MCSE Exam Requirements

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Candidates for MCSE certification on Windows Server 2003 must pass seven exams, including one client operating system exam, four networking operating system exams, one design exam, and an elective.

Note

For a more detailed description of the Microsoft certification programs, visit Microsoft’s Training and Certification website at www.microsoft.com/traincert.

You must take one of the following client operating system exams:

• Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional (70-210)

• Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows XP Professional (70-270)

plus the following networking operating system exams:

• Managing and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment (70-290)

• Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure (70-291)

• Planning and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure (70-293)

• Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active Directory Infrastructure (70-294)

plus one of the following design exams:

• Designing a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active Directory and Network Infrastructure (70-297)

• Designing Security for a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network

plus one of a number of electives, including:

• Implementing and Supporting Microsoft Systems Management Server 2.0 (70-086)

• Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2000, Enterprise Edition (70-227)

• Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition (70-228)

• Designing and Implementing Databases with Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition (70-229)

• Implementing and Managing Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 (70-284)

• Implementing and Administering Security in a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network (70-299)

• The design exam not taken as a requirement

Also, if you are an MCSE on Windows 2000, you can take two Upgrade exams:

• Managing and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment for an MCSA Certified on Windows 2000 (70-297)

• Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment for an MCSE Certified on Windows 2000 (70-294)

In addition, if you are an MCSE in Windows NT, you do not have to take the client requirement, but you do have to take the networking operating system, design, and an elective exam.

Windows 2000 and Windows 2003 Certification

Microsoft recently announced that it will distinguish between Windows 2000 and Windows Server 2003 certifications. Those who have their MCSA or MCSE certification in Windows 2000 will be referred to as “certified on Windows 2000.” Those who obtained their MCSA or MCSE in Windows Server 2003 will be referred to as “certified on Windows Server 2003.”

Microsoft also introduced a more clear distinction between the MCSA and MCSE certifications by more sharply focusing each certification. In the new Windows 2003 track, the objectives covered by the MCSA exams relate primarily to administrative tasks. The exams that relate specifically to the MCSE, however, deal mostly with design-level concepts. So, MCSA job tasks are considered to be more hands-on, while the MCSE job tasks involve more strategic concerns of design and planning.

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