Check Out “60 Days to MCSE” at BTL

BTL stands for Born to Learn, Microsoft Learning’s catch-all blog clearinghouse for all things related to training, education, certification, and career development. In the past month, in the wake of the reborn MSCE and MCSA certifications, BTL has launched a dedicated forum area called “60 Days to MCSE.” Given that five exams are required for this new credential, I hope it’s obvious that this kind of aggressive time line only applies to those individuals who already have an MCITP (or multiple MCTS) credentials, and who simply need to pick up one or two more exams to meet all of the requirements for the newly-relaunched MCSE in one of its subject areas (Business Intelligence or BI, Data Platform/SQL Server stuff, and Private Cloud/System Center 2012).

Find links to all kinds of useful prep stuff in this new BTL forum

Even if you’re not ready to climb aboard the MCSE bandwagon in a couple of months if you’re interested in digging into this newly-revised Microsoft cert program (and the MCSA and MCSD besides), you’ll find this online forum worth digging into. There’s ongoing status info and updates on the forthcoming MSCA (and I expect news about the MCSD to surface here soon as well), along with three discussion groups for the various MCSE specialties already declared (BI, Data Platform, and Private Cloud), plus general news and information.

In addition, Matt Griffin, an IT blogger based in Indianapolis and driving force behind “Matt Blogs IT” has been blogging about his personal approach to and experiences with 60 Days to MCSE since April 20, 2012. Read his first post from that date at “#60Days2MCSE Challenge – The Plan – The Resources,” then follow forward links to learn about his progress from that point forward. Note further that the hash tag in the post title — #60Days2MCSE, that is — is a Twitter handle for the stalwart group of cert-heads who are hell-bent to meet this objective, where you can tune in to hear about their progress, experiences, and bumps in the road to a new MCSE. Matt’s initial post also includes a compendium of cert prep resources for the new MCSE that is worth a visit all by itself.

This should be an interesting wave to follow, or perhaps even to surf, if you’re so inclined. Lots of interesting stuff going on in the new MCSE/MCSA arena, so be sure to check it out!

Follow-up note: 5/14/2012, 1:14 PM: Thanks to Veronica Sopher of Microsoft Learning, I can also now provide a link to the original “60 Days to MCSE” BTL post. She adds that this is an organic, community-initiated and widely followed group that’s working together (and both asking for and getting Microsoft support) to jump on the MCSE certification early. Start your journey at this link, please!