MCSD - Microsoft Certified Solution Developer

Microsoft’s Windows 2000 MCSE (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer) certification is for professionals who analyze the business requirements and design and implement the infrastructure for business solutions based on the Microsoft Windows® 2000 platform and Microsoft Windows Server System™. The Windows 2000 MCSE got its start back in April 2000 as Microsoft began to release exams on the Windows 2000 products.

This certification does not retire but newer versions of it are released every few years as Microsoft upgrades their core server technologies. There are no specific prerequisites for the MCSE, although Microsoft says: 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. As soon as candidates pass their first qualifying exam for the MCSE program, they achieve a Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) certification. There is also a fair bit of overlap between the MCSE and the MCSE:Security certification.

Job roles of those pursuing this certification typically include: systems engineers, technical support engineers, systems analysts, network analysts, and technical consultants.

To achieve the MCSE, a candidate must pass a total of seven exams. There are four core exams (choose either 70-210 or 70-270) and two elective exams. CompTIA’s Security+ may count towards one elective. There are also some previously retired exams that still count towards the Windows 2000 MCSE.