3 replies to this topic

[shawnjay]

Hello guys,

I am a newly certified MCSE last year November and currently I am pondering if I need to upgrade the certification to MCITP. Reason being, both are the equivalent standard certs that only concentrate on different technology. My friend mentioned that having MCITP will not have a significant impact on the salary increment or in job searching market as I already have a MCSE which is basically the same thing.

The second thing is, he recommended CCNP instead. I was also just certified in CCNA this year January and he did mention that how network engineer earns more than a Microsoft certified holder. But what I do understand about CCNP is that it requires real life experience working with switches and routers and that passing the exam will be harder than just doing some simple simulation practice.

My other details that may be of concern:
1.) I was equipping myself with those certs because I wanna get back to IT.
2.) Currently in Philippines doing a job totally unrelated to IT or computer but I wanna get back to Malaysia to have a start-over in IT field.
3.) Wanna take one course before leaving here. So CCNP or MCITP?

Thank you for your responses in advance.

[Internetwork Solutions]

Hello guys,

I am a newly certified MCSE last year November and currently I am pondering if I need to upgrade the certification to MCITP. Reason being, both are the equivalent standard certs that only concentrate on different technology. My friend mentioned that having MCITP will not have a significant impact on the salary increment or in job searching market as I already have a MCSE which is basically the same thing.

The second thing is, he recommended CCNP instead. I was also just certified in CCNA this year January and he did mention that how network engineer earns more than a Microsoft certified holder. But what I do understand about CCNP is that it requires real life experience working with switches and routers and that passing the exam will be harder than just doing some simple simulation practice.

My other details that may be of concern:
1.) I was equipping myself with those certs because I wanna get back to IT.
2.) Currently in Philippines doing a job totally unrelated to IT or computer but I wanna get back to Malaysia to have a start-over in IT field.
3.) Wanna take one course before leaving here. So CCNP or MCITP?

Thank you for your responses in advance.

Hello,

I will try to answer to the best of my understanding.

As you know, IT certifications need to be upgraded every few years. In your case, it seems a bit too soon because of your timing.

Your question about whether MCITP or CCNP is not something for which there can be a standard answer. It largely depends on you, whether you love your Microsoft job and want to stick to the same profile or would want to branch out to core internetworking.

My own experience has been that one can rise higher in Cisco because there is so much to do. A CCNP + MCSE might be better than a MCITP + MCSE overall, I think and qualifies you for far more jobs, I think. (I do assume you already have your CCNA, which is a pre-requisite for CCNP)

Doing CCNP also opens a new direction for you if you wish to continue studying as you have CCNA & CCNP in several specialties (that I would recommend doing only after you do the core CCNA & CCNP - by core, I mean in R&S). And then ofcourse you have the CCIE once you are ready to move further.

I don't know about Philippines and Malaysia specifically, but I have often seen (other things being similar - like experience and educational qualification) people with CCNP earn more than people with MCSE or MCITP. I have yet to see someone with a CCIE earning less than a MCITP (unless the MCITP guy is really an expert with several years of experience and the CCIE guy is a newbie or a paper CCIE unable to perform well at job interviews).

I hope this helps. :-)
Good luck with whatever you choose, MCITP or CCNP - I'd say, whatever you choose, try to do it really well & then that will make a difference for sure!

[shawnjay]

Hi,

Thank you for the response.

Just took my MCITP:EA exam yesterday. 70-649 and 70-647. I passed both exams. But I didn't see my cert appeared under the http://mcp.microsoft.com/mcp website. The site however did noted that I passed the exams.

Here are the exams in the chronological order which I have taken:
70-290, 70-291, 70-620, 70-284 (Obtained my MCSA), 70-293, 70-294, 70-298 (Obtained my MCSE), 70-647, 70-649

I did some research and found out that my previously taken 70-620 (TS: Vista Client) which counted towards my MCSA certification can only be counted once towards either elective requirement or client operating system (Not sure what this means but I take it that since it has been counted towards my MCSA, it cannot be counted towards my MCITP).

Any enlightenment on the matter is greatly appreciated.

[mip104]

A new topic is created for this issue, so I close this one