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Greg Neilson
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MCDST: Good, but Not Great |
| Our Certification Advisor likes a lot about Microsoft's new desktop title, but wishes it had a bit more to offer. |
| by Greg Neilson |
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12/17/2003 -- Microsoft's soon-to-debut Microsoft Certified Desktop Service Technician (MCDST) is a welcome addition to the company's portfolio of certification offerings. Although the certification's two new exams (70-271 and 70-272) have yet to go live, from looking at the announced objectives, these exams broadly include much of the skills needed to provide desktop support. Since Microsoft pretty much owns the desktop today, a certification that covers the supporting the Windows XP operating system, Internet Explorer and the Office suite goes a long way to covering much of the information that someone in an entry level role today needs to know.
However, for a certification that is intended to "get you started in your IT career by ensuring that you have the skills to successfully troubleshoot desktop environments," I can't help feeling that a great opportunity has been lost here. These exams simply don't appear to go far enough in their coverage of basic PC hardware. (For those of you who have been reading this column for a while, you know I have commented in the past that this is also a flaw of the MCSE compared against the CNE program, where Novell want to ensure a good level of hardware knowledge in their program).
Now, the Computing Technology Industry Association's (CompTIA's) entry-level A+ certification covers a similar area, with a separate hardware exam plus an exam on supporting Windows. For those in the early stages of their IT career, I have often recommended the A+ plus an MCP exam in the most recent desktop OS. While from software point of view, it seems that the MCDST covers a more appropriate range of subjects than a desktop OS exam, this exactly what makes the lack of hardware knowledge expected a concern. Although I would love to recommend only the MCDST in the future, the lack of emphasis on hardware troubleshooting basics prevents me from doing so.
Ideally, the best thing that could happen for all would be the inclusion of the A+ hardware exam in the MCDST program. And that might still happen. While it would have been great for this to be announced from day one -- and would stop the complaints if the additional exam was added later -- however, Microsoft has already started to include CompTIA exams in their programs, so there is no reason why this couldn't be done in the future. Similarly, one could envisage in the future that CompTIA may want to think about accepting this new supporting Windows exam from Microsoft as a substitute for their Windows OS support exam.
While the MCDST looks good, until there's more hardware in the MCDST or more integration between MCDST and A+, I believe A+ will continue to play a vital role for technicians at this stage in their career. Microsoft did well, but I wish they had hit a home run with this new title.
What's your take on the MCDST? Let me know by posting your comments below. 
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Greg Neilson, MCSE+Internet, MCNE, PCLP, is a Contributing Editor for Microsoft Certified Professional Magazine and a manager at a large IT services firm in Australia. He's the author of Lotus Domino Administration in a Nutshell (O'Reilly and Associates, ISBN 1-56592-717-6). You can reach him at Attn: Greg.
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There are 44  user Comments for “MCDST: Good, but Not Great”
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Page 1 of 5
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| 12/17/03: SkydiveGuy from Boston, MA says: |
This certification seems to only be created because someone at Micro$oft realized that CompTIA was making all the money off the A+ cert. Good luck either way.... at either $290 for the A+ or $250 for the MCDST, most employers are looking for a MINIMUM of A+ , MCSE and 3 years of real-life experience to get even a basic help desk position. Dont beleive me? Check it out for yourself at any job website. Sorry. |
| 12/18/03: Beetlegeiss from Boston, MA says: |
Anything I've ever heard about old NT 4.0 certs were you could pass the test if you memorized a few brain dumps. I've yet to take any MS tests (face it, they come out with an OS every two friggin' years, they say you should have 1-year hands on with their crap before taking the test, yadda, yadda, yadda, why friggin' bother?) and what kind of users has a Windows 98 machine with three partitions each with a different FAT version? Screw it. How about some REAL questions? MS is allowing certain CompTIA tests be substituted for their tests. Why? Because everyone has some sort of ComTIA cert and it's just another way to up the number of MS certs. So now they're just watering down the market with more crap certs. Eff ewe. |
| 12/18/03: Prime from Singapore says: |
