Over the past three years, the Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE)
certification has undergone a revolutionary change—and it's a process of change
that has yet to be completed. IT pros who hold an MCSE based on Windows 2000,
especially those obtained in the year 2000, must seriously examine the changes
made to this certification to ensure that they're not stripped of the MCSE
label. Here are some things to consider as you plan to upgrade your
certification.Option to swap the 2000 exam for the XP exam
The Windows 2000 MCSE is based on five core exams and two electives. The five core exams consist of four operating system (OS) exams and one design exam, which you select from a list of four options. You can choose your two electives from a list of more than 25 exams. Originally, all four of the OS exams focused on the Windows 2000 family (Professional, Server, Network Infrastructure, and Directory Services). However, with the release of the Windows XP Professional exam (70-270), you can swap out your Windows 2000 Professional exam (70-210) for the new client exam.
Retirement for NT and W2K?
When the Windows 2000 MCSE certification path was announced, Microsoft publicized the retirement date of the Windows NT MCSE. Certification holders were granted a limited time in which to upgrade; if they didn't, they'd lose their MCSE status. The NT-to-2000 MCSE upgrade process offered two options: take a single exam (70-240) or take all seven required exams. Fortunately, Microsoft eventually repealed the Windows NT MCSE retirement plan, but the 70-240 single upgrade exam was retired after being active for less than a year. Although the Windows NT MCSE is still a valid certification today—even in Microsoft's eyes—all of the exams required to obtain Windows NT MCSE have been long retired.
The move to Windows 2003 MCSE promises a limited time for the quick upgrade via two upgrade exams (70-292 and 70-296). Microsoft has yet to announce formal retirement dates for either the Windows NT or Windows 2000 MCSE.
From my perspective, it seems Microsoft finally understands that most organizations are still using operating system technology that's two to six years old, and the efforts to migrate to newer technology are slow. Expertise on legacy systems is sometimes more important to maintaining productivity than obtaining knowledge for new cutting-edge operating systems.
Traveling the revised path
The Windows Server 2003-focused MCSE requires six core exams and one elective exam. The six core exams include four networking system exams, one client operating system exam, and one design exam. (Note: not all of these exams are currently available. Most should be available by the end of 2003.) The four networking system exams are:
- Exam 70–290: Managing and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment
- Exam 70–291: Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure
- Exam 70-293: Planning and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure
- Exam 70-294: Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active Directory Infrastructure
Play video
I am wondering which would be the best method of supporting current market needs, to go for 2003 or windows XP?
If MCSE certification is to help people who wants to support industry's need to maintain network systems then MS should not introduce the Windows XP program.
As I am a student, I would rather spend time upgrading myself with things that are useful in the IT world then to spend money on OS that the industry would not need.
Please give advice.
Posted by Wilson Wong on Tuesday, August 26 2003 09:24 AM