Frequently Asked Questions About MCSE

The Microsoft Windows Server 2003 family takes the best of Microsoft Windows 2000 Server technology and makes it easier to deploy, manage, and use. For more information, see the Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Web site.

Microsoft has developed independent certification requirements for Windows Server 2003. The certification requirements for Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) on Windows Server 2003 differ from those for MCSE on Windows 2000. However, if you complete your MCSE or MCSA certification in Windows 2000, you can take advantage of an upgrade path that will enable you to update your certification to Windows Server 2003 in a time-effective and cost-effective manner. See MCSE on Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Certification Requirements for exam details.

No. You can start your training and experience with Windows Server 2003. However, any skills you acquire with Windows 2000—either through hands-on experience or training—will be highly relevant to and provide a solid foundation for an upgrade to Windows Server 2003. See MCSE on Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Certification Requirements for training details.

Yes. Although your Windows 2000 skills are highly relevant and provide a solid foundation for a migration to Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 has significant new or changed technologies. The skills that you acquire when you work with Windows 2000 will be highly relevant. They will provide a solid foundation for an upgrade to Windows Server 2003. Additional study may be necessary to be fully prepared.

The Windows Server 2003 core and upgrade exams are available now. View the New and Upcoming Exams page for more information about elective and specialization exam availability.

The Windows Server 2003 upgrade exam for MCSAs covers a direct subset of the job tasks that are included in typical MCSE skills. The skills tested by the MCSA upgrade exam are expected to be part of an MCSE's job tasks.

Yes. Exam 70-292: Managing and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment for an MCSA Certified on Windows 2000 is part of the upgrade path for an MCSE on Windows 2000. It includes objectives that validate the skills set of an MCSA on Windows Server 2003.

Each upgrade exam costs the same as all other MCP exams. For example, each upgrade exam costs US$125.

The Windows Server 2003 exams do not include labs or a practicum. However, the exams may include various innovative testing technologies to present a more realistic visual representation of the products that you are being tested on. This is so that your exam experience more consistently reflects the types of tasks that you perform on the job.

The MCSE on Windows 2000 credential is appropriate for IT professionals who work in the typically complex computing environment of medium-to-large organizations. We recommend that an MCSE on Windows 2000 have at least one year of experience implementing and administering a server operating system.

The following skills are covered by the Windows 2000 exams:

All exams that relate to Windows NT 4.0 were discontinued, including Exam 70-059: Internetworking with Microsoft TCP/IP on Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 and Exam 70-087: Implementing and Supporting Microsoft Internet Information Server 4.0. Candidates must upgrade their skills tested by these exams to adequately support Windows 2000. These skills are covered by the Windows 2000 core exams and are no longer considered elective skills. Although these and other elective exams are no longer available, they still apply to the Windows 2000 track.

The networking skills that are required in today's workplace have evolved significantly since the time that Exam 70-058: Networking Essentials was introduced. For example, TCP/IP skills are now mandatory. Additionally, advancing technology has had an effect on the skills required. Windows 2000 offers many more networking capabilities than Windows NT does. The concepts covered by the Networking Essentials exam are fundamental to mastering the skills covered by Exam 70-216: Implementing and Administering a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network Infrastructure and Exam 70-221: Designing a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network Infrastructure. Additionally, the skills covered in these two exams go beyond those covered by Exam 70-058: Networking Essentials.

The Windows NT 3.51 exams were discontinued on June 30, 2000. MCSEs who passed the Windows NT 3.51 core exams were required to upgrade their certifications by June 30, 2001 to remain certified. See Discontinuation of Exams for more information.

The Windows NT 4.0 exams have not been available since March 1, 2001. However, MCSEs who have passed the required exams remain certified as MCSEs on Windows NT 4.0.

The primary benefit of upgrading to the new certification is to keep your skills set current with changing technology. Microsoft is continually reviewing the MCP benefits package to offer ongoing benefits to MCPs who keep their certification current.

Internet-related skills are an important part of MCSE on Windows 2000. Therefore, Windows 2000 exams are not included in the MCP+I certification. The last date to take Windows NT 4.0 exams was February 28, 2001.

Microsoft has developed independent certification requirements for Windows Server 2003. The certification requirements for MCSE on Windows Server 2003 differ from those for MCSE on Windows 2000. However, if you complete your MCSE or MCSA certification in Windows 2000, you will be able to take advantage of an upgrade path that will enable you to update your certification to Windows Server 2003 in a time-effective and cost-effective manner. See MCSE on Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Certification Requirements for exam details.

