MCSE & Cisco Training Programs a Ripoff?

[Doc Tinker]

A 90% failure rate for first time Certification Exam takers?



You can spend several thousand dollars on training. Ace the program and still not pass the Certification Exams which cost about $125 per test (7 for the MCSE). Then you get to buy some cram books and pay for the tests again. If you fail again, you get to pay even more money to try once more.



I haven't taken any of the exams yet, but I don't expect to walk in and take the exams, right out of class. After taking an online sample test on the Microcrash web site, and reading about the failure rate for first timers I feel like I wasted a lot of time already.



How about a program where I can just hand them $10k and they give me a certificate?



Doc

 

[JConley]

The Cisco Certifications are worth a whole lot more than any Microsoft Exam. Microsoft Exams are a way for Microsoft to make money. If you want a microsoft cert, just buy the exam crams, and learn the test. You dont need to spend 10 grand to get microsoft certified. Thousands of people are "paper MCSE's". They are the ones that pass the tests, but never worked on a Microsoft network. The only thing a Microsoft certification is good for is to get you past the HR person screening the job applicants. Some managers that are looking to hire someone have the illusion that if you have an MCSE, then you must know something. In reality, all an MCSE means is that you can pass a test. Once past the HR person, the people doing the interview are going to test what you know, and not take the MCSE at face value. Again just because you have an MCSE doesnt mean you know jack.



Cisco exams are tough, and more respected. I dont think there is any way for a person to get Cisco certified and not have a clue. The highest Cisco certification requires a test, and after you pass that, then you pay to fly out to California where you have the practical exam. They give you hardware, a design of what they want the end result to be, and then you have a few hours to program the routers so the design works.

 

[Todd G]

I have both CCNA and MCSE. Looking back, the Microsoft tests were much harder than the Cisco tests. I'm not sure if either is worth the time and money right now. Too many paper MCSE's is correct.



The value of the CCNA cert devalued about a year ago when they started teaching Cisco classes in high school. Who's going to pay a recent high school grad and CCNA a big salary like $50,000. They start them at $25,000 now... ... ... .

 

[BigCarl64]

The whole IT industry has been degraded by all the "paper" experts from India and elsewhere. I have seen countless number of resumes and certifications faked. If I were a young guy starting out again, I would stay away from anything IT related.

 

[TowPro]

MCSE. I had some NT4 experience, but only stuff like using it as a dns and dhcp server. My last company sent me to a boot camp they put on for there own employees. I passed the complete series of tests in 10 days. I also feel this Cert says you know enough to learn more about Microsilly stuff. I have meet some good and bad mcse's through the years. There are MCSE's out there pulling down some good money, but they had to pay there dues.



CCNA. This is just the starter level into the Cisco Stuff. This proves you can "run" a router or switch in somebody's network. I feel this is a better way to go then Microsilly, but there is less openings for Cisco. I had to take this test 2X to pass. They cover a little bit of a lot of information. There also is the CCDP which is design oreinated. After either of these tests you take a couple more for the CCNP or CCDP, These certs show your really into Cisco stuff. I have just the CCNA.



CCMA Citrix Metaframe. Again, never used it, went to a 2 day school and took the test and passed. Over the Years I have run into Citrix a couple times and I was glad I took the course.



CCNA Certified CheckPoint Network Administrator. This is centered around Check Point Firewall. I had firewall experience in the past, I had a chance to attend a 2 week boot camp for this so I jumped on it. Passed this test in 2 trys. You need this to take the next level.



CCNE CheckPoint Network Engineer. This says I can install and run a checkpoint firewall for you. Passed this test in 1 try (after working 1 year with the product). This is one of the devices I work on every day.



CISSP. My next step? I have switched from "do it all" to network/data security so I guess this is one of my next choices.



Maybe I will go get my Bachelors degree next. 18 months straight every Monday night at Immaculata University (A girls collage during the day )



Looking back, I don't feel any of them were a waist of time. Working in the Information Security Dept. I get to deal with experts in each field every day, so its nice to talk to them at there level (even if there wrong!)