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New MCITP Title for W7
At WPC, Microsoft introduced a new Professional-level certification for Windows 7 that adds a twist, with a requirement that candidates pass one of two hardware-based exams from the Help Desk Institute.
At WPC this week, Microsoft introduced a new Professional-level certification for Windows 7 that adds a twist to an existing title. The MCITP: Enterprise Desktop Support Technician 7, or MCITP: EDST7, resembles its MCITP: Enterprise Desktop Administrator counterpart, but requires that candidates pass one of two hardware-based exams from the Help Desk Institute.
According to this Born to Learn blog post, the upcoming MCITP: EDST7 title tests a candidates skills to implement Windows 7 and ability to deliver those skills in a customer service environment. Candidates get through the first part by passing two exams:
Candidates then need to pass the latter third of the credential by passing one of these required exams:
These exams were developed by the Help Desk Institute to test knowledge of hardware implementation and soft skills, such as proper problem resolution, fundamentals of help desk suport; these exams have been available for some time.
What makes the MCITP; EDST7 certification unique is that it's the first time Microsoft has made an external program's certification exams a requirement for obtaining an MCP credential. "This new certification credential is specifically targeted to technical service and support staff," Microsoft's e-mail explains, "an area where HDI’s expertise compliments the technical expertise that the Microsoft certification has always represented."
Microsoft also said that it wants candidates to understand the difference between this title's emphasis on support staff soft skills and the MCITP: Enterprise Desktop Administrator title, which lacks those testing components.
Exam 70-680 went live this week; 70-685 is expected later this year. Information on how to get credit for the HDI exams toward the MCITP: EDST7 title is here.
About the Author
Michael Domingo has held several positions at 1105 Media, and is currently the editor in chief of Visual Studio Magazine.