MCSE or CCNA?

[broncobailey]

Ok guys. Let me know what you guys think. I just got my A+ and have alot of generalized computer repair knowledge. I am trying to decide which path to take. MCSE is alot more money for the tests (7 in all). On the flipside, CCNA is just 1 test. Which certification would lead me to a fun, high paying career.




Thanks in advance.

 

[arcas]

MSCE is probably worth more than a CCNA. CCNA is Cisco's "baby" certification and is pretty trivial. Their CCIE certification, on the other hand, is the shiznit but it's a m-f'er to obtain. Before the dot-com bubble burst, CCIEs could quite literally name their price. Even today, they earn impressive duckets. I'm a cryptographer/software developer for a big I/T corporation so I get paid a respectable amount...one of my friends is a CCIE from England working in the US and his salary dwarfs mine. He negotiated a 3x salary increase over his cellphone while we were at a party once.

If you're really interested in networking, get your CCNA and start preparing for your CCIE exams (see if your employer will help defer some of the cost).

 

[rimshaker]

<< I just got my A+ and have alot of generalized computer repair knowledge. >>



Just out of curiosity, how much did you know before ever studying for the A+? How long or how early have you been working, building, or tweaking with computers in general?? Ever build an entire system before taking the A+?

 

[N11]

Be prepared to bend over repeatedly on the path to CCIE.

How many are there in the world right now? Is it over 7500 yet?

 

[broncobailey]

RimShaker : I had been repairing/building computers for 5-6 years. I had built 20+ computers before taking the A+ Test. I just boned up on my legacy knowledge with a study guide and passed the tests easily.

 

[jaynonymous]

<Ok guys. Let me know what you guys think. I just got my A+ and have alot of generalized computer repair knowledge. I am trying to decide which path to take. MCSE is alot more money for the tests (7 in all). On the flipside, CCNA is just 1 test. Which certification would lead me to a fun, high paying career.>

Why not do both? Which one really depends on whether you want to work on Windows-based computers or Cisco-based routers. I would agree that MCSE is a little harder to get than the CCNA, just because there are more tests. However, I think that the CCNA exam is extremely valid, whereas some of the Microsoft exams are kinda silly. Take for example the Designing Windows 2000 Security exam. What a joke! My opinion is that it doesn't hurt for a network admin to have Cisco router knowledge and it doesn't hurt for a Cisco admin to have Windows knowledge. Remember that neither path will lead to riches right away. Once you gain experience in either field, you will be paid appropriately, but I have never heard of ANYONE getting paid tons of money just because they are certified. Good luck!

 

[rimshaker]

<< , but I have never heard of ANYONE getting paid tons of money just because they are certified. Good luck! >>



Yup, true. Generally (ideally), it's better to get bachelor/masters degrees in a technical field first.... then get certifications if an employer wants you to have them... at their expense of course.

 

[tkim]

my buddy got his about 3 years ago and his number is 45XX...i figure they are at 5000 or 5500 or so....ccie i mean.

 

[Goosemaster]

I am an EE student in college, and was wondering how hard the CCNA woul be to get while I am burdened with my other tasks. I was thinking og getting my MSCE, but the books are so DAMN expensive.


lil help?

 

[rimshaker]

From my honest observations, i've never met ANYONE who has a high-paying career just by getting some certifications. All these different certifications are supposed to be supplements to college degrees. There's no substitute for a 4-5 year degree. Personally, if i was a hiring manager and had a choice between someone with 10 different certifiications, and someone with a bachelors in CS or engineering w/o certifications.... guess who gets hired..

 

[Rainsford]

I would personally get a certification only if I wanted to learn more about something. I took a class to get my CCNA (never took the test), and it was very good. I'd say what you learn in the CCNA course is very good to get a good overview of networking, but don't count on the certification getting you any free lunches.

 

[vizionblind]

I have a great tech job, getting decent money and I had no certs, field experience is what got me in. They asked the questions, I knew the answers Certs are overrated now a bit Still good to do em tho..