Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE)

Microsoft Certified Systems Engineers (MCSE) on Microsoft® Windows® 2000 are in great demand, and that demand is not being met. Independent industry surveys indicate that there are hundreds of thousands of information technology (IT) positions vacant at companies with at least 100 employees and an estimated 1.3 million new jobs being created through 2006. Because in the IT industry there's no such thing as overqualified, adding an MCSE certification to your list of professional qualifications could be a major factor in your career advancement.

Microsoft's Windows 2000 MCSE (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer) certification is "for professionals who analyze the business requirements and design and implement the infrastructure for business solutions based on the Microsoft Windows® 2000 platform and Microsoft Windows Server System™." The Windows 2000 MCSE got its start back in April 2000 as Microsoft began to release exams on the Windows 2000 products.

• MCSE on Microsoft Windows 2000 Certification Requirements

This certification does not retire but newer versions of it are released every few years as Microsoft upgrades their core server technologies. There are no specific prerequisites for the MCSE, although Microsoft says: "candidates should also have at least one year of experience implementing and administering a network operating system, implementing and administering a client operating system, and designing a network infrastructure." As soon as candidates pass their first qualifying exam for the MCSE program, they achieve a Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) certification. There is also a fair bit of overlap between the MCSE and the MCSE:Security and MCSE:Messaging certifications.

Job roles of those pursuing this certification typically include: systems engineers, technical support engineers, systems analysts, network analysts, and technical consultants.

To achieve the MCSE, a candidate must pass a total of seven exams. There are four core exams (choose either 70-210 or 70-270) and two elective exams. CompTIA's Security+ may count towards one elective. There are also some previously retired exams that still count towards the Windows 2000 MCSE.

JRK Software offers products for the following certification requirements.

• EasyCert 70-210
  Installing, Configuring and Administering Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
• EasyCert 70-215
  Installing, Configuring and Administering Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
• EasyCert 70-216
  Implementing and Administering a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network Infrastructure
• EasyCert 70-217
  Implementing and Administering a Microsoft Windows 2000 Directory Services Infrastructure
• EasyCert 70-218
  Managing a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network Environment
• EasyCert 70-219
  Designing a Microsoft Windows 2000 Directory Services Infrastructure
• EasyCert 70-270
  Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows XP Professional

With EasyCert practice exams, you'll learn how to implement, plan, maintain and support information systems in a wide range of computing environments using Microsoft's new Windows 2000 and other Microsoft Server products. You'll get the skills and knowledge you need to master Microsoft Windows 2000 and get MCSE certified. Along with these skills come increased job opportunities and financial rewards.

MCSE on Windows 2003

New MCSE candidates who are not already certified as MCSEs or MCSAs on Windows 2000 must pass seven tests to meet the MCSE requirements. It's not uncommon for the entire process to take a year or so, and many individuals find that they must take a test more than once to pass. The primary goal of the EasyCert practice exams is to make it possible, given proper study and preparation, to pass all Microsoft certification tests on the first try.

*NOTE*: MSCE for Windows 2000 will continue to be a valuable certification even after the introduction of Windows Server 2003. Microsoft has not published any dates on which they plan to discontinue any MCSE Windows 2000 exam.

MCSE vs MCSA

MCSA is a basic level certification as compared to the MCSE certification. As an MCSA you must know every thing about implementing, managing, and troubleshooting the existing network and system environments based on the Microsoft Windows® Operating Systems. But you will not be responsible to deploy new networks and systems as part of your job function. While MCSEs need to know about designing and deploying new networks and systems also.

If you are planning to pursue MCSE Certification in future, MCSA also provides you with a credential that represents a subset of skills required by MCSE. After earning MCSA you will have option to use these credentials and acquire MCSE through upgrade path to MCSE.