Microsoft Cancels Demise of NT MCSE

By Anne Martinez

In a dramatic reversal of their earlier plans, Microsoft has cancelled plans to decertify all MCSEs who don't upgrade to the Windows 2000 track by the end of this year. Starting immediately, MCSE certifications will have product specific designations. MCSEs on Windows2000, Windows XP, and Windows .NET Server will be identified as Microsoft Certified Systems Engineers on Microsoft Windows 2000. MCSEs on Windows NT 4.0 will be identified as Microsoft Certified Systems Engineers on Microsoft Windows NT 4.0. Individuals who have earned MCSE certification following the NT 4.0 track will remain certified, and those who have passed the "core four" on the NT track can go on to earn the full MCSE. Individuals formerly certified on NT 3.5, however, will remain decertified.

Some other NT-focused certifications that were scheduled for demise have also been reprieved, though no tracks will be added for Windows 2000 or later versions of Microsoft operating systems for these titles. This includes MCP+Internet, MCP + Site Building, and MCSE + Internet. These reprieved certifications will also carry version specific titles - i.e. Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer + Internet on Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 instead of simply Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer + Internet. The Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) title will not have any version-specific designation attached.

Those who have been planning to take the Win2k accelerated exam can still do so, on the same time schedule as before - you must order the voucher by November 1 and take the exam by December 31st.

Microsoft Certified Trainers (MCTs), who wish to use the MCSE as their required premiere Microsoft certification, will still have to upgrade to the Windows 2000 track. However, they will have until May 1, 2002 (instead of December 31, 2001) to do so.

The new, system-specific designations will begin to appear on transcripts and certificates in March 2002.