Microsoft MCSE Certification and your Career Development

One of the most important certifications in the IT field is the MCSE certification. This is the Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer certificate and it covers a wide range of Microsoft based systems. The MCSE certificate can be earned in a large number of different ways. You can use classroom training, distance or online learning courses, or Microsoft?s own e-learning program. There are even programs that combine online learning with classroom training for those who benefit from a more personal approach.

The importance of Microsoft systems in the world of Information Technology (IT) can not be stressed too highly. The future is going to bring demands for specialized training beyond the current levels, and certification is going to be more than suggested, it is going to be required. In fact, this situation has already become the norm in many major organizations.

Regardless of if you are beginning in the IT field or if you are already working in the field, you are going to need to have a plan in place for your own personal career development. The field is confused because so many new technological advances explode onto the scene almost daily. The competition for positions is already intense, and will grow even more so as the generation raised in the internet and personal computer era comes of age armed with computer related skills that were not even imagined a few short years ago.

MCSE training is the type of thing that is going to be as important on your resume as your name. It will be like the basic high school diploma of ten years ago. Even in situations where you are all ready in the field and employed, MCSE training is going to be the type of thing that will make a difference in the competition for promotion within your IT organization.

Career development is the means by which you prepare now for what the future is going to bring. It means more than finding a job or getting the next promotion as important as those things may be to your future. What it also means is preparing yourself for the challenges of your chosen field. It means gaining the knowledge and skills that will allow you to succeed once the job is won or the promotion is secured. There are many things you are going to need to develop your IT career, but none may be as critical as the MCSE certificate.

Natalie Aranda writes about Information technology. One of the most important certifications in the IT field is the MCSE certification. This is the Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer certificate and it covers a wide range of Microsoft based systems. The MCSE certificate can be earned in a large number of different ways. You can use classroom training, distance or online learning courses, or Microsoft?s own e-learning program.

MCSE Forums

A forum is an online conversation where people exchange views and ideas on a common interest. A MCSE forum helps candidates and professionals, with similar interests, to get in touch with the requirements of their professions and also provide the latest information on networking. MCSE forums offer information about the various books and training products available, for different types of certifications.

A forum can help a MCSE certified professional in his quest for a job. A MCSE forum provides free of charge discussions, for current and would-be MCSE's. They also offer test questions, planning and support forums for technical problems. Questions are answered by special invitees and by the forum staff. All forums usually answer queries within a span of 3 days.

In this field, where technology is ever changing and advancements are made practically everyday, it becomes important for professionals and students to have an updated knowledge of the changes that take place. This is where the forums step in and help to clarify doubts and discuss problems.

Anyone who registers with a MCSE forum can enjoy its many facilities, such as private messaging, e-mail to members and user group subscription. Other material, such as exam books, sharewares and latest software are also available with MCSE forums.

Forums maintain an entire, precise set of notes that are easily available and displayed. Anyone, anywhere in the world, can take part in the discussions that take place. MCSE forums also help those who want to pursue a career in networking, by explaining the technical terms and information that might be difficult to understand for a layman. This enhances the career prospects of many individuals who are interested in this field but have received no guidance. MCSE forums have become indispensable because of the information they provide, to professionals and students alike.

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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