To bootcamp or not to bootcamp?
That is the question.

by Brian Simmons, MCT, MCSD .NET, MCDBA

Maybe your pointy-haired boss has given you the mandate to "Get Certified, or Get Out!". Okay, perhaps she/he didn't put it like that. Maybe you're looking to make a career change and think a Microsoft premier certification will give you that extra edge you're seeking during a job interview over other potential candidates. Perhaps you just want to earn your certification for your own personal career growth and sense of personal achievement. Or possibly, you just want to beef up your resume and add some cool new logos to your business cards.

Whatever the reason for pursuing your major Microsoft certification (MCSE, MCSA, MSCD .NET, MCAD or MCDBA), you've got a tough road ahead learning the material so that you can pass the exams. You'll spend a lot of time reading and studying books that you can get your hands on, and relying on your real-world experience, but you may feel that it's not quite enough to make certain that you pass the exams. One option that you have in your certification pursuit is to attend an MCSE Bootcamp, MCSA Bootcamp, MCDBA Bootcamp, MCSD .NET Bootcamp, or MCAD Bootcamp.

So, most people hear the word "bootcamp" and start conjuring up images of buzzcuts, push-ups, camouflage fatigues, obstacle courses and some no-nonsense drill instructor. Well fear not, Microsoft certification bootcamps don't have any of these perils waiting for you when you show up. Basically, an MCAD / MCSA / MCDBA / MCSD / MCSE bootcamp is an intense period of instruction and study to prepare you to take and pass the necessary exams to earn your certification. Typically, one of these bootcamps can be anywhere from 5 to 14 days, and usually last 9 to 11 hours per day. Attending one of these bootcamps WILL NOT BE A VACATION! You will have to do some serious prepping before you attend the training, and you'll have to have some intense knowledge absorbation once you're at the class.

So, will you pass your certification exams if you attend one of these bootcamps? Well, chances are good. Many of the bootcamps offer some sort of guarantee and many boast success rates in the 80 to 90 percent range. But it's not as easy as just showing up to the bootcamp, you will have to work hard during your time there.

I've put together a list of considerations you should factor into your bootcamp selection process:

1. How much does the bootcamp cost? Even if your employer is paying for it, does it seem like a reasonable price?
2. Are meals included? What about airfare? How about lodging or hotel accomodations? Does the bootcamp have any affiliate relationships for hotel or flight discounts?
3. What training materials are included during the bootcamp? Will the bootcamp fax you a few pages of the materials so that you can see/judge the quality for yourself?
4. What is the classroom environment like? Does every student/attendee have their own computer(s) or must they share? Obviously having your own PC is a major benefit versus sharing with a stranger.
5. What are the scheduled hours for the training days? When are breaks given and how often? Does this seem like something you'll be able to handle?
6. Who is the instructor? What are their credentials? How long have they been certified? Ask for a bio. Ask to see student evaluations or possibly even contact numbers of students that have had this instructor. Search for the instructor's name on Microsoft newsgroups to see if they're an active member of the community.
7. What's the syllabus for the bootcamp?
8. What are the prerequisites for the bootcamp? In other words, what should you study up on before attending, to get the best possible experience out of your time there. Again, does this seems like something you'll be able to accomplish before attending the bootcamp?
9. Are the computer labs available after class and during the evening hours? Is an instructor or support person available during those times?
10. Is any exam prep software or testing simulation software available during the bootcamp?
11. Are you able to take the certification exams while on-site? Are you allowed to retake the exam if you fail? If so, how many times?
12. Is financing available, in case you're paying for the bootcamp out of your own pocket?
13. How much time is given between major topics so that you are able to absorb what you've been taught?
14. What is the percentage of hands-on experience versus classroom lectures?
15. What's the typical class size and what's the cut-off point for the number of students?
16. What are the local attractions, in case your family is coming with as a vacation?
17. What's the pass-rate of their bootcamp attendees and do they have a policy/guarantee for passing the certification?

If you get the answers to these questions from a bootcamp representative, you should certainly have enough knowledge and information to make a well-informed decision as to whether attend that particular bootcamp or not.

I think it's important to realize that the goal of the bootcamps is to get you certified. Certainly you will learn tips, tricks, and techniques that will help in your real-world job, but remember the focus of the course is for you to pass the certification exams. Instructors usually won't dive too much into the personal job-related technical support issues of their students. Take this into consideration when attending a bootcamp, focus on the passing the exams, not on the "well at my company we do things..." type of scenarios.

The following collection of links have some bootcamps listed for you to take into consideration:

Recommended Certification Books:
MCSE Windows Server 2003 Core Training Guide (Exams 70-290, 70-291, 70-293, & 70-294)	MCSA Windows Server 2003 Boxed Set (Exams 70-290, 70-291, & 70-270)	MCAD Developing and Implementing Web Applications with Microsoft Visual Basic .NET and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET Exam Cram 2 (Exam Cram 70-305)	MCSA/MCSE/MCDBA: SQL Server 2000 Administration Study Guide, 2nd Edition (70-228)	MCAD/MCSD Self-Paced Training Kit: Microsoft .NET Core Requirements, Exams 70-305, 70-315, 70-306, 70-316, 70-310, 70-320, and 70-300