Microsoft Certification: Windows 2000, Upgrade, or Windows Server 2003?

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What if you're partway toward completing Windows 2000 credentials, and aren't sure whether you should finish up and upgrade your "old" credentials to Windows Server 2003, or drop Windows 2000 and re-start down the Windows Server 2003 track? Table 1 provides a rational based on the number of exams you must still complete (including upgrade exams to become Windows Server 2003 certified) to help you go one way or the other. Even if you know you must be ready for Windows Server 2003 sooner rather than later, it still makes sense to follow the path with the lowest total number of exams to reach the ultimate goal of Windows Server 2003 certification.

Table 1: Rationale: Exams required to stick or switch

Credential	Exams Remaining	Total Exams	Recommendation
MCSA	3* or 4	4*,5	Switch to Windows Server 2003 track
MCSA	1 or 2	2,3	Stay with Windows 2000, then upgrade
MCSE	4*, 5, or 6	6*, 7, or 8	Switch to Windows Server 2003 track
MCSE	1, 2, or 3	3, 4, or 5	Stay with Windows 2000, then upgrade
Note: Those with 3 exams remaining for MCSA, or 4 for MCSE take the same number of total exams whether they stick and upgrade or switch. This means they can go whichever way they like since effort and cost will be about the same.

If you find yourself still puzzled as to whether to follow the Windows 2000 or Windows Server 2003 track, answers these additional questions to help you decide:

• Do you know Windows 2000 reasonably well already? If so, it might be better to follow that track and upgrade later.
  
  
• Do you have access to Windows Server 2003 installations? If not, it might be better to pursue Windows 2000 to give your situation more time to get Windows Server 2003 into the picture (or perhaps you should consider buying a couple of cheap PCs and installing the newer OS to work in a lab at home).

By meeting work requirements, or following the path that involves the least amount of work for you, you should be able to decide whether to first pursue Windows 2000 then upgrade, or go straight after Windows Server 2003. Good luck!

Ed Tittle is a 20-plus year computer industry veteran who's worked as a programmer, a manager, a trainer, and a consultant. These days, he still does a little of each of those things, but mostly he's a full- time writer who's contributed to over 120 computer books and edits the Exam Cram 2 and Training Guide book series for Que Certification. .

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