You are no longer certified as an MCSE on Windows NT 4.0. To be certified as an MCSE on Windows NT 4.0, you must have met both the core and elective requirements for NT 4.0. Exam 70-077 was discontinued in June 2000 as part of the Windows NT 3.51 exam discontinuations. If you did not meet the upgrade requirements for Exam 70-077 by June 30, 2001, then you are no longer certified on Windows NT 4.0. See Discontinuation of Exams for more information.

Yes. If you pass a qualifying MCSE elective now, you will again be certified as an MCSE on Windows NT 4.0. Please see the MCSE on Windows NT 4.0 requirements page for details on electives that are currently available.

The version of a credential is determined by the operating system or architecturally significant platform; the purpose of elective exams is to test skills that are outside the typical system environment. This allows candidates to structure their certification to reflect their particular job functions and career interests.

The purpose of core exams is to test skills required by a candidate who designs and implements the infrastructure for business solutions that are based on an operating system or architecturally significant platform. The purpose of elective exams is to test skills that are outside the typical system environment. Windows NT 4.0 core exams do not test skills outside the system environment.

Microsoft is introducing specializations because individuals are asking for a way to identify their focus in a particular technical field, and IT managers are asking for a way to identify those individuals. With increasing numbers of individuals pursuing certification, and with expertise being sought after in many specific areas, customers want a way to distinguish proficiency in a given field.

A certification validates and identifies competency in a specific job role. A specialization validates and identifies job role competency that is applied to a specific technical field. Specializations allow individuals who currently have or who are seeking certifications to highlight their focus in a specific field.

No. A certification specialization proves and identifies a focus on a specific technical field. However, the job role proficiency that is validated by the certification is the same for an MCSE with or without a specialization.

Messaging and Security specializations are available on Windows 2000 and Windows Server 2003. Candidates can achieve MCSE: Messaging or MCSE: Security on Windows 2000 today and can start taking exams for MCSE: Messaging and MCSE: Security on Windows Server 2003. The final exams that are required for MCSE: Messaging and MCSE: Security on Windows Server 2003 will be available in early 2004.

Yes. If you have already taken a specialization requirement to satisfy your MCSE elective requirement, you are one step closer to achieving your specialization.

Upgrade requirements for specializations will vary. You may need to meet additional requirements beyond those that are necessary to upgrade your MCSE certification. See each specific certification specialization page for full details on upgrade requirements.

The MCSE credential requires individuals to demonstrate a breadth and depth of skills that are related to designing and implementing a Windows 2000 or Windows Server 2003 infrastructure. Microsoft also offers elective exams that allow MCSEs to validate specific messaging skills on these platforms.

Microsoft is introducing a new certification specialization, MCSE: Messaging, which will allow systems engineers to demonstrate deep, role-based skills around designing, planning, and implementing a Microsoft Exchange messaging infrastructure on the Windows operating system.

The MCSE: Messaging certification will allow IT professionals to demonstrate messaging-specific skills that are appropriate to the systems engineer job role, which includes designing and planning a Microsoft Exchange organization.

The MCSE: Messaging on Windows 2000 specialization is available as of September 8, 2003. Candidates may start taking exams for MCSE: Messaging on Windows Server 2003 today, although some MCSE: Messaging on Windows Server 2003 requirements will not be available until early 2004.

The MCSE: Messaging specialization will not be made available for Windows NT 4.0.

The MCSE: Messaging certification is for IT professionals in a systems engineer job role who specialize in designing, planning, and implementing an Exchange infrastructure on the Windows operating system.

An MCSE: Messaging candidate should have at least two years of experience implementing and administering desktop and server operating systems, and designing a network infrastructure in the typically complex computing environment of medium-to-large organizations. The candidate should also have at least one year of experience administering Exchange Server environments that involve multiple physical locations, mixed connection protocols, and Internet messaging.

No. To obtain the MCSE: Messaging on Windows 2000 credential, individuals must pass five core exams and two prescribed messaging specialization exams.

No. To obtain the MCSE: Messaging on Windows Server 2003 credential, individuals must pass six core exams and two prescribed messaging specialization exams.

The MCSE on Windows 2000 credential requires five core exams, which includes a core design exam. In contrast, the MCSE on Windows Server 2003 credential requires six core exams, which includes a core design exam. In each case, the MCSE: Messaging specialization is based on the core MCSE credential with two additional messaging specialization exam requirements.

If you have passed the required exams, you will automatically be certified as an MCSE: Messaging on Microsoft Windows 2000. Your transcript will show MCSE: Messaging on Microsoft Windows 2000 in the Microsoft Certification Status section.

