Have exam vouchers, need exam order advice???

Already have:
A+
Network+

Future Goals:
MCTS < Enterprise/Server Admin and MCSA
CCNP

Time:
About 6 months to complete the following
Windows 7 Configuration: 70-680
Windows Server 2008 Active Directory Configuration: 70-640
Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure Configuration: 70-642
Windows Server 2008 Application Platform Configuration: 70-643
Windows Server 2008 Enterprise Administrator: 70-647
Exchange Server 2007 Configuration: 70-236
SQL Server 2005 Implementation and Maintenance: 70-431
Security+
CCENT

Plan:
I know the exams I listed are only the beginning and are not enough for me to reach any of my goals but I just wanted to include what direction I'm ultimately going in. I went to college and did courses in all of the above so I have some knowledge and lots of study material. There is nothing there I'm going into blindly.

I will write my Security+ hopefully sometime over the next 4 weeks. Then I'd like to take 6-8 weeks to prepare for my CCENT. Maybe write it sooner if I feel confident.

Afterwards I'm lost as to what order to work on all those Microsoft exams?????????
Any and all suggestions are welcome!

(Weakness: Maybe SQL and a little subnetting but I plan to dig into subnetting during study sessions)

Would prefer to study material instead of relying on exam dumps, although I won't rule them out as aides.

Thoughts folks?

get a MCSA for Server 2008. some months before it expires update to MCSA 2012 or MCSE 2008. some months before either of those expire update to MCSE or 2012. this is assuming you want to hold MS certification for a decent length of time while spreading the cost more evenly over that time length.

if you get the CCENT, then make sure you follow up <3 months later to get the CCNA. CCENT does not represent much at all.

unless you have a government security clearance, you probably won't get that much mileage out of a Security+ certification.

having a degree gets past HR filters

having a degree + certs helps separate from people that just have a degree, but relevant work experience trumps all.

I have a diploma; so no degree but it's something. Also, I am working in I.T. at the moment. Pretty sweet gig for just A+ and Network+. I lucked out

It is time to get some certs though

I thought you had 3 years after taking the CCENT to take the second test for CCNA? I hope so because I took the CCENT last year and still need to take the second test.

Udgnim said:

get a MCSA for Server 2008. some months before it expires update to MCSA 2012 or MCSE 2008. some months before either of those expire update to MCSE or 2012. this is assuming you want to hold MS certification for a decent length of time while spreading the cost more evenly over that time length.

if you get the CCENT, then make sure you follow up <3 months later to get the CCNA. CCENT does not represent much at all.

unless you have a government security clearance, you probably won't get that much mileage out of a Security+ certification.

having a degree gets past HR filters

having a degree + certs helps separate from people that just have a degree, but relevant work experience trumps all.

Click to expand...

Nexweb said:

I thought you had 3 years after taking the CCENT to take the second test for CCNA? I hope so because I took the CCENT last year and still need to take the second test.

Click to expand...

You do.

Nexweb said:

I thought you had 3 years after taking the CCENT to take the second test for CCNA? I hope so because I took the CCENT last year and still need to take the second test.

Click to expand...

Pretty sure he meant it as study for your CCNA as soon as you get your CCENT so the information is still fresh although 3 months is a very generous amount of time but everyone's schedules is different. Definitely don't stop on the CCENT though.

Although its not a bad idea to round yourself out with different low to mid level certs like systems (Microsoft) and network (Cisco) certs. A CCNP is a higher level cert and is for someone who is specializing in networking and probably won't be doing a lot of systems stuff when they reach that point.

Took me better part of a year to get my EA. I am currently upgrading to 2012 stuff and finnaly writing my exchange crap.