In-Depth
MCSE
The most sought-after of the premier Microsoft certifications.
The Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer is the premier certification
for IT professionals who analyze the business requirements and design
and implement the infrastructure for business solutions based on Windows
server software. Implementation, installation, configuration, and troubleshooting
network systems may also be part of the MCSE's job responsibilities.
The MCSE certification is appropriate for people who hold
these types of job titles: systems engineer or analyst, technical support
engineer, network engineer or analyst, and technical consultant.
The MCSE currently exists in many forms: MCSE for Windows
NT 4.0, MCSE on Windows 2000, and MCSE on Windows 2003. These are covered
here. Following the creation of the MCSE-Windows 2003, Microsoft also
created specializations: MCSE: Messaging and MCSE: Security. (These titles
are covered separately.)
Microsoft expects MCSE candidates to have at least a year
of experience implementing and administering a network with the following
characteristics:
- 5 to 150 physical locations
- Network services and applications such as file and print, database,
messaging, proxy server or firewall, dial-in server, desktop management,
and Web hosting.
- Connectivity needs including connecting individual offices and users
at remote locations to the corporate network and connecting corporate
networks to the Internet.
Likewise, candidates should have a year of experience in administering
desktop OSs and designing networks.
MCSEs receive the following benefits upon completion of requirements:
- Industry recognition of your expertise.
- The right to use the MCSE logo on business collateral.
- A certificate, transcript, wallet card, and lapel pin to identify
you as an MCP to colleagues and clients.
- Access to technical and product information direct from Microsoft
through a private MCP Web site.
- Discounts on products and services (such as a reduced price on the
one-year subscription to TechNet or TechNet Plus during the first year
of certification.)
- Invitations to Microsoft and MCP Magazine conferences, technical
training sessions, and special events.
- An opportunity to join the MCP Database, a peer-to-peer database that
allows registered members to locate others by geographic area who have
similar interests.
There are two ways to achieve the MCSE on Windows 2000: the traditional
way and the accelerated way. The following table shows those paths:
| MCSE
on Windows 2000 |
Upgrade
from
Windows NT 4.0 |
|
Core: Client (Pass 1)
|
Core (Pass 1)
|
|
70-210: Administering Windows 2000 Professional
|
70-240: Accelerated
Exam for Upgrading to Windows 2000 (only for candidates who
passed Windows NT 4.0 Exams 70-067, 70-068, 70-073) |
| 70-270: Administering
Windows XP Professional |
|
Core: Networking
(Pass 3)
|
| 70-215: Administering
Windows 2000 Server |
| 70-216: Administering
a Windows 2000 Network Infrastructure |
|
70-217: Administering Windows 2000 Directory Services
|
|
Core: Design (Pass 1)
|
| 70-219: Designing Windows 2000 Directory
Services |
|
70-220: Designing Security for a Windows 2000 Network
|
| 70-221: Designing a Windows 2000 Network
Infrastructure |
| 70-226: Designing Highly Available
Web Solutions with Windows 2000 Server |
| 70-297: Designing Windows Server 2003
Active Directory/Network |
| 70-298: Designing Security for Windows
Server 2003 |
|
Elective (Pass 2)
|
| 70-019: Designing
Data Warehouses with SQL Server 7.0 (a) |
| 70-028 Administering
SQL Server 7.0 (a) |
| 70-029: Designing
Databases with SQL Server 7.0 (a) |
| 70-086: Systems Management Server
2.0 |
| 70-214: Administering Security in
Windows 2000 |
| 70-218: Managing a Windows 2000 Network
|
| 70-219: Designing Windows 2000 Directory
Services |
| 70-220: Designing Security for Windows
2000 |
| 70-221: Designing a Windows 2000 Network
Infrastructure |
| 70-222: Migrating from NT 4.0 to Windows
2000 |
| 70-223: Administering Clustering Using
Windows 2000 Advanced |
| 70-224: Administering Exchange 2000
Server |
| 70-225: Designing Messaging with Exchange
2000 Server |
| 70-226: Designing Highly Available
Web Solutions with Windows 2000 Server |
| 70-227: Internet Security and Acceleration
Server 2000 |
|
70-228: Administering SQL Server 2000 Enterprise
|
|
70-229: Designing Databases with SQL Server 2000
|
| 70-230: Designing BizTalk Server 2000
Enterprise Solutions |
| 70-232: Maintaining Highly Available
Web Solutions with Windows 2000 Server, Application Center 2000 |
| 70-234: Designing Commerce Server
2000 Solutions |
|
70-244: Supporting Windows NT 4.0 Network
|
|
70-281: Planning, Deploying, and Managing an Enterprise Project
Management Solution
|
| 70-282: Designing, Deploying, and
Managing a Network Solution for a Small- and Medium-Sized Business |
| 70-284: Managing Exchange Server 2003 |
| 70-285: Designing an Exchange Server
2003 Organization |
| 70-299: Administering Security in
a Windows Server 2003 Network |
|
|
Notes—(a):
Still available but will be discontinued June 30, 2004; (b) The
following certifications can be substituted in lieu of passing the
electives: MCDST, CompTIA Security+
|
The MCSE on Windows 2003 requirements also diverges on two paths, one
for those who plan to take the traditional route and one for those who
plan to upgrade from MCSE on Windows 2000. The upgrade path is straightforward:
Those who qualify are those who have obtained the MCSE on Windows 2000,
and those who pass them immediately obtain the MCSE-Windows 2003. Unlike
the 70-240, however, which was free, these ones are fee-based. This table
shows the different paths.