To receive your MCSE: Messaging for Microsoft Windows 2000 Welcome Kit, you must first visit the MCP Member Site to verify your mailing address. As soon as you are at the site, follow these steps:

You will receive your Welcome Kit in 4–6 weeks of verifying and submitting your correct shipping address. Welcome Kits will not be shipped without a confirmed address.

Yes. Individuals who achieve MCSE: Messaging on Windows 2000 can upgrade their certification to MCSE: Messaging on Windows Server 2003 by passing these exams:

Exams 70-292, 70-296, 70-284, and 70-285 are all available now.

Both Exchange 2000 Server and Exchange Server 2003 run on the Windows 2000 operating system. Therefore, Exams 70-224 and 70-225, which cover Exchange 2000 Server, and Exams 70-284 and 70-285, which cover Exchange Server 2003, are each valid specialization options for MCSE: Messaging on Windows 2000. However, Exchange 2000 Server is not supported on the Windows Server 2003 operating system. Therefore, Exams 70-224 and 70-225 are not valid specialization options for MCSE: Messaging on Windows Server 2003.

Yes. If you pass all the required exams for MCSA: Messaging on Windows 2000, you will achieve that certification.

Yes. After you pass all the required exams for MCSA: Messaging on Windows Server 2003, you will achieve that certification.

No. Exchange 2000 Server does not run on Windows NT 4.0. Therefore, the MCSE: Messaging certification is unavailable for Windows NT 4.0.

The primary benefit of achieving this certification is that you can demonstrate your skills as a systems administrator with a specific focus on implementing a Microsoft Exchange infrastructure. Individuals who achieve the MCSE: Messaging certification will receive a certificate and wallet card marking the achievement. Your MCP transcript will show "MCSE: Messaging" in the Microsoft Certification Status section with the appropriate operating system version.

The MCSE credential already requires individuals to demonstrate a breadth and depth of skills that are related to Windows 2000 or Windows Server 2003 security. Microsoft also offers elective exams that allow MCSEs to validate specific security skills on these platforms.

Microsoft is introducing a new certification specialization, MCSE: Security, which will allow systems engineers to demonstrate deep, role-based skills around designing, planning, and implementing security on the Windows 2000 and Windows Server 2003 operating system to help create a secure computing environment.

Security is the primary pillar of the Microsoft Trustworthy Computing initiative, and security design and implementation skills are increasingly in demand across the computer industry. In particular, individuals with these skills seek to gain recognition for their expertise and knowledge, and employers that need these skills are keen to identify individuals who have them. By introducing this certification, Microsoft is supporting the "Secure in Deployment" tenet of the Trustworthy Computing security framework and addressing the security certification needs of individuals and employers.

The MCSE: Security certification will allow IT professionals to demonstrate security-specific skills that are appropriate to the systems engineer job role, which includes designing, planning, and implementing security on Windows 2000 or Windows Server 2003. Additionally, this certification will allow individuals to show proficiency with Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2000, Enterprise Edition, or demonstrate security skills beyond the Microsoft platform by achieving CompTIA Security+ certification.

The MCSE: Security certification will allow IT professionals to demonstrate security-specific skills that are appropriate to the systems engineer job role, which includes designing, planning, and implementing security on Windows 2000. Additionally, this certification will allow individuals to show proficiency with Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2000, Enterprise Edition, or demonstrate security skills beyond the Microsoft platform by achieving CompTIA Security+ certification.

The MCSE: Security on Windows 2000 specialization first became available June 3, 2003. Candidates may start taking exams for MCSE: Security on Windows Server 2003 today, although some MCSE: Security on Windows Server 2003 requirements will not be available until early 2004.

An MCSE: Security specialization will not be made available for Windows NT 4.0.

The MCSE: Security certification is for IT professionals in a systems engineer job role who specialize in designing, planning, and implementing security on the Microsoft platform and as part of a secure computing environment.

An MCSE: Security candidate should have at least two years of experience implementing and administering desktop and server operating systems, and designing a network infrastructure in the typically complex computing environment of medium to large organizations. The candidate should also have experience in designing and implementing security for a network infrastructure. Additionally, the candidate should have a broad foundational knowledge of general security concepts, including communications security, infrastructure security, cryptography, and operational and organizational security, or else have specific skills that are related to the implementation of ISA Server 2000 in an enterprise environment.

No. To obtain the MCSE: Security on Windows 2000 certification, individuals must pass four core exams and three prescribed security specialization exams. However, candidates can choose either Exam 70-227: Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration Server 2000 Enterprise Edition, or CompTIA Security+ certification to satisfy one of the specialization options.

