MCSE ( Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer ) is a person qualified to effectively plan, implement, maintain and support information systems with Microsoft Windows NT/2000 and other advanced Microsoft products and operating systems. If you've been wondering how the latest Microsoft OS upgrade will affect your career, you're not alone. The introduction of Windows 2000 affects every one of the estimated 471,000 MCSEs out there, and anyone who's considering training for Microsoft's top-flight networking credential. It only took six months for Microsoft to sell over 3 million Windows 2000 operating system licenses worldwide. And analysts estimate that this number could increase to 10 million by the end of the year. Windows 2000 is also very reliable. According to a survey of over 1000 MCSEs conducted by Giga Information Group and Sunbelt Software, Inc. nine out of 10 Windows 2000 Professional customers found Windows 2000 significantly more reliable than prior versions. The exams cover a wide range of topics and require a tremendous amount of study and hands on with the software to be able to pass. MCSE represents a truly knowledgeable and skilled individual able to function in a computer networking environment. Microsoft wanted the MCSE certification to be difficult to obtain to lend credibility to its use and meaning. According to the latest issue of MCP Magazine, the number of MCSE's worldwide have doubled in the last year along with a huge increase of MCP's as well. According to the last survey conducted by MCP Magazine, the MCSE base salary last year was around $67800 and has decreased to $67100 this year. Those with a year or less of experience, as 23 percent of the magazine's respondents reported, and who have passed a single Microsoft exam and thus hold the entry-level Microsoft Certified Professional title, reported an average base salary of $45,800. Experience, as always, is the key differentiator in salary, followed by area of the country and job function. Remember also that these are averages and may not apply in your particular area.  To get every detail about MCP, MCT, MCSE, MCSA and MCSD salaries go to MCP's 6th Annual Salary Survey. Other salary surveys and job searching can be done at: Monster Board Hot Jobs Dice Computerjobs
	Early on one had to pass four core exams and two electives. That's it. Oh, but wait a moment. These exams are no piece of cake and on top of that the new Win2000 track now requires 5 core exams and 2 electives. It's enough to make one choke on the cake. What is required is hours and hours of devoted study to understand all the nuances of the new windows 2000 operation system in a networking environment. After that you study even more and take as many practice exams as you can get a hold of. These practice or assessment exams let you discover what you do know or not know. They will let you find your weakness areas so you can concentrate your studies there. I have some links below to sites that have practice questions to try out or buy. If you really want to know about the good and the bad part of practice exams send me an email, and I will let you know how to approach the exams with the confidence to pass them. There is also a premium certification established by Microsoft called ' MCSE + Internet '. Microsoft has deemed the future to be the use of the Internet. The TCP/IP and IIS elective exams for the MCSE is changed to core exams for this new certification. Now I hope you are sitting down because to achieve this new certification requires you to pass a total of nine exams, 7 core and 2 electives. It qualifies the IT professional to customize, deploy and support Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 on desktops, host a Web server, and implement, administer, and troubleshoot information systems that incorporate Microsoft TCP/IP; and personalize and customize Web sites. Is that a mouthful or what? Even though it sounds important, Microsoft is eliminating the 'MCSE + Internet' certification at the end of the year 2001. Microsoft officially retired three key core and elective exams for the MCSE-NT 4.0 track on Feb.28, 2001. The passing deadline means that candidates who were unable to pass all three NT 4.0 exams -- 70-067 NT 4.0 Server, 70-073 NT 4.0 Workstation, and 70-068 NT 4.0 Server in the Enterprise -- don't qualify to take the upgrade path to obtain the Win2K-MCSE. Key elective exams for the NT 4.0 track, including 70-059 TCP/IP and 70-087 IIS 4.0, were also retired permanently. The traditional path for the Win2K-MCSE (as well as the path for those who fail the Accelerated exam) is as follows:  1. Pass all four of these core exams:   - 70-210 Win2K Professional   - 70-215 Win2K Server   - 70-216 Implementing a Win2K Network   - 70-217 Implementing a Win2K Directory Services Infrastructure (Active Directory)  2. Pass any one of these core exams:   - 70-219 Designing a Win2K Directory Services Infrastructure   - 70-220 Designing Security for a Win2K Network   - 70-221 Designing a Win2K Network Infrastructure   - 70-226 Designing Highly Available Web Solutions with Win2K Server  3. Pass any two electives. The choices include any of those in step 2 that hasn't been taken toward a core requirement, as well any currently available exam under the NT 4.0 or Win2k MCSE track. Are you a card-carrying Windows 2000 MCSE? If you achieved the title before Oct. 31, 2001, you very well may be one. Microsoft issued a "limited-edition MCSE Early Achiever identification card" to each MCSE who re-certified before Oct. 31, 2001. The card will also include the date of completion of the re-certification. For months now, Microsoft has been lambasted publicly for pulling the plug prematurely on the NT 4.0 exams, exams for a technology whose viability seemed secure in the enterprise for at least another year.  In a significant announcement made late Wednesday Oct 10, 2001, Microsoft is no longer retiring the certifications of those who obtained their MCSE title under the Windows NT 4.0 track. At the same time the company publicly announced for the first time just how many people currently hold the MCSE credential under Windows 2000.  Microsoft revealed that about 47,000 people worldwide have obtained the MCSE on Microsoft Windows 2000 as of the date above. The company has reversed itself from a stern policy decision set two years ago to decertify those who hold the NT 4.0 MCSE title by the end of the year 2001.  Starting immediately, no longer will Microsoft-certified IT professionals be faced with a de-certification process; instead, Microsoft says that it will create version designations of its titles.  An MCSE holding the title under the NT 4.0 track will be designated as "MCSE on Windows NT 4.0." MCSEs in Windows 2000 will now be formally referred to as "MCSE on Microsoft Windows 2000." To read the whole story of this news breaking decision go to the Whole Story Link.
ENOUGH ALREADY !!!! I'm tired just reading all this. It seems I am always adding something new to this page. Anyway it sounds like too much work for anyone. Well you can't be just anyone. You have to have desire and passion when working in the computer area. You must get excited about where technology is headed and be an integral part of it. It is not going away and you cannot hide from it.

 A journey of a 1000 steps starts with the first step. Take that step. 

Better yet, take two steps and....