| MCSE
on Windows 2003 |
Upgrade
from MCSE-W2K |
|
Core: Networking (Pass 4)
|
Core (Pass 2) |
|
70-290: Administering Windows 2003
|
70-292: Managing, Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Environment
for MCSA on Windows 2000
|
| 70-291: Implementing, Managing, Maintaining
a Windows Server 2003 Network |
| 70-293: Planning, Maintaining a Windows
Server 2003 Network |
| 70-294: Planning, Implementing, Maintaining
Windows Server 2003 Active Directory |
|
Core: Client (Pass 1)
|
70-296: Planning, Implementing,
Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Environment for MCSE on Windows
2000 |
| 70-210: Installing, Configuring,
Administering Windows 2000 Professional |
| 70–270: Installing, Configuring,
Administering Windows XP Professional |
|
Core: Design (Pass 1)
|
| 70-297: Designing Windows Server 2003
Active Directory/Network |
| 70-298: Designing Security for Windows
Server 2003 |
|
Elective (Pass 1)
|
Note: No other core
or elective exams are required. |
| (Note: The following certifications
can be substituted in lieu of passing an elective: MCSE
on NT 4.0, MCSA on Windows 2000, MCSE on Windows 2000, CompTIA
Security+, Unisys UN0-101) |
| 70-086: Systems Management Server
2.0 |
| 70-227: Internet Security and Acceleration
Server 2000 |
| 70-228: Administering SQL Server 2000 Enterprise |
|
70-229: Designing Databases with SQL Server 2000
|
| 70-232: Maintaining Highly Available Web Solutions
with Windows 2000 Server, Application Center 2000 |
| 70-297: Designing Windows Server 2003 Active Directory/Network
|
| 70-298: Designing Security for Windows Server
2003 |
|
70-281: Planning, Deploying, and Managing an Enterprise Project
Management Solution
|
| 70-282: Designing, Deploying, and Managing a Network
Solution for a Small- and Medium-Sized Business |
| 70-284: Managing Exchange Server 2003 |
| 70-285: Designing an Exchange Server 2003 Organization |
| 70-299: Administering Security in a Windows Server
2003 Network |
|
For most, the MCSE on Windows NT 4.0 is a retired certification, since
many of the exams have been discontinued. However, those who've managed
some partial completion of the track and need only pass exams that are
still live can obtain this certification. See the following table for
all exams related to the MCSE on NT 4.0:
| MCSE
on Windows NT 4.0 |
|
Core (Pass 4)
|
|
Must pass 70-058: Networking Essentials plus any three
of the following:
- 70-064: Windows 95
- 70-073: Windows NT Workstation 4.0
- 70-098: Windows 98
- 70-067: Windows NT Server 4.0
- 70-068: Windows NT Server 4.0 Enterprise
|
|
Elective (Pass 2)
|
| 70-013: SNA Server 3.0 |
| 70-018: Systems Management Server 1.2 |
| 70-026: SQL Server 6.5 Administration |
| 70-027: Database Design, SQL Server 6.5 |
| 70-059: Internetworking with TCP/IP on Windows
NT 4.0 |
| 70-085: SNA Server 4.0 |
| 70-086: Systems Management Server 2.0 |
| 70-019: Designing Data Warehouses with SQL
Server 7.0 |
| 70-056: Site Server 3.0 |
| 70-087: IIS 4.0 |
| 70-219: Designing Windows
2000 Directory Services |
| 70-220: Designing Security
for Windows 2000 |
| 70-221: Designing a Windows
2000 Network Infrastructure |
| 70-222: Migrating from NT
4.0 to Windows 2000 |
| 70-223: Administering Clustering
Using Windows 2000 Advanced |
| 70-225: Designing Messaging
with Exchange 2000 Server |
| 70-226: Designing Highly
Available Web Solutions with Windows 2000 Server |
| 70-244: Supporting Windows
NT 4.0 Network |
70-029: Designing Databases
with SQL Server 7.0
Or*
70-229: Designing Databases with SQL Server
2000 |
70-028 Administering SQL
Server 7.0
Or*
70-228: Administering SQL Server 2000
Enterprise |
70-076: Supporting Exchange Server 5
Or*
70-081: Supporting Exchange Server 5.5
Or*
70-224: Administering Exchange 2000 Server
|
70-078: Proxy Server 1.0
Or*
70-088: Proxy Server 2.0
Or*
70-227: Internet Security and Acceleration
Server 2000 |
70-079: Supporting IE 4.0 Using the IE Admin Kit
Or*
70-080: Supporting IE 5.0 Using the IE Admin Kit |
|
|
Notes—*: Only one of the combinations of exams listed
can be counted toward satisfying the elective requirement; Exam:
Still available but will be discontinued June 30, 2004; Exam:
available, no retirement announced.
|
You must take exams in person at Prometric and VUE testing centers.