MCSE Careers

MCSE stands for Microsoft certified system engineer. An MCSE professional can become a system and network administrator, capable of working on Servers, Windows 2000 and 2003, Active Directory, MS Exchange 2000 and 2003, and SQL Server 2000. He can also become an infrastructure management analyst if he possesses additional qualifications, such as Citrix and back-up Wintel Engineering.

Other jobs include server management, for which it is mandatory to be a MCSE, with the ability to recognize, troubleshoot and repair complex systems, storage, networking and equipment issues. Candidates can also perform the functions of a technical support engineer.

The remuneration provided to a MCSE is the best among IT professionals, anywhere in the world. An experienced engineer can demand anything from $55,000 to $90,000 per annum. The salary is generally directly proportional to the experience that a MCSE has. A MCSE with only one year of experience might earn $25,000, whereas, someone with an experience of 10 years will earn more than $50,000.

A MCSE professional is required to possess excellent knowledge of Structured Query Language databases, Exchange Servers as well as Exchange 2003,NT, an operating system developed by Microsoft for high-performance processors and networked systems, 2000, 2003, WAN, wide area network and LAN, local area network technologies and Internet security.

Many IT companies now ensure that their employees get a MCSE certification, in order to increase the productivity of the company. The examination compels the employees to learn and apply knowledge and skill, to pass the test.

There are more than 60,000 MCSE professionals in the United States of America. Advances in information technology and software development have increased the demand for MCSE professionals. A MCSE certified professional gets the opportunity to work with cutting edge technology because IT and software development has become a booming industry.

MCSE provides detailed information on MCSE, MCSE Certification, MCSE Term Papers, MCSE Training and more. MCSE is affiliated with Online MCSE Certification

Microsoft Certification: The New MCTS Tracks And Exams

Microsoft is revamping its certification tracks, and will eventually retire the familiar MCSE certificatons. The new certification setup is much like Cisco's, where there are specialist certifications to go along with the more general CCNA, then mid-level certifications such as the CCNP, and then a more-advanced practical exam modeled somewhat after the coveted CCIE certification.

Microsoft's new specialist exams are the Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) exams. As of March 2006, there were five separate MCTS Tracks. Three of them deal with .NET Framework 2.0; these are the Web Application, Windows Applications, and Distributed Applications certifications. Each of these separate certifications requires the candidate to pass two exams. There is also a one-exam SQL Server 2005 certification, as well as a BizTalk Server 2006 single-exam certification.

The initial question is "Why is Microsoft doing this?" According to their website, MS feels that IT hiring managers today have a tough time deciding which computer certifications best identify job candidates who best meet their needs. I know it's easy to take verbal shots at Microsoft (it'll be an Olympic sport one day), but this new series of certs does have appeal for hiring managers, which can only help qualified candidates. Instead of the more-general MCSE, which does still suffer from the overcertification of NT 4.0 MCSEs back in the day, these more-specific certifications will make it easier for the job candidate to prove that they can do the job - and easier for the hiring manager to make an informed decision.

Microsoft hasn't announced the track that will eventually replace the MCSE, but this track will be revealed with the next client-server Windows release. It's up to you to stay informed of these changes, so I recommend you visit Microsoft's certification website often. "I didn't know" isn't much help once a certification expires!

Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933, is the owner of The Bryant Advantage, home of over 100 free certification exam tutorials, including Cisco CCNA certification test prep articles. His exclusive Cisco CCNA study guide and Cisco CCNA training is also available!

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