Microsoft Certification Broadened, Extended

Juggling three network and server operating systems—Windows NT, Windows 2000, and Windows .NET Server—Microsoft has decided to allow different versions of its professional certifications to exist side by side, and has announced that certifications will no longer be retired. The move prevents a drastic reduction in the number of Microsoft Certified Systems Engineers (MCSEs) in the marketplace.

The company has also added a new certification for system administrators, given instructors more time to upgrade their certification, and announced new naming that will more clearly distinguish an applicant’s skills.

NT and Other Certifications Continue

The decision to stop retiring certifications, particularly the MCSE certification for Windows NT, was greeted with applause by MCSEs who have not yet completed all the exams for certification as MCSEs on Windows 2000.

“Microsoft has finally realized that it’s unfair to strip us of the rewards for our hard work. My certifications have appeared on my business card for more than six years, and I’m very happy to learn that I won’t have to remove them on January 1,” said Morris Lewis, a contributor to the Training and Certification Update e-mail newsletter and a developer and trainer with a long string of Microsoft certifications behind his name.