MCSE
Microsoft announces retirement of WinNT 4.0 exams.
Microsoft announced the retirement of the WinNT 3.51 exams on 6/30/2000, and the retirement of the WinNT 4.0 exams on 12/31/2000. They also announced that all MCSEs must upgrade their certification to Windows 2000 by 12/31/2001 to remain certified. Now, you may be asking yourself what does this mean to me? If you are presently certified in 3.51 or 4.0, you have two years to upgrade your certification to Win2000. As long as you have passed the core exams for WinNT 4.0, you will be able to take an accelerated exam to move to Win2000. If you are 3.51 certified, you will have to pass the 4.0 core exams before the end of next year and pass the accelerated exam; or you will have to do the full Win2000 track. If you have not yet started the 4.0 track, you may want to wait until the Win2000 exams are available in the first or second quarter of next year. Follow this link to Microsoft's FAQ pages for changes in the certification requirements. http://www.microsoft.com/mcp/certstep/mcsefaq.htm
Until December 31, 2001, individuals who have passed all three of the Windows NT 4.0 exams listed below have the option of fulfilling part of the core exam requirement by passing accelerated Exam 70-240: Microsoft Windows 2000 Accelerated Exam for MCPs Certified on Microsoft Windows NT 4.0, instead of core exams 70-210, 70-215, 70-216, and 70-217. Passing the three Windows NT 4.0 exams is a prerequisite to taking accelerated exam 70-240.
The three Windows NT 4.0 exams are the following:
Exam 70-067: Implementing and Supporting Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0
Exam 70-068: Implementing and Supporting Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 in the Enterprise
Exam 70-073: Microsoft® Windows NT Workstation 4.0
| Windows 2000 Certification Track | ||
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Candidates Who Have Not Already Passed Windows NT 4.0 Exams All 4 of the following core exams are required: Exam 70-210: Installing, Configuring and Administering Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Exam 70-215: Installing, Configuring and Administering Microsoft Windows 2000 Server Exam 70-216: Implementing and Administering a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network Infrastructure Exam 70-217: Implementing and Administering a Microsoft Windows 2000 Directory Services Infrastructure |
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Candidates Who Have Passed 3 Windows NT 4.0 Exams (Exams 70-067, 70-068, and 70-073) by 12/31/2000. This would include all current NT 4.0 MCSEs. Instead of the 4 Core Exams at Left, You May Take: Exam 70-240: Microsoft Windows2000 Accelerated Exam for MCPs Certified on Microsoft Windows NT 4.0. (This accelerated, intensive exam, which will be available until December 31, 2001, covers the core competencies of exams 70-210, 70-215, 70-216, and 70-217.) |
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PLUS – All Candidates – 1 of the Following Core Exams Are Required: |
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* Exam 70-219: Designing a Microsoft Windows 2000 Directory Services Infrastructure |
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* Exam 70-220: Designing Security for a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network |
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* Exam 70-221: Designing a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network Infrastructure |
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PLUS – All Candidates – 2 Elective Exams Are Required: |
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** Any MCSE electives current (not scheduled for retirement) when the Windows exams listed above are released in their live versions. Most of the electives that current MCSEs have completed will still be valid (Selected third-party certifications that focus on interoperability will be accepted as an alternative to one elective exam. Please watch for more information on the third-party certifications that will be acceptable.) |
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* Exam 70-219: Designing a Microsoft Windows 2000 Directory Services Infrastructure |
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* Exam 70-220: Designing Security for a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network |
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* Exam 70-221: Designing a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network Infrastructure |
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Exam 70-222: Upgrading from Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 to Microsoft Windows 2000 |
*Core exams that can also be used as elective exams may only be counted once toward a certification; that is, if a candidate receives credit for an exam as a core in one track, that candidate will not receive credit for that same exam as an elective in that same track.
** So far, Exam 70-077: Implementing and Supporting Microsoft Internet Information Server 3.0 and Microsoft Index Server 1.1, and Exam 70-075: Implementing and Supporting Microsoft Exchange Server 4.0 are scheduled for retirement.
| Brain Dump Links | ||
| http://209.207.167.177/ | Brain Dump Heaven | |
| http://www.hardcoremcse.com/ | All you need to know about certification | |
| http://www.saluki.com:8081/ | Lots-and-lots of stuff | |
| http://www.mcseinfo.com/ | Great MCSE information resource | |
| http://www.cramsession.com/ | Don't miss this one | |
| http://www.mcseguide.com/index.htm | Brain Dumps and Practice Exams, all in one place! | |
| Practice Exams | ||
| http://www.transcender.com/products/demos.htm | Forget the rest.....Transcender's the best! | |
| http://www.microhard.com/main.asp | MCSE Quest is good...but take a look at iQuest Online exams. | |
| http://www.mcpprep.com/ | Competition for Transcender? They feature adaptive exams. | |
| http://www.bfq.com/ | Not the best, but you get a lot for your money. | |
| Certification Resources | ||
| http://www.mcpmag.com/ | MCP Magazine | |
| http://www.microsoft.com/Train_Cert/ | Microsoft Training and Certification | |
| http://www.microsoft.com/mcp/ | Microsoft Certified Professional Web Site | |
| http://www.microsoft.com/TechNet/ | Microsoft TechNet | |
| http://mspress.microsoft.com/ | Microsoft Press | |
| http://www.microsoft.com/seminar/1033/default.htm | Microsoft Seminar OnLine Home Page | |
| http://technet.microsoft.com/cdonline/default.asp | TechNet CD Online | |
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New to the certification process? Right about now you are asking yourself "how do I get through this"? Well, here are my thoughts and experiences.
In my opinion, the best place to start is with the core exams (Workstation and Server). You may think that the best place to start is with Networking Essentials. It depends on your "real life" experience in networking. On the Network Essentials exam, you will find questions on WinNT, Netware, TCP/IP and a whole host of other surprises that you may not be aware of. I suggest you leave the Essentials test until you have at least completed the core exams.
As far as time, plan on about a month of studying and preparation for each exam.
I suggest that you combine a good resource book and practice exams in your preparation work. Following are links to books that I have found useful. You need not purchase all the books for each exam. I have seen people overload on study material to the point that they never feel prepared for the exam. Choose one book, read it, and obtain some practice exams (Transcender is the best). I passed my first three tests without the practice exams, but my scores jumped by 150 points after I started using the Transcenders. Do not depend on the exams included in most of the books, they are usually very poor and inaccurate.
Workstation
Order
MCSE: NT Workstation Study Guide Today!
I liked this book, but don't depend on the practice questions.
Order
Exam Cram NT Workstation 4 Today!
A very good book for exam preparation.
Server
Order
MCSE: NT Server 4 Study Guide Today!
I Still use this book as a reference
Enterprise
Order
Exam Cram NT Server In the Enterprise 4 Today!
This one is for the adaptive exam.
