Is there a certification that is just a general microsoft certification? MOUS concentrates on boring things such as Excel and Word. And I don’t think I’m ready for the engineering certification yet. Do I have to pass multiple tests to become certified? My college offers a “continuing education” class for Network+ certification. If I get that, will it do me any good, or will I have to pass a zillion other tests in order to have anything worth while. To summerize my frustration, do these classes build upon one another and then you recieve a certification, or can you take one test, one class, and be microsoft certified. Any other information would be great.
(Sorry, I know this alot of crap and unorganized but I’m late for class! :p)
there are a number of certifications avaiable from Microsoft. What are you interested in? To be honest to many companies they are not worth much. Experience in the field is more important. I think that if you are going to take classes: I would try to get some programming / systems analysis / Data Base theory / and some logic classes. These will serve you with any computer product, not just whats in favor where you work at now. This is just Microsoft’s way of extracting more money.
If you pass just one of the test in the MCSE series, you’re an MCP (Microsoft Certified Professional). Click here for more info, though.
The Advanced Data Services division of my company will be needing an estimated 5 thousand new hires over the next five years. My electronics background got me into this job, and the fact that I had taken and passed just one of the Microsoft certifications was enough to get me hired at the top of the pay scale. It depends on what the demand for high tech jobs is in your area.
There are a variety of certification options. Look here: http://www.microsoft.com/trainingandservices/default.asp?PageID=training&RLD=111 Essentially, if you pass one test, you’re a certified prfoessional in that area of study. My experience and the experience of others in my field is that these certifications won’t help you unless you already know what you’re doing and have some technical experience. In other words, a certificate is not going to land you a job, but it may open some doors for you. What you know and can apply is what counts. It takes a great deal of time and effort to prepare for these exams. Professional developers and consultants often do not have the time or need to “get certified”. In fact, many of the items you will be tested on, particularly in the MCSD or DBA courses, are seldom appropriate or acceptable in “real-world” development. (I know several developers with 15-20 years experience, really bright guys, who performed poorly on the cert exams).
As a side note, be wary of consultants with lots and lots of certifications. Personal observation has shown that those string of letters after a name often substitute for a lack of hands-on technical expertise. After all, if you’re spending all your time keeping your certs up to date, when do you have time to put your knowledge to practice? 
Some companies even keep people like this on their payroll as figureheads to troll for contracts.
Good luck!
thanks for all the advise. I understand that hands-on work is more important, but as a college student I think going into the “real-world” with something that says I’ve done more than get my credits to graduate would give me an edge on everyone. I’m still only a freshman, so I’ll have plenty of time figure everything out I assume. Plus I think it would be cool to just tell everyone, ya I was microsoft certified at age 18. 
thanks for the help. I’ll start hitting the certification for dummies books now.