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Q1) Of the 5 exams in OCP Oracle8 DBA, is there a consensus on the order
of the most difficult exams? What is the recommended order of taking these
exams?  (From H Kim)

ANS) The consensus seems to be that the most difficult exams are the
PL/SQL and Database Administration, followed by Performance Tuning,
Network Administration with Backup and Recovery being the easiest.

The recommended order for taking the exams would be to start with the
easiest and make your way up from there.  Another approach would be to
take Network Administration first since it has the least amount of
material that overlaps with the other exams.

It is also advisable that Performance Tuning and Database Administration
exams are taken one after the other as the amount of material that is the
same between the two.

Follow up to last week’s Cert Advisor

Q2) Last week you mentioned that the waivers, which were available for
CNEs for MCSE NT 3.51 and Windows NT 4.0 tracks, are not applicable for
the Windows 2000 track. But Microsoft states "Selected third-party
credentials that focus on interoperability with Windows 2000 will be
accepted as an alternative to one elective exam".  This statement sounds
like you can use your CNE as an elective towards your MCSE. (From Steve
Fust)

ANS) Microsoft has announced that waivers previously provided to CNEs are
not applicable for MCSE Windows 2000 track.

But as you have pointed Microsoft has also announced "Selected third-party
credentials that focus on interoperability with Windows 2000 will be
accepted as an alternative to one elective exam".  In the same statement
Microsoft further states: "Acceptable credentials have not yet been
determined. If you have suggestions for third-party certifications that
meet the requirement above, please write to mcp@msprograms.com. We will
continue to evaluate potential third-party credentials and list acceptable
credentials...when they are selected."

So, we may conclude when Microsoft decides on the relevant third-party
certifications as mentioned above, MCSE candidates with those credentials,
will be exempted from one of the two electives.

Select questions & answers

Q3) I have been working as a computer technician/network administrator for
the past 14 years. I have completed my A+ (1998), CNA netware 5.0 and
considering MCSE Windows 2000. Should I finish my CNE first? Is there any
difference in the market between a CNE and an MCSE? Also I was looking at
the database course as my electives, would this be a good move? (From
Beamish)

ANS) If you have moved beyond the first exam for your CNA certification,
it might be a good idea to continue to your CNE, especially if you are
currently working with the product.

As for the MCSE, there are many avenues for diversifying, such as database
management with SQL 7.0 or 2000.  My recommendation is that if database
management interests you, then by all means, it would be a very worthwhile
avenue to pursue.

In today's market, the more skills you have to offer an employer, the
greater value you will have.  So combining a CNE with an MCSE would be a
definite distinguishing factor when you present your skill sets to the
employer.

Q4) I am currently studying for my masters in public administration but
one of my goals is to become an MCSE starting with an MCP certification.
What exam(s) do you think I should start with in order to set myself on
the road to eventual certification in one of the tracks? Also, in light of
my busy class schedule, what is the most rewarding certification program
for me given my limited computer background? Please help. (From fodeib)

ANS) You certainly have a clear and ambitious plan ahead of you! If you
are not familiar with networking concepts, I would recommend the CompTIA's
Network + certification to get a good solid grounding in networking. If
you are absolutely new to computers then you should work for CompTIA's A+
certification program, before taking Network+.

The next step you mentioned would be the MCSE.  I would suggest that you
start with the Core material first (Professional, Server, Implementing
Network Infrastructure, Implementing Directory Services) to get a good
overall view of all the tremendous functionality that Windows 2000 has to
offer.  This will give you a clear outline of achievable steps as you make
your way to full MCSE certification.

Share your cert-experience

This week our member Wade Hoffarth comments on the impact of his
certifications on his income.

"I 've worked as a LAN/WAN admin for 10 years with an additional 8 years
hardware experience. Over the past 6 years my primary experience has been
to build a 100-node network by hand (including the building of 90% of the
PC's and 7 of 8 Servers) I have implemented and administered all programs
(MSoffice 97/2000, Ghost, Surf Control, ZEN, Groupwise, Exchange, Proxy,
and many more related server and back office products.)  I have survived
migrations from NT 3.51 to 4x... and Novell migrations from 3.12 - 4.0 -
5.0 and now 5.1. I am the sole admin and sole help desk provider to 350
users.

I hear numerous radio advertisements promoting MCSE camps for students,
who like to earn an average of $65K per year, even without any "prior
computer experience". I was unsure of how they could claim that, and
decided to add few certifications to my college degree in network
administration.

After achieving A+, Network+, i-Net+, MCP+I, MCSE and CNA with CNE almost
complete, and given my work as an NT 4/ Novell 5.1 admin, you'd think I
would be able to get to that 65K level. But I have yet to see an offer of
65 anything. I have had offers to administrate a few nationwide networks
for various companies (all for less than 65K).  Where does that 65K figure
come from? Is this a national average?

Maybe being a "paper mcse" has its advantages, if it's really paying so
much. What happens to those of us who are really experienced? Is CCIE the
only way to go? I decided to look over the books and found them
challenging. But one must own a router or at least buy the simulators
before making further progress. Fortunately, I have used them so CCNA
should not be difficult to achieve. But CCIE is different. The texts are
certainly tougher than most standard field knowledge and for now I would
not like to go for it. (As though MCSE 2000 wasn't enough to put an admin
through). Does the certification level "really offer more" or are you
selling something too with that 6 figure + range you mentioned? How do you
know that's what they make? Tell me, whom can I trust here?"

(Dear Mr. Hoffarth,
For your experience and credentials you are underpaid. In our estimate a
good IT professional with 3+ years of experience earns about 70K a year,
even in today's market conditions. MCSEs with 3+ years of experience make
about 64,500, according to an MCPMag survey. Though there would be regional
variations to this figure, the swings would not be radical.

Besides basic expertise and credentials, higher salary figures also depend
on your ability to manage your career. Do you have a good eye for
opportunities? Have you changed jobs judiciously? How well do you market
your skills? Do you have good negotiation skills? And so on.

I would recommend that you consult an efficient placement agency, which
can represent you effectively and get you a job that pays what you
deserve.

..There is no value in being a paper MCSE. CCIE, by industry consensus,
has high value and CCIEs are commonly paid in the figures quoted. We have
no vested interest in saying this.

But CCIE is not the only way up as you can also upgrade, perhaps as a more
practical option, your certification to MCSE Windows 2000. This will not
only help you master the new features of the product but also show
potential employers that you take initiative and work to stay ahead...There
are also studies which show that higher levels of certifications fetch
higher compensation.

We wish you all the best.)

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