Value of MTA Certification (Microsoft Technical Associate)

[dclamp]

With so many different types of certificates and training available these days it seems hard to figure out which ones are valuable and which ones are worth nothing.

I have been working on my bachelor's degree for the last few years (with a few more to go...) in Information Technology. I have been wanting to get some certifications under my belt in my free time, specifically ones that I already have a broad knowledge of that I could easily study for. I found Microsoft Technical Associate certificate and had never heard of it before last week.

Anyone hear about it and know if it has any weight to it? If i put it on a resume/application will someone notice it as being valuable?

[Nightwalker83]

Well, a few years ago I went for the certification but failed in my attempt in obtaining it! However, some of me friends also when for it and got the cert. I'm not sure as to how valuable it is though.

[FunkyDexter]

I don't know the specific one in question but in my experience these sort of certs are worth it for Administrator roles (both DBA and Sys Admins) but much less so for programmers. They tend to indicate a detailed knowledge of a particular tool and that tends to be far more useful to someone who's going to administer that tool (pretty crucial actually) than it is for someone whose just going to use it - and developers are really just users as far as the tools are concerned.

[dclamp]

Well I am aiming to my a sys admin or sys analyst. I did some Googling last night as well and found that a lot of people say that the MTA is meant for students and those who are looking for something basic when they do not have any experience, which the higher certifications would require.

I also found a lot of negative view about the MTA saying its too basic and it wouldnt help too much. That I am better off studying for a MCSA or MCSE through Microsoft or even going with CompTIA certifications...

[Shaggy Hiker]

I would say that the MCSE is much more widely known, so I would expect that it is more valuable.

The MTA can also be a trap, though you are FAR too young to know about that.... heck, I'm too young to know about that. If you do get the MTA, perhaps you can help get Charlie off the MTA (you'd probably have to do a bit of searching to even figure out that reference if you are under 60).

[dclamp]

I would say that the MCSE is much more widely known, so I would expect that it is more valuable.

Its amazing how much money it costs to get these certifications. To get the MCSA (Solution Associate) its about $450 (thats 3 tests at $150 each). To get to MCSE its 2 additional tests at $150 each. Total of $750. It only lasts 3 years and you have to recertify .

The MTA can also be a trap, though you are FAR too young to know about that.... heck, I'm too young to know about that. If you do get the MTA, perhaps you can help get Charlie off the MTA (you'd probably have to do a bit of searching to even figure out that reference if you are under 60).

Not even going to....