important clarification about Windows 7 certifications

is there an upgrade path to MCITP: EDA7 if you have MCDSt or MCITP:EST?

hoops

Actually, that helps a lot. Thank you Ken. One question. Not sure if you'll be able to answer it yet. Will there be an upgrade path from MCITP: Enterprise Support Technician (on Vista) to MCITP: Enterprise Desktop Administrator (on Windows 7)?

hoops, looks like we were typing the same thing at the same time :)

I second(or now rhird) this questions!

looks like i just beat you to it. i already have the 70-680 so i belive all i have to do is 70-686 but not to sure. would love to see a nice pdf with all windows 7 parts on it.

hoops

I actually feel sorry for the people at MS Learning on this one. They are working hard to get us the information on new certifications as soon as possible, but since it's incomplete information there is a backlash from the community. If they waited until everything was set, we would complain because it was taking too long. If they release it in parts we complain because not all the parts are there. No win situation for them.

A few things:

Which Win7 cert will DDPS require?
The HDI has no mention of this training be available in any language other than English!

So is it correct, there will be a direct Upgrade Certification from MCDST (Windows XP) to MCITP (Windows 7)?

Glad to know that we won't be forced to go with HDI..

And after asking a few months ago, it's great to see there will be a direct upgrade exam (70-682) to go from MCDST to EDA7

(is it just me or is calling a one exam Vista pass person an MCITP the same as someone with an MCITP in Enteriprise Administration sort of un-level. I didn't get to be an MCSE when I wrote my XP exam. It's like the difference between a history phd and a surgeon, they're both doctors.. doesn't make sense to me, get a different name lol)

Piers, just to clarify... 70-682 is the upgrade from MCDST or MCITP:EST to MCITP:EDST7. They haven't announced yet if there will be an upgrade path to EDA7. I'm really hoping there is :)

quite right.. I think I was just going by the cert path on HDI, which doesn't have EDA7 on it.. yet?

http://www.thinkhdi.com/images/Both%20Charts.jpg

perhaps the 682 exam replaces the need for 680 & 685, leaving 686 to be the EDA7

That's the way I understand it. It was the same with Vista minus the HDI requirment.
70-680 gives you MCTS: Windows 7, Configuration
70-680 + 70-685 + HDI gives you MCITP: Windows 7, Enterprise Desktop Support Technician
MDST or MCITP:EST + 70-682 + HDI gives you MCITP: Windows 7, Enterprise Desktop Support Technician

Hopefully MCITP:EST + 70-68? will give us MCITP: Windows 7, Desktop Administrator

Garth, HDI will be available worldwide. They are working to roll out additional languages and will have more information by the time the MCITP exam is in market.

Some have already pointed this out, but just to be clear, there will be an exam (70-682) to upgrade from MCDST (XP)/Desktop Support Technician (Vista) to the new Win 7 Support Certification. You can see the breakout in the HDI site and in the upcoming Win 7 pages that should be out shortly. There is no Desktop Admin (EDA7) upgrade as there wasn’t a previous credential. That’s good feedback though. Our SMEs felt that Desktop Administration were similar, but two sides of the same coin so there isn’t a direct link between them.

Piers, you’re right, an Enterprise Admin isn’t the same “level” as a Support Technician. The MCITP is based on the job role/a specific set of skills. Those jobs are quite different so the certs are quite different. I like your Phd analogy. Or an MCTS in “Virtual Earth” (70-544) and an MCTS in “Active Directory” (70-640). Same credential, vastly different levels of skill. (No offense to anyone who may have the Virtual Earth MCTS!)

So am I correct in assuming that MCTIP: Desktop Administrator will require 70-680 and 70-686?

Quick google turns up this: http://www.thinkhdi.com/hdi.aspx?c=223

which indicates upgrade from DST or MCITP:EST will require one Msft upgrade exam (70-682) AND one of two HDI exams (SCI or DST).

That will result in MCITP: EDST7.

The HDI exams cost approx $225.

