 2008. It’s also truethat each of the specialized products has become incredibly complicated.It’s just not possible to use the former model of certification, (where one master certification, such as theMCSE, along with several exam electives, cover all of the knowledge that you need to know) to properlydemonstrate both to Microsoft and to potential clients that you know what you’re talking about.New Windows Vista CertificationsFor Windows Vista, there are three new certifications streams being offered: 1. Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS): Windows Vista, Configuration 2. Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP ...