Microsoft’s Windows Server 2003 MCSE certification (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer) is “for professionals who analyze the business requirements and design and implement the infrastructure for business solutions based on the Microsoft Windows® 2000 platform and Microsoft Windows Server System™.” The Windows Server 2003 MCSE emerged in the summer of 2003, three years after the introduction of the Windows 2000 MCSE.

This MCSE certification does not retire but newer versions of it are released every few years as Microsoft upgrades their core server technologies. There are no specific prerequisites for the MCSE, although Microsoft says: “candidates should also have at least one year of experience implementing and administering network operating systems and desktop operating systems.“ As soon as candidates pass their first qualifying exam for the MCSE program, they achieve a Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) certification. There is also a fair bit of overlap between the MCSE and the MCSE:Security certification.

Job roles of those pursuing this MCSE certification typically include: systems engineers, technical support engineers, systems analysts, network analysts, and technical consultants.

To achieve the MCSE certification, a candidate must pass a total of seven exams. There is a two-exam upgrade path to this certification for those who hold the Windows 2000 MCSE. By passing one of these exams, the 70-292 exam, you can achieve your Windows Server 2003 MCSA certification enroute to your Windows Server 2003 MCSE certification.

For more information:
http://www.microsoft.com/traincert/mcp/mcse/windows2003/

CORE EXAMS
(70-290) Server 2003 Network Environment ^vs 
(70-291) Server 2003 Network Infrastructure ^vs 
(70-292) MCSA 2003 Upgrade for MCSA 2000 ^vs 
(70-293) Server 2003 Planning Network Infrastructure ^vs 
(70-294) Server 2003 Active Directory Infrastructure ^vs 
(70-296) MCSE 2003 Upgrade for MCSE 2000 ^vs 

ELECTIVES
(70-086) SMS 2.0 ^vs 
(70-210) W2K Professional ^vs 
(70-227) ISA Server 2000 ^vs 
(70-228) SQL 2000 Admin ^vs 
(70-229) SQL 2000 Design ^vs 
(70-232) Maintaining Highly Available Web Solns ^vs 
(70-270) Windows XP Pro ^vs 
(70-284) Managing Exchange Server 2003 ^vs 
(70-285) Exchange Server 2003 Organization Design ^vs 
(70-297) Server 2003 Designing Network Infrastructure ^vs 
(70-298) Server 2003 Designing Network Security ^vs 
(70-299) Server 2003 Network Security Admin ^vs 
(70-350) ISA Server 2004 ^vs