No. To obtain the MCSE: Security on Windows Server 2003 certification, individuals must pass five core exams and three prescribed security specialization exams. However, candidates can choose either Exam 70-227: Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration Server 2000, Enterprise Edition, or CompTIA Security+ certification to satisfy one of the specialization options.

The CompTIA Security+ certification is an accepted worldwide standard of competency for foundation-level security practitioners. By obtaining this credential, an individual demonstrates a broad knowledge of security concepts that applies both to Microsoft platforms and to other vendor technologies. This knowledge has particular value to advanced-level IT professionals when combined with core systems engineer skills and platform-specific security design skills.

CompTIA certifications such as Security+ are developed by leading experts from all sectors of the IT industry—including Microsoft—and meet the highest standards of certification testing. The objectives are generated by an extensive job task analysis of professionals performing appropriate job roles. All questions undergo a multilevel review process, making sure that they are accurate and psychometrically sound. Test responses are also validated through rigorous statistical analysis.

Yes. CompTIA Security+ may be counted toward the elective requirement for MCSE on Windows 2000 and MCSE on Windows Server 2003.

Security+ targets IT professionals with at least two years of networking experience and those who have a thorough knowledge of networking protocols. Security+ spans a comprehensive range of security knowledge areas. It was developed with input from individuals in industry, government, and academia. By obtaining this credential, an individual demonstrates a broad knowledge of security concepts that applies both to Microsoft platforms and to other vendor technologies. Microsoft recognizes that these skills are appropriate to all IT professionals, not only those who specialize in security.

See the CompTIA Credentials page for details about how to receive credit for CompTIA credentials.

If you have passed the required exams and if you are using CompTIA Security+ to satisfy one of the security specialization requirements, you must indicate on the CompTIA Credentials page that you want to receive credit toward the MCSE: Security on Windows 2000 certification.

If you have already done this, or if you are using Exam 70-227: Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft ISA Server 2000, Enterprise Edition as one of your security specialization requirements, you will automatically be certified as an MCSE: Security on Microsoft Windows 2000. Your MCP transcript will show "MCSE: Security on Microsoft Windows 2000" in the Microsoft Certification Status section, and you will receive an MCSE: Security on Microsoft Windows 2000 Welcome Kit in 6–8 weeks.

To receive your MCSE: Security Welcome Kit, you must first visit the MCP Member Site to verify your address. As soon as you are at the site, follow these steps:

Yes. Individuals who achieve the MCSE: Security on Windows 2000 certification can upgrade to the MCSE: Security on Windows Server 2003 certification by passing these exams:

Exams 70-292 and 70-296 are available now. Exams 70-298 and 70-299 are not yet available.

Yes. If you pass all the required exams for the MCSA: Security on Windows 2000 certification, you will achieve that certification.

Yes. If you pass all the required exams for the MCSA: Security on Windows Server 2003 certification, you will achieve that certification.

No. Exams 70-214, 70-220, and 70-227 are specific to the Windows 2000 operating system and do not apply to Windows NT 4.0. The MCSE: Security certification is unavailable for Windows NT 4.0.

The primary benefit of achieving the certification is that you can demonstrate your skills as a systems engineer with a specific focus on how to design and implement a secure Windows 2000 network infrastructure. Additionally, you can demonstrate skills appropriate to creating a secure computing environment. Individuals who achieve the MCSE: Security certification will receive a certificate and wallet card to mark the achievement. Your MCP transcript will show "MCSE: Security on Microsoft Windows 2000" in the Microsoft Certification Status section.

Exam 70-227 allows individuals to demonstrate specific skills around installing, configuring, and administering ISA Server 2000, Enterprise Edition. Although many organizations use ISA Server 2000 to provide outgoing access for client services and applications, to manage intranet and Internet connectivity, and to help protect network services, it is not considered part of the typical Windows system environment. Therefore, the exam is a suitable option for individuals who work with ISA Server 2000 to satisfy one of the security specialization requirements, but it is not appropriate as a mandatory requirement.

Microsoft created the MCSE: Security certification for systems engineers who specialize in security within their job role to allow employers to more easily recognize these individuals. Although Exam 70-214 and Exam 70-220 are valid measures of Windows 2000 security design and implementation skills for systems engineers, customer feedback has indicated that the MCSE: Security certification should identify individuals who demonstrate additional security specialization requirements beyond the core platform.

Currently, the only way that individuals can demonstrate security specialization requirements for the MCSE: Security certification is by passing the specialization exams that are listed on the Requirements page. Microsoft is continually assessing other third-party security certifications to determine whether these credentials could be incorporated into existing or future Microsoft certification requirements.