January 2000

Windows 2000 Brings Changes to the MCSE Program

by Rozanne Whalen

With the imminent release of Windows 2000, Microsoft has announced sweeping changes to the MCSE program. Although the exams aren't out yet (they're expected in the second quarter), you'll want to be aware of these changes. In this article, we're going to show you what steps you need to take to become certified for Windows 2000. Specifically, we're going to examine the requirements for those of you without any Microsoft certifications, as well as the requirements for existing Windows NT 4.0 MCSEs and Windows NT 3.51 MCSEs.

The Windows 2000 MCSE track

If you don't currently hold any Microsoft certifications, you're starting from scratch. To become a Windows 2000 MCSE, you'll need to pass a total of five core exams plus two elective exams. Of the five core exams, four are required. Table A describes the four required core exams. You can choose from three exams for your fifth core exam. Table B describes your choices for the fifth core exam.

Table A: Required core exams for Windows 2000 MCSEs

Exam # Name
70-210 Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
70-215 Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
70-216 Implementing and Administering a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network Infrastructure
70-217 Implementing and Administering a Microsoft Windows 2000 Directory Services Infrastructure

Table B: Choose one of the following exams as your fifth core exam

Exam # Name
70-219 Designing a Microsoft Windows 2000 Directory Services Infrastructure
70-220 Designing Security for a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network
70-221 Designing a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network Infrastructure

In addition to your choice of the fifth core exam, you can also choose your elective exams. You must take a total of two electives. Table C describes your choices for elective exams. One thing you might notice right away is that there's some overlap between your choices for the fifth core exam and your elective exams (exam numbers 70-219, 70-220, and 70-221). The bad news is that you can't use one exam to count for both requirements (your fifth core exam and an elective).

So, if you choose to take exam 70-220, Designing Security for a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network, you can't also use this exam as one of your electives. In addition, Table C also indicates where taking one exam prevents another from counting. For example, you can use either the exam for SMS 1.2 or the exam for SMS 2.0 as an elective for your MCSE--but not both.

Table C: Choose two of the following exams as your electives

Exam # Name
70-219 Designing a Microsoft Windows 2000 Directory Services Infrastructure
70-220 Designing Security for a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network
70-221 Designing a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network Infrastructure
70-222 Upgrading from Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 to Microsoft Windows 2000
70-019 Designing and Implementing Data Warehouses with Microsoft SQL Server 7.0
70-059 Internetworking with Microsoft TCP/IP on Microsoft Windows NT 4.0
70-087 Implementing and Supporting Microsoft Internet Information Server 4.0
The following sets of exams are all alternatives. For example, you can take either exam 70-013 or 70-014, but not both.
70-013 or 70-014 Implementing and Supporting Microsoft SNA Server 3.0 or Implementing and Supporting Microsoft SNA Server 4.0
70-018 or 70-086 Implementing and Supporting Microsoft Systems Management Server 1.2) or Implementing and Supporting Microsoft Systems Management Server 2.0
70-027 or 70-029 Implementing a Database Design on Microsoft SQL Server 6.5 or Designing and Implementing Databases with Microsoft SQL Server 7.0
70-026 or 70-028 System Administration for Microsoft SQL Server 6.5 or Administering Microsoft SQL Server 7.0
70-076 or 70-081 Implementing and Supporting Microsoft Exchange Server 5 or Implementing and Supporting Microsoft Exchange Server 5.5
70-078 or 70-088 Implementing and Supporting Microsoft Proxy Server 1.0 or Implementing and Supporting Microsoft Proxy Server 2.0
70-079 or 70-080 Implementing and Supporting Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 by Using the Internet Explorer Administration Kit or Implementing and Supporting Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 by Using the Internet Explorer Administration Kit

Windows NT 4.0 MCSEs

If you're a Windows NT 4.0 MCSE, you must recertify on Windows 2000 prior to December 31, 2001 (you have some breathing room if you're not ready to jump on the Windows 2000 bandwagon just yet!). To recertify for Windows 2000, you can take exam 70-240, Microsoft Windows 2000 Accelerated Exam for MCPs Certified on Microsoft Windows NT 4.0. This exam covers the same topics as the four core exams listed in Table A. In addition, you'll have to take one of the following exams: 70-219, 70-220, or 70-221 (these are the exams listed in Table B). Finally, if the electives you used to obtain your Windows NT 4.0 MCSE aren't listed in Table C, Microsoft has retired those exams. This means that you'll also need to take at least one of the elective exams (depending on how many of your electives Microsoft has retired).

What if you're not an MCSE but you've already taken some of the tests? If you've passed the three following exams, then you can take exam 70-240, Microsoft Windows 2000 Accelerated Exam for MCPs Certified on Microsoft Windows NT 4.0:

Then you'll need to take one of the core exams listed in Table B, plus two of the elective exams listed in Table C. One caveat: if you plan to become a Windows 2000 MCSE by using these three exams, be aware that Microsoft plans to retire the Windows NT 4.0 exams on December 31, 2000. This means you'll need to satisfy the requirements for becoming a Windows 2000 MCSE by that date.

Windows NT 3.51 MCSEs

If you fall into this category, you pretty much have to start from scratch to become a Windows 2000 MCSE. This means you'll need to take all of the exams in the Windows 2000 track. Microsoft plans to retire the Windows NT 3.51 exams by June 30, 2000--and your certification will expire on June 30, 2001.

Conclusion

In this article, we've looked at the requirements for becoming a Windows 2000 MCSE if you're starting from scratch, as well as the steps you need to take if you're a Windows NT 4.0 or 3.51 MCSE. For more information on Microsoft's certification programs, go to www.microsoft.com/mcp/certstep/mcse.htm.

Copyright © 2000, ZD Inc. All rights reserved. ZD Journals and the ZD Journals logo are trademarks of ZD Inc. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of ZD Inc. is prohibited. All other product names and logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.