Microsoft Certification Program

New Exams / Changes / Updates / Retirements

Certification News Flash

Earlier this week (9/20/1999), Microsoft annouced the new Windows 2000 exams. During this announcement, they also announced the retirement dates of many of the exams that are currently being offered. Needless to say, this generated quite a bit of excitement (panic) amoungst MCPs, MCSEs and those currently studying for Windows NT 4.0 exams.

Don't panic!  If you are currently certified as a Windows NT 4.0 MCSE or MCP, your Windows NT exams are good until 12/31/2001.  Windows NT 3.51 MCSE exams are good until 6/30/2001. The Windows NT 4.0 exams will continue to be offered until 12/30/2000. Click here for more information on the retired exams.

Here is the scoop on the new exams and the exam retirement schedule. My source on this was the Microsoft web site.

New Windows 2000 Exams

Sometime in the second quarter of 2000, Microsoft will release the new Windows 2000 exams.  This could be anywhere from April 2000 until July 2000.  They may be released all at the same time or they may be released one at a time. There are not study guides for these exams as they are just going in to development. 

Current Windows NT 4.0 MCSEs
There is a special exam that will be available for current Windows NT 4.0 MCSEs that have passed the Windows NT Workstation 4.0, Windows NT Server 4.0 and Windows NT Enterprise exams (70-067, 70-068, and 70-073).  This is an accelerated exam.   You must also take one of the Windows 2000 MCSE elective exams.

  • Exam 70-240: Microsoft Windows 2000 Accelerated Exam for MCPs Certified on Microsoft Windows NT 4.0.  (This exam will be available until 12/31/2001.  If you don't take it by then, you will have to take all the Windows 2000 exams!)

New Windows 2000 MCSE Core Exams
For new MCSEs that are pursuing the Windows 2000 MCSE certification, there are four core exams, plus one Windows 2000 elective you must take.  Plus, you have to take two of the regular MCSE electives exams. Here are the Windows 2000 core exams:

  • 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

New Windows 2000 MCSE Elective Exams
In addition, to get your Windows 2000 MCSE, you must pass one of these Windows 2000 electives. This elective MUST be taken by all Windows 2000 MCSE candidates, including existing Windows NT 4.0 MCSEs.

  • Exam 70-219: Designing a Microsoft Windows 2000 Directory Services Infrastructure

  • Exam 70-220: Designing Security for a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network

  • Exam 70-221: Designing a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network Infrastructure

Additional Elective Exams
New MCSE candidates must also pass two additional electives. If you are currently a Windows NT 4.0 MCSE and your Windows NT 4.0 MCSE electives are current, you do not need to pass any additional electives.  You can use the new Windows 2000 electives towards your MCSE, but the one that you take towards your core Windows 2000 elective does not count towards an additioal elective.You may use any valid Windows NT MCSE elective exam to get your MCSE, which include:

  • Exam 70-219: Designing a Microsoft Windows 2000 Directory Services Infrastructure

  • Exam 70-220: Designing Security for a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network

  • Exam 70-221: Designing a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network Infrastructure

  • Exam 70-222: Upgrading from Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 to Microsoft Windows 2000

  • Exam 70-085: Implementing and Supporting Microsoft SNA Server 4.0

  • Exam 70-028: Administering Microsoft SQL Server 7.0

  • Exam 70-059: Internetworking with Microsoft TCP/IP on Microsoft Windows NT 4.0

  • Exam 70-081: Implementing and Supporting Microsoft Exchange Server 5.5

  • Exam 70-087: Implementing and Supporting Microsoft Internet Information Server 4.0

  • Exam 70-088: Implementing and Supporting Microsoft Proxy Server 2.0

  • Exam 70-080: Implementing and Supporting Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 by Using the Microsoft Internet Explorer Administration Kit

  • Exam 70-090: Deploying, Implementing, and Supporting Microsoft Office 2000

*This is not an all inclusive list of exams. See Microsoft's MCP web site for more information.

 

Exam Retirements

Here is a list of the Microsoft certification exams that are currently slated for retirement and the date they are scheduled to be retired. Also included is the exam track you will have to have completed and the date by which you have to have them completed to keep your MCSE status current.  Note that these dates are two years away.

 
Exam Name and Number Retirement Date Must have updated to this exam (track) prior to this date to keep certification
Networking Essentials / 70-058 12/31/2000 Update to Windows 2000 track prior to 12/31/2001
Windows NT Server 4.0 / 70-067 12/31/2000 Update to Windows 2000 track prior to 12/31/2001
Windows NT Enterprise 4.0 / 70-068 12/31/2000 Update to Windows 2000 track prior to 12/31/2001
Windows NT Workstation 4.0 / 70-073 12/31/2000 Update to Windows 2000 track prior to 12/31/2001
Internetworking Microsoft TCP/IP on Windows NT 3.5 - 3.51 / 70-53 6/30/2000 Pass an MCSE elective exam not currently slated for retirement by 6/30/2001
Exchange Server 4.0 / 70-075 6/1/1998 Update to Exchange Server 5.0 (70-076) or Exchange Server 5.5 (70-081) by 9/1/1999 (or any MCSE elective to keep MCSE status)
Supporting IIS 3.0 and Index Server 1.0 / 70-077 6/30/2000 Update to IIS 4.0 or any MCSE elective by 6/30/2001 to keep MSCE status.
Windows NT Workstation 3.51 / 70-042 6/30/2000 Update to Windows 2000 track prior to 6/30/2001
Windows NT Server 3.51 / 70-043 6/30/2000 Update to Windows 2000 track prior to 6/30/2001
* For a complete list of retired exams, see http://www.microsoft.com/mcp/examinfo/retired.htm

What Can I Do To Prepare For Windows 2000?

Windows 2000 is a major change for Microsoft. The Active Directory Service alone is going to be a challenge for us to learn. What can you do now to start preparing?   Here are a list of suggestions:

  • Consolidate your domains in to a single domain model, if possible
  • Purchase servers that are as powerful as you can purchase. Windows 2000 will need the horsepower!
  • Learn as much as you can about TCP/IP and DNS.
  • Learn VBScript
  • Learn how the Exchange Directory Service works
  • Click here to find some technical reading on Windows 2000
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