Archive for the ‘MCSE Certification Tests’ Category

The MCSE Certification is one of the most sought after and most widely recognized high-level Microsoft Certification today. For this reason, the MCSE Certification Tests are very tough and require intense preparation. The MCSE Certification Test comprises of a number of exams, which test the candidate in a number of different technologies. The person who is aspiring to take this test should at least have a minimum of one-year experience in setting up and administering a networking environment. The candidates have a choice, depending on their prior experience, of specializing in either the Windows 2000 or the Windows 2003 tracks. The exams for each of these tracks are different and are broadly categorized as core, elective and design. In this article we will discuss the broad objectives of the MCSE Certification Test and the individual exams of the two MCSE certification tracks in greater detail.

The MCSE Certification Test is designed to test the candidates ability in managing and maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server Environment; implementing, managing, and maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server Network Infrastructure; planning, implementing, and maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server active directory infrastructure; creating and managing user, group, and computer accounts; managing file-sharing permissions; controlling web server access; managing sites with internet information Services; managing hardware devices, disk storage, software, and print services; implementing backup procedures and performing system recovery; installing and configuring TCP/IP; using DHCP to manage IP addressing, configuring and managing DNS clients, servers and zones; managing routing and remote access, including VPNs; implementing and administering security procedures monitoring traffic.

The MCSE 2000 track candidates are required to pass seven exams or the equivalent that include the following:

Core exams (five exams required)

• Four operating system exams:

  Candidates must pass one exam from each set of operating system exams—client operating system and networking system.

• One design exam:

  Candidates must pass one exam that provides proof of expertise in design skills for specific Microsoft server technologies.

Elective exams (two exams required):

The elective exams provide a valid and reliable measure of technical proficiency and expertise in solution design and implementation. MCSE candidates should also have at least one year of experience implementing and administering a network operating system, implementing and administering a client operating system, and designing a network infrastructure.

The requirements for the MCSE 2003 track are slightly different and comprise of the following:

Core exams (six exams required)

• Four networking system exams
• One client operating system exam
• One design exam

Elective exams (one exam required)

Coupled with the core exams, the elective exams are designed to provide a valid and reliable assessment of technical proficiency and expertise in solution design and implementation. Microsoft also allows some third-party certifications to be substituted as an MCSE elective.