MCDST course question from newbie

Gilly078 · 12-04-2008, 09:44

Just wondering if anyone can recommend the MCDST as a starter course in IT? I have a diploma in intro to programming via ics learn - not sure it's worth much tho...
Can anyone tell me where to find practice exams and reading materials online for the MCDST so I can work out whether or not I'm capable of doing this course before I actually go ahead and order it...

Thanks for reading.

Jon T · 12-04-2008, 10:07

Have you looked here: http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mc...uirements.mspx

Edit: Also may be worth posting here:http://www.certforums.co.uk/

greencreeper · 12-04-2008, 11:33

The MCDST is specifically a Windows XP qualification, rather than a generic IT qualification. There are two exams - XP itself, and XP and applications. If you already use XP, then I would say buy a book and self-learn - the courses (pricey) aren't going to teach you much more. When I sat the exams they were about £90 each. If you want a generic IT qualification, maybe something like the A+ would be more appropriate?

Practice exams and materials - do a Google for "braindump". The first couple of links should have a range of questions/answers supposedly taken from the exams (you'll probably need the exam code, which you can get from the MS website link that Jon posted above).

Jon T · 12-04-2008, 12:41

Also, as i've said at least once before on here, if you plan a career in IT, the essential qualification over everything else is a driving license. I say this because i've got the A+ and the first two semesters of a CCNA, but i'm stuck in an average paid job at a local authority, formerly being in a low paid job for a charity, and because of the lack of a driving license(because of disibility) I found it very hard getting a job like I have at the present.

As to general it exams, i'd go for the A+, and then probably N+(networking), if your having problems finding A+ or N+ try googling for CompTIA.

greencreeper · 13-04-2008, 02:42

Yeah - driving license and a foreign language. I remember when I did contracting - guy next to me spoke fluent French (he came from the Ivory Coast, IIRC). Earned about £10 more an hour than me.

Gilly078 · 13-04-2008, 10:12

Another reason for me to try to get my driving license asap!! Where did u study the course, at college or homelearning?? I would like to get some entry-level work while studying it, do you think that this would be poss?

Sorry for all these questions, I just want to find out as much as possible as to whether or not I would be competent enough to pass the exams and do the job lol

Gillian

haydnwalker · 13-04-2008, 11:13

I would tend to go for the A+ from CompTIA instead of the MCDST.

I don't think it would be overly difficult to get an entry level IT Support job while studying, though technical ability, customer focus skills and willingness to learn are all important.

Don't expect too much in the salary stakes though (I think about 14k/year is about average).

greencreeper · 13-04-2008, 19:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gilly078

Another reason for me to try to get my driving license asap!! Where did u study the course, at college or homelearning??

I studied the course at college because at the time I thought you had to take the course in order to take the exam (!). I now know differently. The course covered some topics that I was either unaware of of, or knew a little about, but most of the content I already knew from working with XP machines. I found the exams pretty easy - anyone familiar with XP should be able to pass them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gilly078

I would like to get some entry-level work while studying it, do you think that this would be poss?

Depends on what sort of work you want, and what you mean by "entry level". I work in IT support - telephone-based support of customers in primary care. Basic desktop stuff, plus servers and peripherals (printers, scanners...). If we're really short on staff (because a few people have left at the same time), we'll tend to recruit on the basis of phone skills - i.e. does the candidate have them? And some of knowledge of IT is "preferrable". If we're not desperate, we tend to be more picky, and look for candidates with phone and IT skills.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gilly078

Sorry for all these questions, I just want to find out as much as possible as to whether or not I would be competent enough to pass the exams and do the job lol

There are two exams so you could always take the first exam, see how you do, and go from there. Do what job, though? The MCDST is suited to anyone working with XP machines, either hands-on or remotely. Given that you need some experience with XP to pass the exams, it's likely that the qualification will be more "this is what I know - here's the proof", rather than "this is what I've learnt". If you see the difference?

Gilly078 · 14-04-2008, 10:21

Many thanks for your reply, it was very helpful. By entry-level, I mean getting a helpdesk job that doesnt require a degree. It's a good idea about just taking the exams, I will look into that further. I have a background in customer service (inbound) as well as being a trained legal secretary so I have XP knowledge and a diploma in programming through icslearn. I am hoping that someone will be willing to give me a chance even though I have a 5 month old baby.

Gillian

Maz008 · 16-04-2008, 15:07

I am really interested doing MCDST class based course. Which institute would be best in London. I have strated my A+ homestudy but not helping me at all. Can someone help me please?I would prefare classbase. One of the IT training company, gave me qoute for MCDST and MCSE for £3000.00 including a laptop. Is this a good deal?

Thanks
Maz

LSainsbury · 16-04-2008, 16:37

Do MCSE exist now for new students? I thought they replaced the entire programme a while a go...

/Goes off to check/...

greencreeper · 17-04-2008, 00:30

They still exist AFAIK, but the exam format has changed. I'm not that keen - has case studies:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en

There's also a new qualification called "MCITP: Enterprise Support Technician". Basically just an MCDST for Vista.

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mc...t/default.mspx

The nomenclature is part of the new 2008/Vista certification scheme:

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mc...fications.mspx

I'm considering the MCITP