The Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) on Microsoft Windows® 2000 credential is appropriate for information technology (IT) professionals working in the typically complex computing environment of medium to large organizations. We recommend that an MCSE on Windows 2000 have at least one year of experience implementing and administering a network operating system.

The following skills are covered by the Windows 2000 exams:

Exam 70-210: Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional. Tests the skills required to install, configure, and administer Windows 2000 Professional as a desktop operating system in a generic network operating environment.

Exam 70-215: Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows 2000 Server. Tests the skills required to install and configure Windows 2000 Server to participate as a member server of a domain in a Microsoft Active Directory™ directory service environment.

Exam 70-216: Implementing and Administering a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network Infrastructure. Tests the skills required to install, configure, manage, monitor, and troubleshoot DNS in a Windows 2000 network infrastructure, Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) in a Windows 2000 network infrastructure, remote access in a Windows 2000 network infrastructure, network protocols such as Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), Internet Protocol (IP) routing, connection sharing, and security.

Exam 70-217: Implementing and Administering a Microsoft Windows 2000 Directory Services Infrastructure. Tests the skills required to install, configure, and troubleshoot Active Directory and DNS for Active Directory, as well as skills necessary for change and configuration management, including RIS and Group Policy and Active Directory Security solutions.

Exam 70-219: Designing a Microsoft Windows 2000 Directory Services Infrastructure. Tests the skills required to analyze the business requirements and design a directory service architecture, including unified directory services such as Active Directory and Microsoft Windows NT® domains; connectivity between and within systems, system components, and applications; and data replication such as directory replication and database replication.

Exam 70-220: Designing Security for a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network. Tests the skills required to analyze the business requirements for security and design a security solution that meets these requirements.

Exam 70-221: Designing a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network Infrastructure. Tests the skills required to analyze the business requirements for network infrastructure and design a network infrastructure that meets these requirements.

Exam 70-222: Upgrading from Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 to Microsoft Windows 2000. Tests the skills required to upgrade a Windows NT 4.0 network to a Windows 2000 network.

All exams that relate to Windows NT 4.0 retired with the Windows NT 4.0 exams, including Exam 70-059: Internetworking with Microsoft TCP/IP on Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 and Exam 70-087: Implementing and Supporting Microsoft Internet Information Server 4.0. Candidates must upgrade their skills tested by these exams to adequately support Windows 2000. These skills are covered by the Windows 2000 core exams and are no longer considered elective skills. Although these and other elective exams are no longer available, they still apply to the Windows 2000 track.

The networking skills required in today's workplace have evolved significantly since the time that Exam 70-058: Networking Essentials was introduced. For example, TCP/IP skills are now mandatory. In addition, advancing technology has had an impact on the skills required. Windows 2000 offers many more networking capabilities than Windows NT does. The concepts covered by the Networking Essentials exam are fundamental to mastering the skills covered by Exam 70-216: Implementing and Administering a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network Infrastructure and Exam 70-221: Designing a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network Infrastructure. In addition, the skills covered in these two exams go above and beyond those covered by Exam 70-058: Networking Essentials.

The Microsoft Windows NT 3.51 exams were discontinued June 30, 2000. MCSEs who passed the Windows NT 3.51 core exams were required to upgrade their certifications by June 30, 2001, to remain certified. See the Discontinuation of Exams page for more information.

The Windows NT 4.0 exams have not been available since March 1, 2001. However, MCSEs who have passed the required exams remain certified as MCSEs on Microsoft Windows NT 4.0.

The primary benefit of upgrading to the new certification is to keep your skills set current with changing technology. Microsoft is continually reviewing the MCP benefits package to offer ongoing benefits to MCPs who keep their certification current.

Internet-related skills are an integral part of MCSE on Windows 2000. Therefore, Windows 2000 exams are not included in the MCP+I certification. The last date to take Windows NT 4.0 exams was February 28, 2001.

MCSE on Windows 2000 candidates will have the option to complete their certifications with either Windows 2000 or Windows XP Professional/Windows .NET Server exams, or a combination of both. Details will be announced closer to the release of the product. See the frequently asked questions about Windows XP Professional and .NET Enterprise Server Exams for more information.

You are no longer certified as an MCSE on Windows NT 4.0. To be certified as an MCSE on Windows NT 4.0, you must have met both the core and elective requirements for NT 4.0. Exam 70-077 was discontinued in June 2000 as part of the Windows NT 3.51 exam discontinuations. If you did not meet the upgrade requirements for exam 70-077 by June 30, 2001, then you are no longer certified on Windows NT 4.0. See the Discontinuation of Exams page for more information.

Yes, if you pass a current MCSE elective now, you will again be certified as an MCSE on Windows NT 4.0.

The version of a credential is determined by the operating system or architecturally significant platform; the purpose of elective exams is to test skills outside the typical system environment. This allows candidates to structure their certification to reflect their particular job functions and career interests.

Although you may need to pass fewer exams, exam 70-240 should not be considered an "easier" path to Windows 2000 certification. Exam 70-240 encompasses the same objectives as exams 70-210, 70-215, 70-216, and 70-217 and is as challenging as the four core exams it replaces. We expect candidates who take the accelerated exam to know the material covered by the three Windows NT 4.0 exams (70-067, 70-068, and 70-073), as well as the material covered by four of the core Windows 2000 exams (70-210, 70-215, 70-216, and 70-217), to pass.

The purpose of core exams is to test skills required by a candidate who designs and implements the infrastructure for business solutions based on an operating system or architecturally significant platform. The purpose of elective exams is to test skills outside the typical system environment. Windows NT 4.0 core exams do not test skills outside the system environment.

Candidates will have the option to complete their certifications with either Windows 2000 or Windows XP Professional/.NET Enterprise Server exams or a combination of both. Candidates are encouraged not to wait until the Windows XP Professional/.NET Enterprise Server exams are available to complete their certification. See the MCSE on Microsoft Windows 2000 Certification Requirements for exam details.

You may want to pass the Windows XP Professional and .NET Enterprise Server exams to show your employer or clients that you have the skills and experience to help make the upgrade from Windows NT 4.0 or Windows 2000 and deploy and support Windows XP Professional/.NET Enterprise Servers. If you pass the Windows XP Professional/.NET Enterprise Server exams, your transcript will indicate the exams for the products in which you have demonstrated expertise.

In most cases, you will not be adequately prepared to deploy and maintain Windows XP Professional or .NET Enterprise Servers if you have no experience with or training in Windows 2000. If your company is migrating from Windows NT 4.0 directly to Windows XP Professional/.NET Enterprise Servers, any skills you acquire with Windows 2000—either through hands-on experience or training—will be highly relevant to and provide a solid foundation for a migration to Windows XP Professional or .NET Enterprise Servers.

The Windows XP Professional and .NET Enterprise Server products will build on technologies introduced by Windows 2000 and will also introduce new technologies. The skills you acquire while working with Windows 2000 will be highly relevant to and provide a solid foundation for a migration to Windows XP Professional or Windows .NET Server.

The Windows XP Professional exam were released in October 2001. The .NET Enterprise Server exams will be released in 2002. More details about the Windows XP Professional and .NET Enterprise Server exams will be available closer to the release of the products.

Training based on the prerelease version of .NET Enterprise Servers will be available from Microsoft during the second half of 2001. Training based on the released product will be available when Windows XP Professional and .NET Enterprise Servers become publicly available. Training on Windows XP Professional will be offered when the Windows XP Professional product is available publicly.