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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 24  user Comments for “MCDST: Good, but Not Great”
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Page 2 of 3
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| 1/8/04: Steve from Brewster, NY says: |
Human Resource departments are ALWAYS looking for ways to weed out resumes from the glut they typically get for every position they post. It is a very EASY thing for them to take 200 resumes and narrow them down to 10-12 by simply adding the criteria (rightly or not) "We only want to consider applicants with a Professional Credential" (aka "Certification"). No, the cert may NOT help a whole lot (in and of itself) when you are on the job, but it WILL help to get your resume SEEN in the first place. "Q. WHY SHOULD I HIRE YOU?" "A. I HAVE PROVEN I CAN LEARN NEW THINGS BY ACHIEVING THIS CREDENTIAL." |
| 1/8/04: Gene Kurtz from Houston, TX says: |
I think certifications act as a filter. If I were to look at two resumes where both candidates have experience I will choose the certified candidate over the one without certification. It shows the individuals extra effort to stay on top of their industry. |
| 1/13/04: Vitaly from USA says: |
This article is right, the exams lack hardware knowledge. I took both betas exams without any study, and already passed the first one. still waiting for response on the second one. I wonder how long it will take for employeers to be aware of this new cert because like Charles from TN said, most companies dont even know what MCSA is. |
| 1/24/04: OLADAPO OLATEJU from LAGOS, NIGERIA says: |
Good inclusion to the family of Microsoft certifications! When exactly shall this certification two new exams commence? |
| 2/1/04: Anonymous says: |
I would say within the next 5 days. They started issuing the certifications and logos to beta testers from prometric last week. Vue testers will show up 2.2.04. I have already ordered my welcome kit. I would say that you need Aplus to go with this cert. |
| 2/3/04: jmo says: |
I have the Aplus,Netplus,and Inetplus and I think that mscdt will be an appropriate addition to mt certs so I'm gonna go for it. Very sxcited about bridging the gap and I don't understand all the bellyaching just get the Aplus in addition. |
| 2/7/04: martin woodhead from United Kingdom says: |
being a complete newbie nd hoping to enter the IT market. I guess the Mcsdt is aimed at people like me. Though as I hope to get Aplus n plus and then a couple of mcp certs I don't really see the advatage of it too me. the helpdesk certs looki intersting but you seem to have to pay out fro there training |
| 4/22/04: Frank Luke from Florida says: |
Well, I am a late bloomer, 55 now and got my first PC(a Mac)in 1993. Anyway, I have 210,215,218. exchange 200 coming up next month.I am in a Country Club because I have 30 years experience in the F & B Managerial Biz so I worked my way in as the sys admin, small w2k network, 20 users, mixed. It seems a simple task to add to one's resume the MCSA explaination as compared to MCSE for even an idiot boss to understand. Furthermore, If the MCDST makes one study and learn and study and learn XP and the apps, etc, it most certainly is beneficial. I got my jobs because of my knowledge, not because of the tests. Yes, I want them, because they make me learn. I study and read and play hands on about 40 hours a week. Any person who wants to be called a Tech better know there hardware already, I do not have A+, But I damn sure have the knowledge. My 2 cents |
| 5/4/04: Frank says: |
The mcdst Certification will provide a title that I can use in my e-mail. Tuition reimbersment pays it. As for anyone looking for desktop support jobs the company I work for is always hiring. |
| 2/25/05: Wilf Grainger from UK says: |
I have just taken the MCDST and think its great for anyone starting out in IT Support! |
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