So, to upgrade from my MCITP:EST I have to take a $125 test and a $225 test AND pay for any prep materials?

$350?!

Sorry, that's simply too much.

It's good to know that there will be an official Microsoft certification that equates to MCDST or MCITP: Support Technician(s) that does not require the HDI component. Is anybody else confused at how close the names are between the two?

Thank you for the post!

In our view MCITP: Enterprise Desktop Administrator does not equate to the MCDST/(Vista) Support cert. (though I guess it depends on what you mean by "equate".) While they both deal with desktops and there is some overlap (they both require 70-680), Support and Admin are distinct job roles, each with a different focus.

But I think it would also be much better if we take it into consideration to add up an upgrade path for MCITP: EDA.

This is for the benefit of those who acquired the MCDST & MCITP Credential. Well, myself included.

Great news :) Thanks for clarification.

Will it be possible to make an upgrade to MCITP: Enterprise Desktop Administrator 7 for MCDST or MCITP: Enterprise Technician?

When will the 70-680 be available as an academic exam (072-680)??

Well Chris, I have emailed HDI on the subject and there are NO CLASSES listed anywhere near me. None of the CPLS in my area even list any course for HDI! For that matter (based on an email from their support) the course are not offer in French! To quote the email “ If there are any Canadian listings available those will be on the calendar and taught in English.”

Ken,

The exam prep guide for 70-685 (http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/exam.as...) includes this note:

When you pass Exam 70-685: Pro: Windows 7, Enterprise Desktop Support Technician, you complete the requirements for the following certification(s):
Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP): Enterprise Desktop Support Technician 7

Is this statement incorrect?

HDI is working the the Microsoft CPLS channel to expand distribution world wide. The HDI-SCA instructor-led course is available in English, German, French, and Japanese today. And is being translated to Portuguese by HDI-Brasil.

Mary, "complete the requirements" assumes you have taken the prerequisites (70-680, one of the required HDI exams).

Since the 682 seems to have the same finish line as the 680 + 685 exams, how long until we see an exam guide for 682, and will there be a similar beta (& voucher) for MCDST's as there was for the 71-680 exam? :D

70-682 is an upgrade exam so it is created from parts of the exam track. Because the content will have already gone through beta by that point, there isn't a psychometric need to beta upgrade exams.

Once we've finished with 685 and determine which bits are used in 682 we can get the prep guide posted. Generally upgrade exams come out roughly 90 days after their component exams have been published.

Are there any books or study materials available for the 70-680 exam yet?

Will the 70-685 exam have a beta period? If so, what dates will the beta exam be available.

Hi!
I see no mention of a track for existing MCITPs for Vista Consumer Support. I know there's only 1600 of us to date but will there be an upgrade option for us? 70-680 + something else?

Also, I think HDI is a poor choice of partner. While the HDI exams may be somewhat popular in the US I dont think they have anything near the recognition elsewhere. I've never seen a European employer ask for candidates with a HDI cert.
A far better choice would have been ITIL v3 Foundations. It's popularity has exploded in the last 12 months in particular, it's far cheaper to obtain, and many EMEA based employers now ask for it, even for Level 1 type helpdesk roles.
Please give it some thought. Maybe 70-680 + ITILv3F = something new for MCITP Windows 7?

I agree with James Lee ITIL would make a much better partner

Thanks Mark H!
There's a few in this earlier post that agree on the ITILv3 option ;-)

http://borntolearn.mslearn.net/2009/07/microsof...

When will exams 71-685 and 71-686 go in beta?

On a seperate note, I previously thought "MCITP" was the replacement for MCSA/MCSE.

When recruiters search CVs for MCSE, they get what they're after.

With all these MCITP certs it's hard to stand out from the crowd unless you go for MCA (no thanks).

This thread has gone awful quiet after a busy start. Any update for us Ken?

Guess not...

Good to know.

Good to know.

any new news on this? i went to the HDI page; the "under construction" sign there is falling apart from age.