Individuals who currently hold the MCSE certification for the Windows NT 4.0
track have only until December 31,2001 to upgrade to the Windows 2000 MCSE
before they are de-certified.
The process of upgrading takes at least two exams, exam 70-240 (known as the
"upgrade" exam), and another Win 2000 optional from a list of choices. The
famous Microsoft exam 70-240 is one of the most misunderstood exams in
network certifications. Many people believe that this exam tests the
differences between NT 4.0 and Windows 2000, and most "upgrade" courses,
including the Microsoft course 1560: "Updating Support Skills from Microsoft
Windows NT 4.0 to Microsoft Windows 2000", focus almost entirely on the
major differences between the two operating systems. Exam 70-240 is not a
short cut to Windows 2000 certification. It is rather a combination of all
four of the MCSE Windows 2000 core certification exams.
In order to be successful on the exam, candidates are required to be VERY
familiar with all topics covered in the four core courses, not just the
major O\S differences. The exam is four hours long, considerably longer than
other Microsoft exams. As Microsoft themselves say on their training
website, Exam 70-240 measures all of the skills tested by exams 70-210 (2000
Professional), 70-215 (2000 Server), 70-216 (Network Infrastructure), and
70-217 (Active Directory).
The general misunderstanding on what exam 70-240 covers has led to some
very interesting statistics for MCSE's. Though Microsoft is keeping mum
about the exact numbers, other reputable sources including TechRepublic
state that less than 10% of the world's MCSEs have upgraded to an MCSE
2000, to date. A leading IT school in Britain quotes exam 70-240 as having
an 84.3% failure rate worldwide. Many IT experts are convinced that the main
purpose of the exam is to weed out the infamous "paper MCSEs" from the
market, increasing the value of the certification. MCSEs who are not
successful in passing exam 70-240 must pass all four core 2000
certification exams. Candidates can only attempt the exam once. If they
fail, they must pass all four individual exams.
At Gigablink, we believe that these trends will result in an elevation of
the competency and industry perception of the MCSE. Now, more than ever, to
succeed in IT requires practical experience; hands on reinforcement of
theoretical knowledge.
We also believe that preparing to pass this difficult exam takes special
measures. We do not believe that one week of classroom study is adequate
for candidates to understand and be able to implement and support Windows
2000 at a professional level. (Microsoft themselves are recommending a
minimum of six months hands-on experience before attempting the exam!)
We are excited to offer our solution! We have custom designed a course that
covers all topics from the four core Microsoft Windows 2000 courses. These
four courses are usually four separate weeks of training, if following the
regular MCSE 2000 track. Our custom designed solution, for NT 4.0 pros
only, is a two-week session. By restricting entry to the course to those
candidates who hold the required three NT 4.0 certifications, (NT
Workstation, NT Server, NT in the Enterprise), we ensure that minimal time
is spent on the NT basics and networking basics, and most of the course is
devoted to an in depth study of Windows 2000, with an extremely strong
focus on hands on skills and experience. After successful completion of the
two-week session, candidates will be well positioned to "ace" exam 70-240.
More importantly, successful candidates will enjoy a wealth of knowledge
and experience in Windows 2000 that will enable them to plan, implement, and
support the technology competently and professionally, with the peace of
mind that knowing your stuff gives you.
We currently have the "Microsoft Windows 2000 Core Skills (Exam 70-240)"
sessions running each month until December, 2001. These camps have a
limited attendance to ensure a highly successful learning environment. For
more information about upcoming sessions and prices, please contact us at
sa...@gigablink.com, or call 902-468-9283.
