Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST)

[darrenwis]

Hi,

I am trying to change IT direction and going into maybe a support role to start. There are not many jobs around at the moment (coming from a teaching perspective) but I have seen this qualification:

Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST)


Has anyone got one of these? The course I can get for £250 but would need to pass the exam by end of June. Is the qualification worth it to get me started within IT support?

Please ignore my other post as this is a different topic.

Darren

 

[unitedco]

Hi Darren,

With windows XP lifecycle coming to a end it will be easier and cheaper to go for your windows 7 certs without doing a course as you if you pass it will be from your own experience and not from a text book.

Nathan

 

[darrenwis]

Hi Darren,

With windows XP lifecycle coming to a end it will be easier and cheaper to go for your windows 7 certs without doing a course as you if you pass it will be from your own experience and not from a text book.

Nathan

Hi Nathan,

Thanks for this, so you don't think that course is worth it for £249? I am basically an ICT Teacher but the job market is so poor and I am on general supply. The reason I looked at a course was because it would give me some structure.

Is there an equivilant for Windows 7? I am basically trying to start out in the IT sector because I haven't had any experience of it before, apart from teaching ICT. I can't really do it on the job as I haven't found a job in ICT yet.

Any advice would be great though!

 

[unitedco]

i would have a look at http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/certification/mcitp.aspx#tab2

when it comes 2 ms exams i always find personal experiences are better than a text book.

 

[RemoteTechs]

i would have a look at http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/certification/mcitp.aspx#tab2

when it comes 2 ms exams i always find personal experiences are better than a text book.

I would have to agree with this, Microsoft exams are well constructed and do call on experience as well as book smarts to pass.
We still see a lot of XP machines out there and migrations are generally pretty slow, but as unitedco mentioned with the XP lifecycle coming to an end most companies will probably skip Vista and go straight to windows 7, I would also consider something like CompTIA Net+, most companies like to see a basic level of networking skills in with the mix, its a decent intro course and demonstrates a good mix of skills with something like an MCP.
Good luck with it