The New MCSE Certification and MCITP

The re-invention of MCSE back, has spawned a number of questions and concerns among students. Many students and IT professionals have contacted ABCO Technology with questions regarding the status of the MCITP Certification. I have spent a lot of time researching as much information as possible on this, and have had multiple discussions with the Microsoft Learning team to make sure that we’re sharing the most correct, up-to-date information with you. If you’re confused about the new MCSE or have questions, please contact us at (310) 216-3067 or visit our website at www.abcotechnology.com


Here is where I'll begin with what we know.

• All existing Windows Server 2008 MCITP: Server Administrators and MCITP: Enterprise Administrators have been granted the new MCSA certification for Windows Server 2008.
• The Windows Server 2008 MCSA is a requirement to achieve the new MCSE: Private Cloud certification.
• The MCSE: Private Cloud certification is the only MCSE certification which will be associated with Windows Server 2008.
• MCITP: Enterprise Administrator will remain the premier certification for Windows Server 2008.

What exactly is the new re-certification process?

• According to a historically reliable source at Microsoft, the new MCSA certifications will NOT have to re-certify because they are product specific.
• According to the same source, the new MCSE certifications will have to re-certify every 3 years, but they are looking to simplify the re-certification process.
• The explanation for creating the 3 year re-certification is that the new MCSE is not designed to be “product specific” and Microsoft sees the industry moving to a cloud based model where software and services are updated frequently.

Will Microsoft have a lineup of MCSEs?

• Microsoft claims to have an entire lineup of MCSEs which will be release in the near future.
• Many people seem to be complaining that there is not a premier level certification which is product based for the upcoming Windows Server 2012.
• Microsoft representatives are asking us to stay tuned; they believe that IT pros will all be very satisfied with the MCSEs they are going to release based on Windows Server 2012.

Let us sum it all up...


Now here’s my current overall opinion about the new certification program and how I think IT professionals should be approaching it. Overall, I am very excited about the return of the clearly branded MCSA and MCSE certifications. It clearly has a name beyond recognition amongst employers and IT professionals. If anything, I think Microsoft should have brought it back sooner. I like the fact that Microsoft has included the MCSA in the Windows Server 2008 lineup, but wish they would have come up with a better MCSE solution on Windows Server 2008 than the Private Cloud certification.

That being said, I would recommend existing MCITP professionals, especially the ones who are half way down the road to not panic and continue on their path. We all have to wait and clearly see by the beginning of next year to really see the certifications that Microsoft releases with Server 2012. Microsoft’s certification program has been around and very successful for 20 years now, and that doesn't happen by accident. I see no reason to believe it is going anywhere. Yes, I’m sure there will continue to be hiccups along the way, but Microsoft takes their certification program very seriously and will make sure it continues to succeed for many years to come.

If you are currently working toward a Microsoft certification then my clear advice is that you continue to stay the course and essentially pretend that nothing has changed. I have seen many of these types of revisions to certification programs and this is the same advice that I have always given throughout the years. I have never had a single student come back and tell me that they regretted continuing their quest toward certification. Certification has played a huge role in the correct placement of IT professionals in their careers and I don’t see that changing any time soon, even with the introduction of the new MCSE.

If you are looking for training, then I strongly suggest you contact ABCO Technology as quickly as possible and schedule your classes for MCITP before they run out. You can visit our website for more information www.abcotechnology.com or call us at (310) 216-3067.

What is MCSE?

The MCSE or Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer began as a network certification in the late 1990s.  As the field of information technology advanced, employers needed a method of documenting a potential employees knowledge in the networking field.  Microsoft and other information technology manufacturers and venders believed strongly in the importance of providing a knowledge based training curriculum, which was designed to raise the level of technical efficiency for networking professionals who work on Microsoft servers. 

The MCSE in its past form consisted of 7 exams composed of mandatory and elective tests. The older version of the MCSE was flawed because students received two certificates for passing the entire curriculum.  Under MCSE exam rules students received the MCP/Microsoft Certified Professional, which was granted for passing one Microsoft exam and the final MCSE, which students received after passing 7 tests.  The problem with this system was students passing exams for the five subjects between the MCP and MCSE could not document their newly acquired knowledge.  Microsoft fixed this problem with the introduction of the MCITP in 2008.    In 2008 with the introduction of new servers Microsoft decided to retire the MCSE and replace it with the MCITP, which is the Microsoft Certified Information Technology Professional.  The new MCITP was composed of five exams.  A key difference in the new certificate was a student received a certification for each exam passed. The additional certificates provided documentation for new skills.  Under the new MCITP a student will receive  certificates for passing exams in Active Directory, network infrastructure, and server configuration along with other Microsoft modules.  The advantages for the new MCITP  is that employers can document each area of a potential or current employees achievement in a particular field of information technology. 

In 2012 Microsoft announced the return of the MCSE in a new form, which is cloud based.  The exam structure is similar to the older version of Microsoft’s MCSA, which was the Microsoft Certified Systems Analyst.  Under the new MCSE applicants will pass four exams in cloud based subjects. As of this date the new MCSE hasn’t achieved popularity in the information technology field.  The new MCSE has generated confusion, especially with new candidates who are preparing to enter the field.  We believe it will be some time before the smoke clears.  We will be providing more information about the resurrected MCSE in future articles.

If you would like to receive additional information beyond the scope of this article, please email or contact ABCO Technology.  Our school offers small Microsoft certification classes with full hands-on instruction.

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