MCSE Certification Training                                  

The transition to the new certification standard has raised questions among technology professionals. Some have asked why current MCSEs get only one chance to pass the accelerated exam. The reason, Senko said, is to preserve testing integrity. Microsoft wants to ensure those who take the accelerated exam pass based on skills and knowledge, not repeated test taking, which can provide an unfair advantage, she said. Those who fail the accelerated test, or who consider it too comprehensive, can take the four core exams individually.

The timing of Microsoft’s retirement of the Windows NT 4.0 certification track has also raised questions. Why retire the MCSE NT 4.0 track early, some technology professionals ask, when the historic pattern has been to retain tracks for two versions of a product? Senko said the pace of technology is changing faster than ever before, with new innovations emerging every 12 to 18 months.

"People who want to stay current in the marketplace need to understand they have to move with the technology," she said. "The industry is incredibly dynamic and we want a credential that reflects this."

Although some organizations might not plan to switch to Windows 2000 for more than a year, Senko said that MCSEs and other technology professionals would be wise to get upgraded as soon as possible to help plan for the switch. "We are providing candidates time to plan their certification goals, acquire the new skills and prepare for exams," she explained.

High demand

The rigor of the new tests may reduce the number of MCSEs.

They should also have plenty of work, experts predict, as companies and businesses shift to Windows 2000 over the next few year. A study by the Gartner Group predicts Windows 2000 will be the most prevalent network operating system by 2001, with annual sales of as much as $50 million. A million and a half copies of the upgraded operating system sold in the first two months of its release in February – not including enterprise agreements with large corporate accounts. That’s four times the rate of Windows NT. As a result, Gartner analyst Michael Silver expects the worldwide market for Windows 2000-related services to grow as businesses and organizations trust more of their operations to the new operating system.

"A lot of organizations are looking to put mission-critical projects and servers on Windows 2000," Silver told PC Week Online. "IT managers feel they are risking their businesses on this operating system, and they really want someone who has some good experience and know-how."

By 2003, Silver predicts 90 percent of organizations will have hired outside support to deploy Windows 2000. That compares to 50 percent that used service providers to prepare for the shift.

Companies are eager for IT professionals who have demonstrated their knowledge with Windows 2000. "These elite technology professionals can expect plenty of work and rising pay," said Chris Gurko, a network engineer at Business Technologies Inc. (BTI) in Cleveland, Ohio. "Companies that are making the migration are looking for experienced professionals to help them deploy and support Windows 2000. Many just need someone on board to begin the planning process for migration down the road."

Getting ready

"The practice tests are a valuable learning tool because they are able to provide diagnostic feedback for students to better assess and develop the skills measured by the MCP exams," Senko said. For more information, visit http://www.microsoft.com/mcp/examinfo/practice.htm.