cover of computer careers book

**Discover the 8 Reasons Why Now is the Best Time Ever to Change to a High Tech Career**

MCSE for Not Yet Techies

"Computer Careers: Currently the Premier Networking Certification for High Tech Jobs"

by Richard Stooker, President Info Ring Press and author of Secrets of Changing to a Computer Career

MCSE background:

MCSE certification from Microsoft is the most sought after certification in the field of networking. Most sought after both by people seeking a networking job and employers searching for qualified employees. Microsoft's MCSE is the top one. It may not stay there, it hasn't always been first, but it probably will remain so for foreseeable future.

Type of MCSE certifications for computer careers:

Vendor

MCSE worth it?

Standard disclaimer:

Whether or not any certification is "worth it" is an individual decision. You alone must decide what your career goals and needs are.

Look at certifications from a cost/benefit or Return On Investment (ROI) basis. If they help you get a better paying job or make more money at your current job, they are obviously "worth it."

The problem is, there is no real way of measuring how much you can expect your income to go up as a result of any given certification. It also depends on non-related job search skills such as how well you network.

Microsoft is the superpower of software technology solutions. A few years ago, the Novell Certified Novell Engineer (CNE) was the premier networking certification. It is still highly regarded, but the truth that although lots of companies still use Novell's Netware software, a lot more companies are buying Microsoft's networking software.

Now the Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) is the premier certification, having passed the CNE several years ago. MCSE is the certification which all the training schools pressure students to get.

The MCSE as we have known it is changing, however. It documented someone's skill with Windows NT 4.0. Microsoft introduced Windows 2000 last year. They have announced that as of 12-31-2000 they no longer test for the older MCSE exams. They are changing to term to "MCSE 2000." MCSE 2000s will be tested for and expected to know Windows 2000.

Current MCSEs will still be in demand by the many companies which have not yet converted to Windows 2000.

This has promoted the Lanop Corp to come out with its own training materials and tests for Windows NT 4.0, similar to the tests Microsoft used to give aspiring MCSEs. The Lanop Corp contends that NT skills will be in demand for years to come. They obviously think that many companies will not switch to Windows 2000 right, and are probably right.

However there are plenty of NT MCSEs out there now, so it seems to me that anybody now working for MCSE certification go with Windows 2000. Current NT MCSEs can update their certification by taking a few new courses and passing some 2000 tests. The current MCSE NT certification will not be eliminated until 2002.

If there is any threat to the current MCSE dominance in the job market it is the same thing that is threatening Microsoft's dominance of the software market -- Linux.

To obtain the "classic" MCSE certification, you had to pass 6 tests. Four of them were mandatory, and 2 were elective.

Exam 70-058: Networking Essentials

Exam 70-067: Implementing and Supporting Microsoft® Windows NT® Server 4.0

Exam 70-068: Implementing and Supporting Microsoft® Windows NT® Server 4.0 in the Enterprise

Exam 70-064: Implementing and Supporting Microsoft® Windows® 95

Exam 70-073: Microsoft® Windows NT® Workstation 4.0

Exam 70-098: Implementing and Supporting Microsoft® Windows® 98

There are a large number of elective examinations to choose from, and a lot of those are now scheduled to be retired. But they are being replaced by exams on more up to date versions of the same software.

You must pass two of the following examinations:

Exam 70-085: Implementing and Supporting Microsoft® SNA Server 4.0

Exam 70-086: Implementing and Supporting Microsoft® Systems Management Server 2.0

Exam 70-019: Designing and Implementing Data Warehouses With Microsoft® SQL Server 7.0

Exam 70-029: Designing and Implementing Databases with Microsoft® SQL Server™ 7.0

Exam 70-229: Designing and Implementing Databases with Microsoft® SQL Server™ 2000 Enterprise Edition

Exam 70-028: Administering Microsoft® SQL Server™ 7.0

70-228: Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft® SQL Server™ 2000 Enterprise Edition

Exam 70-056: Implementing and Supporting Web Sites Using Microsoft® Site Server 3.0

Exam 70-081: Implementing and Supporting Microsoft® Exchange Server 5.5

Exam 70-224: Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft® Exchange 2000 Server

Exam 70-088: Implementing and Supporting Microsoft® Proxy Server 2.0

Exam 70-227: Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft® Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2000

Exam 70-080: Implementing and Supporting Microsoft® Internet Explorer 5.0 by Using the Microsoft® Internet Explorer Administration Kit

Next: MCSE+I

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The 7 most important skills to even greater business achievement -- not to mention wealth and (maybe) fame
Why techies are expendable in bad times and how to protect yourself from them
Why the world's richest computer programmer has not written any code in ages
How one ex-engineer now makes $500,000 a year
The abilities most techies don't even realize they don't have -- which confines their success to their technical abilities
Why techies are expendable in bad times and how to protect yourself from them

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