MCSE on Windows Server 2003 Certification Requirements

Most of us probably know by now that the Microsoft Company’s Windows operating system is extremely common these days. If you have a computer, the odds are pretty high that you are working in a windows based environment. It seems like everyone has dealt with Windows at one point or another. So it should not come as much of a shock that most employers require a Microsoft certification as a prerequisite to employment or even career advancement in most fields. MCSE simply stands for Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer and is actually the most widely recognized and used professional certification in the field of Information Technology, or IT for short.

Having this certification actually enables the IT professionals to be able to analyze business requirements, as well as design, build, and later implement the infrastructures for their business solutions based on that common Microsoft Windows platform, and the server software.

In order to obtain a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer certification, one must pass a series of tests that deal with network security, server operating systems, and also basic computer network infrastructure engineering.

How to earn your MCSE on Windows Server 2003

To earn your MCSE on Windows Server 2003 certification, you must pass Seven exams:

• Four core exams on networking systems
• One core exam on client operating systems
• One core design exam
• One elective exam

The MCSE on Windows Server 2003 certification will not retire.

Core exams on networking systems (all are required)
Exam 70-290
Managing and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Environment
Exam 70-291
Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure
Exam 70-293
Planning and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure
Exam 70-294
Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Active Directory Infrastructure

Core exams on client operating systems (choose one)
Exam 70-620
TS: Windows Vista, Configuring
Exam 70-270
Installing, Configuring, and Administering Windows XP Professional

Core design exams (choose one)
Exam 70-297
Designing a Windows Server 2003 Active Directory and Network Infrastructure
Exam 70-298
Designing Security for a Windows Server 2003 Network

Elective exams (choose one) (showing the most Common exams)
Exam 70-284
Implementing and Managing Microsoft Exchange Server 2003
Exam 70-285
Designing a Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Organization
Exam 70-299
Implementing and Administering Security in a Windows Server 2003 Network
Exam 70-350
Implementing Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2004