Whatever Happened to MCSE? Continuing the Conversation

Thank you for the conversation, Ken. I hope there are a lot of managers and HR personnel listening. There are still a lot of people that don't understand the MCITP.

Agreed, Benjamin. I'm also seeing some HR folks who think the MCM and/or MCA certificates are the MCSE replacements. They have no idea how much more expensive, intense, and elite they are.

Any chance that there will be an archived copy of the Live Meeting posted here? I'd like to hear it and send it around to our technical recruiters.

Are there any plans to update/revise/modify this certification path or any of its requirements anytime in the foreseeable future?

Will the MCITP:EA certification have an expiration date? Will it have required updates as new versions of the Windows Server OS are released? THanks and I enjoyed the presentation.

Anyone who could email me the answer I'd be very grateful; are there certain "Vista-centric" exams one may take and still qualify for the MCITP/SE & MCITP/SA designations? I have access to computer-based training but as of right now they don't have all the exams in their catalogs, and what is availabe 'feels' old (Vista versue the Windows 7 tests). My email is mennis@piie.com if anyone can let me know...my CBT access expires in about 5-6 months so time is a real concern.

MCITP:SA has no client OS requirement. MCITP:EA does have a client OS requirement, and either 70-620 (Vista) or 70-680 (Windows 7) will meet that requirement.

THANKS OtherKevin, that's about what I sensed was the case; do you know how long the 70-620 exam will be honored for the EA designation? ALSO (on an unrelated note): is a 'shorthand' being used finally for these seven-letter certs? MCITP:EA is really a **mouthful**!!! Personally I'd go with ITPEA or MCEA, but then if something's already in use that's what I'd like to use too.

There are no plans to remove 70-620 (Vista config) as an option for the MCITP:EA.

Yes, MCITP:EA is a bit long. For legal and a host of other reasons we can't shorten it at this time.

As to Chet's question, all the new generation credentials will "retire" with the end of mainstream support for that product. The MCITP:EA will retire with the end of support for Server 2008.

This is off topic, but the welcome email when you get a new cert has your old blog address in it. It says "Connect with your peers for networking and advice in the Born to Learn blog:
http://blogs.technet.com/mslcommunity"

Is there any chance of an MCSE 2008? Just add an exam or two to the EA and people will jump on it.

Nobody out there knows what MCITP is, and only the most competent HR people will be doing things like the LiveMeeting to learn about the MCITP. Anytime a HR person or even some hiring managers ask me about the MCITP:EA, I have to tell them it's the "new MCSE"; any other, more accurate and thus more complicated explanation looks bad during an interview.

Not at this time, for a variety of reasons. One of the more sticky reasons is the "E" in MCSE. The title "engineer" is highly regulated in much of the world and has caused more than a small amount of headaches.

And to pre-answer the inevitable follow up question: I have no idea why some groups can get away with it and others can't. I'm not a lawyer. I don't even play one on TV. :)

How about just changing the "E" to "Expert"? LOL! Or is that too similar to certain Cisco certs?

How about just changing the "E" to "Expert"? LOL! Or is that too similar to certain Cisco certs?