Understanding the New Microsoft MCSE

If you have been around the IT industry for any length of time, you are aware of the Microsoft Certifications of the past. Myself, I am a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) from NT. I also had a few other MCSE certifications that people might be unaware of. I am an MCSE+Security an MCSE+Messaging, and an MCSE+Internet.

Along with the advent of the new Windows 2008 operating system, Microsoft came out with some new certifications and retired the old MCSE. They came out with MCTS and MCITP. Now you might be asking yourself - what the heck are these?  They are the lower level Microsoft Certified Technical Specialist and the more advanced Microsoft Certified IT Professional. The problem with these certs is that no one understood them or used them.



During Tech Ed 2009, I worked the door of the testing room and my job was to explain what the certifications were. After 2-3 days of doing this I think finally figured it out what the heck they were and also figured out the upgrade path. WooHoo.

One of the problems with the MCITP was that no one knew about the MCITP and EVERYONE knew about the MCSE. True Story - I had a recruiter contact me and stated that they must have an MCSE in Windows 2008 and I wouldn't qualify because I only had my MCITP in 2008.  I got on the phone and explained to them that there no longer is an MCSE for 2008. However; I was told by the recruiter that the customer specifically requested an MCSE on 2008 and they had numerous job seekers with 2008 MCSE in their resumes and basically I didn't know what I was talking about.  Needless to say you can't win for losing.

On to the moral of my story. Microsoft finally listened to me and they brought back the MCSE (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer). Oh wait they didn't. They brought back the MCSE which now stands for Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert.

Side note: I always heard a rumor that using the term Engineer in the title upset people who had their Engineering degrees. I am not sure if this is why they went with Expert or what. Either way the MCSE is back.

Not only did they bring back the MCSE but they also brought back the MCSA (Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate). Also, they included a new MCSM (Microsoft Certified Solutions Master).
Awesome. This sounds much easier. Well....Not so fast. These are the new Microsoft Cloud built Certifications. They still have the other Microsoft Certifications which are the MCITP, MCTS, and MCM

Here is a link to the Microsoft Certification homepage. This is all for my first post on here, but I will be back in a little while to go into more depth on each of these certifications.

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/certification/cert-overview.aspx