Microsoft has said that it will make big changes to its certification track, including getting rid of the MCSE in the long run. Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933, can tell you about these important facts.
Microsoft is currently making a big effort to change its certification programme. The new Microsoft Certified Architect (MCA) certification was announced last year. It is not a written test, but a practical test that will be graded by a board of examiners. Just to apply for the certification, you'll need 10 years of IT experience and three years of work as a network architect.
Microsoft has said that it will also change other certifications for those of us who aren't quite ready for that. The MCSE, which we've all come to know and love, will no longer exist. In its place, there will be a set of specialisation exams and certification tracks for IP Professionals.
Don't worry if you're already an MCSE or working toward it. You have plenty of time to learn the new tracks. Microsoft has said that the new certification structure will be used in the next version of Windows server and client. Those who already have an MCDBA certification will still be able to use it, and those who want to can get the new certification with SQL Server 2005.
Those of us who have been getting certified for a while remember the uproar when Microsoft planned to phase out the much-maligned NT 4.0 certification as they moved to Windows 2000. There was a lot of uproar from certified people who thought MS was being unfair with their plans for the timeline and lack of support for the 4.0 certification. Whether or not you agree with the changes that Microsoft wants to make, I urge you to check Microsoft's certification site often to stay up to date on these changes.
You can choose whether or not to go down any of these new paths, but you owe it to yourself and your career to know about them. Change is inevitable in IT and IT certification, and you need to know about it!