After taking both the MCDST beta exams, i agree with you regarding the shortcomings of the exams coverage. For a more balanced approach, MCDST should be coupled with CompTIA A+ certfication. This will equip a new support person with adequate skills to start the job. But regarding the 2 company's "tie-up" as per your suggestion, I guess it won't happen sometime soon, without some kind of '$-factored' situation. |
| 12/19/03: Ferdinand from Seattle, WA says: |
MCDST sounds good but it virtually lacks the hardware portion which is essentially important to Desktop Support role and this makes MCDST inadequate and less relevant to CompTIA's A+. If I were to be asked which one is better between A+ and MCDST, I will still recommend without a doubt that A+ is still far better and more adequate than the former. If Microsoft would like to put up a more aggressive stand and market share in the field of Desktop Support training certification, this is the time to change its mind and add a hardware portion of the exam and more benefits than CompTIA. I am very sure that thousands of desktop professionals who are more inclined to take the A+ would make a massive "defection" to MCDST when the actual availability of the exam begins. Until this scenario happens I will still pursue my A+ certification over MCDST!!!!!! |
| 12/19/03: Anonymous says: |
Got my A+ and still can't get a job without the experience listed on my resume. The bottom line is: will this cert make me more marketable and if it does, can I expect to get more money because I haev it???!!! |
| 12/26/03: Michael from Anaheim, CA says: |
I see signs that employers are beginning to ask for certification levels that are more germane to the entry level positions they are seeking to fill. Contrary to the requests asking for MCSE plus A+ plus 3 years experience to fill a Level I help desk position, I have seen several requests lately that ask for MCP plus A+ plus 2 years experience. I also recognize that the MCDST without A+ will probably not be enough to convince an employer to make a hiring decision. In fact there is another component, of a good desktop support technician, that is not fully addressed by the MCDST curriculum. That is customer support "soft skills". My recommendation to individuals seeking jobs, as Desktop Support Technicians, is to include a customer support soft skill certification, such as the Help Desk Analyst certification, offered by Help Desk Institute (www.thinkhdi.com). Reports, I've seen, indicate that even Microsoft is recommending the inclusion of customer support soft skills training in the overall preparation a person makes for entry into the desktop support field. |
| 12/30/03: Anonymous says: |
Is it possible to pass the Help Desk Analyst Test without attending the seminar? I'm looking for an entry level position help desk position and this would (i'm sure) greatly improve my chances of getting the job. what do you guys think? anyone taken the test without studying? |
| 1/5/04: Charles from Smyrna, TN says: |
I've been in the Network Admin-Desktop Support positions for a number of years. Regarding Michael's from Anaheim comment about a help desk analyst cert, it might help those getting started but better yet, get a part time job with some small computer shop building or repairing systems (and get some of the older crap - good experience). However everytime I've ever been offered any position that involves more than 25% of my time on the phone or traveling, I'll turn it down in a heart beat. I'm strictly a hands on person (or remote assistance taking control of the desktop). Vast majority of desktop users couldn't tell you the error even though they'll look right at the error message on their screen. But Michael is right about soft skills and always keep in mind you'll never satisify 100% of the clients no matter what you do, just be sure to keep good documentation on your ticket or whatever you use to keep track of problems (and note that in your resume). I've also finally decided to eventually go on to MCSE since most companies don't have a clue what MCSA is even though that's what 99% of admin's do. Vast majority will never design systems or networks (in my opinion, 1 or 2 servers don't qualify). A desktop support cert would be nice, if it truly were a test of your abilities. From what I've seen of the test, its common stuff with 70-270 throw in. I've must be working in the wrong places cause it's always been a mix of 95, 98, little ME (cause some managers are dummies), 2k, some linux and novell clients with a boat load of apps that may be proprietary or customized to the organization. That'll give ya headaches ;-) for troubleshooting problems. (besides phones give me cauliflower ear - not good ;-) |
| 1/8/04: AYODELE STEPHEN O. from AFRICA, NIGERIA says: |
I AM A GRADUATE OF COMPUTER SCIENCE PLS WHERE CAN I START FROM IN IT CAREER. REALLY I DONT HAVE A JOB NOW . |
| 1/8/04: AYODELE STEPHEN O. from AFRICA, NIGERIA says: |
I AM A GRADUATE OF COMPUTER SCIENCE PLS WHERE CAN I START FROM IN IT CAREER. REALLY I DONT HAVE A JOB NOW . |
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