MCSE Certification – what is it all about?

Microsoft when announced the return of MCSE program, IT administrators accepted and welcomed it with all excitement. MCSE – the original one has always been the benchmark of Microsoft certifications. The skills that one gets upon Microsoft MCITP certification attainment had left many IT professionals frustrated and disillusioned with this absolutely new format. MCSE has tried something very different for its namesake. Let us see if it is living up to its original expectations. 

It’s the ‘name’ that matters the most

The new MCSE certification is now stands for Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert, instead of its older version which was commonly called as Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer. There were many arguments and counter arguments on the naming of this course. The main reason to get the name changed is for the legal requirements. The word engineer holds various different meaning in different countries. There are certain set of skills and expertise that is required to hold this title. Across employers, MCSE was widely known as the highest level certification that one could achieve in Microsoft operating system. There were very few of them who actually knew what it stood for. Just a change is name or something else that it stands for will not be making much different, and it may not be a stumbling block to IT admin resume.

Exam Structure

Earlier MCSE exam consisted of seven exams and one option to attain specialization of an elective subject, like – messaging or security, upon completion of these five core examinations. Now, the new MCSE certification has entirely different approach. The first few MCSE tracks are now available choosing to focus on a particular skill area instead of earlier when it was trying to cover Microsoft operating exams from the desktop to the server.

MCSE exam for Windows 2012 Server Infrastructure consist of five exams now:

71-410 - Installing and Configuring Windows Server 2012

71-411 - Administering Windows Server 2012

71-412 - Configuring Advanced Windows Server 2012 Services (MCSA attained here)

71-413 - Designing and Implementing a Server Infrastructure

71-414 - Implementing an Advanced Server Infrastructure (MCSE attained here)

 

Client operating system exam – Not Included

The new MCSE does not include client operating system exam. It simply included just MCSE all its own. MCSE is more lucrative and tuned-in for bigger organizations and current exams are available based around large-scale networks with SQL farms, large desktop deployments and private clouds. Client operating system exam are meant for all, to handle minor desktop issues, maintain your server and design you a network if your company require it.

EXAM Validity

The last MCSE lasted in line with the operating system you attained in it while, this new MCSE exam certification last the lifespan of two to three years. If in case in three years Microsoft release new operating system then one needs to upgrade your MCSE to get recognition as an expert in that product.