Which is better CCNA or MCSE to start with ?

The most common ambiguity among beginners or middle level employees that which cert is the best to start with for better future.


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The first choice we make by our will that which cert is we want to do in which we are interested and follow the track, but if we don't make the choice than the choice will make us, Both altogether are different fields from each other and to start we should know our interest, if not than lets see the comparison..

MCSE is based upon Microsoft windows server 2003 which target Microsoft Exchange Server, ISA Server, DNS, DHCP, Active Directory, FTP Server, Web Server, File Server, Print Server, FSMO Roles, Group Policy etc.., these stuff come under system administration/engineer and its scope is little as compared with CCNA, the most important of Microsoft is its TCP/IP protocol stack. But with MCSE will not pay you as much as CCNA will do.

CCNA depend upon administering switches and routers and the topics we target here are Networking Fundamentals, IP addressing, Subnetting, Operating Cisco Devices, Routing Protocols, Routed Protocols, LAN, WAN, Network Security etc... after doing this you should get a post of network engineer of junior network engineer and we will work on layer three mean on routers. Next step is to go for CCNP but with relevant experience because without it getting desired job is difficult. This level pays well and continue with cert hunt till you get CCIE, your ultimate goal to success. CCNA scope is larger than MCSE and CCNA pays well, gone are the days of MCSE. CCNA is the easiest and the starting level of your networking career and hopefully you will not regret it.

According to polls and survey's on various websites and forums it is seen that this track is favored by most CCNA > CCNP > CCIE. Also the combination of both CCNA and MCSE are also favored by most in different forums and in practical life as well.

My say is this that go for CCNA for those who are in doubt of making a decision to start with.

Best of Luck.

Waqas Rafi
Editor