News
Help Desk, Desktop Support Certs Mind-Meld
Microsoft joins two other certification groups in collaborating efforts to promote desktop technician and tech support certifications.
Microsoft Corp. has joined the Help Desk Institute and Computer Technology
Industry Association in a joint effort to promote their certifications
to IT service and support personnel and employers. The announcement was
made by all three groups earlier this week at The Help Desk Institute's
HDI University event in Chicago. Details on how the companies plan to
promote the certifications have not been released.
The combined effort is aimed at promoting the well-rounded technical
support specialist, who can show expertise in PC hardware and software
support and be able to deliver that support using soft skills such as
good communication with customers and diligence in problem-solving. According
to Ron Muns, HDI's chief executive officer, "It made perfect sense
for us to join with CompTIA and Microsoft in educating professionals and
their employers about the need for both types of certifications."
Back in October 2003, HDI and Microsoft had announced an agreement to
collaborate on promoting their certifications (click
here to read that release). Microsoft also has an existing agreement
with CompTIA that allows CompTIA's certifications to be used to fulfill
some requirements of Microsoft certifications. In particular, CompTIA's
A+, Network+, Server+ and Security+ in various combinations can be used
in lieu of taking an MCSA elective exam. (Click
here to view the MCSA requirements.)
The Help Desk Institute is an association for service and support personnel
and offers two certifications aimed specifically at that group: Customer
Support Specialist and Help Desk Analyst. (As well, HDI has other titles
aimed at help desk managers and IT infrastructure experts.)
The Microsoft Desktop Support Technician title is aimed at tech support
professionals experienced in Windows XP desktop and application management
troubleshooting issues. Microsoft has issued 1,524 MCDST certificates
as of September 9, 2004.
CompTIA's A+ certification is a vendor-neutral certification for PC servicers.
According to the group, well over 600,000 people have obtained an A+.
Click here to read more about
CompTIA's certification programs.
About the Author
Michael Domingo has held several positions at 1105 Media, and is currently the editor in chief of Visual Studio Magazine.