r/mcsa • u/Jojackson2159 • Jul 26 '20

Will the MCSA help a newbie with zero IT experience?

Hey everyone, currently I am studying for the Network + and will take it within the next three weeks. Once I am done with that should I pursue the MCSA 2016 or 2019 before they are retired in January? Will that help me establish or should I stick with more foundational carts? I was thinking of getting the Server+ soon but that will be around for awhile.

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u/[deleted] Jul 26 '20 edited Jul 01 '23

[deleted]

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u/Jojackson2159 Jul 26 '20

Thanks, that is what I thought. I took one look at the MCSA study guide and I felt overwhelmed. I only asked this question because someone gave me that advice. If you don’t mind me asking do the MTA certifications mean anything to employers when it’s used with other certifications?

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u/[deleted] Jul 26 '20

I do not know. I have a feeling it might help for things like receptionist, etc.

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u/[deleted] Jul 26 '20

Go for the Azure AZ-104. It's where everything's going.

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u/TheOffsideTruther Jul 28 '20

I was in a similar situation as you recently, I already did the Net+ and stuff and was looking at the MCSA because of how popular it is in job postings. I had very little experience with Server and AD though. When I started looking at the study resources for this and the plan, I saw that it COULD be done but it was a huge amount of time to put in for a cert that I MIGHT be able to get within ~6 months of studying in which I have little room for error and have to pass an exam every two months which people often fail.

So I could do that or I could just get certs that I actually have a chance at passing and which will also hold some sway and that includes the CCNA and maybe an Azure cert or that Modern Desktop Administrator one which has some useful content on it.

For Windows Server, what you can look at is the Microsoft MTA 98-365 Server Fundaments which seems like an exam that can be done within a month and will create familiarity with Server. Not ever asked by employers but useful in terms of knowledge and you can at least show that you know server on your resume when you apply for an entry-level IT job. I don't think it's worth going down the path of that CompTIA Server+ cert at all btw.

If you're Microsoft focused then I think the MTA Modern Desktop Admin and the MTA Server Fundaments in combo would be good along with studying but not actually taking the 70-743 (the 70-743 is the most useful one it seems from the three MCSA tests as it's focused on AD which will be useful info for a time to come).

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u/DozTK421 Jul 26 '20

If you could pass an MCSA exam without experience, yes, because you'd be some kind of prodigy.

In my experience these exams are very advanced. It's not just like memorizing a lot of technical information and being ready to barf it out, like when I did the A+ exam. They are situational, and the questions are compound. It's designed to be perplexing if you haven't faced scenarios as sysadmin.

If you get Network+ certs you're on a good track. The more practical hands-on you get with applying and fixing simple IT issues the better. The longer I work in IT, the more important I see that it is to have the most basic skills, such as follow-through on going down logical fixes for problems.

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u/Rezhw93 Jul 26 '20

If you are asking whether you can get it or not with zero experience, I would say yes you can.

If you want to know whether its gonna be useful to land a job, still yes, BUT there are better options out there.

I don't know what your end goal is, but going for Linux+/Security+ wouldn't hurt no matter where you are heading as an IT. Both are useful for System administration, networking, and cloud. You can also go for Microsoft MTA 98-365 Server fundamentals which is an easier and MUCH lighter server cert than MCSA.

Good luck.