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...Home ... Editorial ... News ..News Story Sunday: December 18, 2011


Windows NT 4.0 Exams Permanently Retired; MCSD Update


3/1/2001 -- Microsoft officially retired three key core and elective exams for the MCSE-NT 4.0 track on Feb. 28. As of today, candidates who were unable to pass three NT 4.0 exams -- 70-067 NT 4.0 Server, 70-073 NT 4.0 Workstation, and 70-068 NT 4.0 Server in the Enterprise -- don't qualify to take the upgrade path to obtain the Win2K-MCSE. Key elective exams for the NT 4.0 track, including 70-059 TCP/IP and 70-087 IIS 4.0, were also retired permanently.

The exams were to be retired Dec. 31, 2000, but Microsoft extended the deadline on these exams to Feb. 28, 2001 because of increasing demand from candidates in the two months prior to the original retirement date.

When asked about the number of NT-specific exams taken during this extension period, a Microsoft representative said that it was too early to tell because that data hasn't been compiled.

"We definitely saw increases," said Tina Koyama-Wasser, of Microsoft's Skills and Certification group. She said final numbers would be revealed later this month.

Because of the retirement, candidates who failed to pass all three NT 4.0 exams can no longer take the "accelerated" path, which consists of taking one four-hour exam, 70-240 Win2K Accelerated, in place of four separate Win2K-based core exams. (Note that candidates who have passed all four NT 4.0 exams still have until November 1, 2001, to claim the free 70-240 Win2K Accelerated exam voucher; that exam can be taken only once.)

The traditional path for the Win2K-MCSE (as well as the path for those who fail the Accelerated exam) is as follows:

1. Pass all four of these core exams -- 70-210 Win2K Professional; 70-215 Win2K Server; 70-216 Implementing a Win2K Network; 70-217 Implementing a WinK Directory Services Infrastructure

2. Pass any one of these core exams -- 70-219 Designing a Win2K Directory Services Infrastructure; 70-220 Designing Security for a Win2K Network; 70-221 Designing a Win2K Network Infrastructure; 70-226 Designing Highly Available Web Solutions with Win2K Server

3. Pass two elective exams (these include any of the core exams above -- 70-219, 70-220, 70-221, and 70-226 -- that hasn't been taken toward a core requirement, as well any currently available exam under the NT 4.0-MCSE track).

For months now, Microsoft has been lambasted publicly for pulling the plug prematurely on the NT 4.0 exams -- exams for a technology whose viability seemed secure in the enterprise for at least another year. To address that concern, on Jan. 31 Microsoft introduced a new NT 4.0 exam, 70-244 Supporting and Maintaining a Windows NT Server 4.0 Network, which is an elective option under the MCSE-Win2K track. This exam is expected to be beta tested in mid-March. For details, click here.

You can view a list of retired exams on Microsoft's Web site; click here.

MCSD .NET Update
On a related note, Microsoft has quietly pulled from its Web site information on some of the developer exams that the company announced a year ago. The exam guide for 70-097 Access 2000 Databases (the exam was slated for beta testing by third or fourth quarter of 2000), no longer appears on the site. However, Microsoft's .NET strategy has given the certification group a chance to re-exam goals for the certification, which hasn't been an actively pursued one by developers.

"The MCSD is definitely being revised for .NET, but that's all we can say for now," said Koyama.

Back in October last year, approximately 20,000 names were sliced from the MCSD roster because those candidates had not fulfilled the most recent upgrade requirements of that track. A count back in September last year showed more than 30,000 MCSDs. As of Jan. 2, 2001, Microsoft says that count is just over 13,320. -MCPMag.com

For more on Windows 2000 MCSE certification, click here.

What's your MCSE status? Will you upgrade? Post your comments below.



There are 195 CertCities.com user Comments for “Windows NT 4.0 Exams Permanently Retired; MCSD Update”
Page 1 of 20
3/2/01: LESLEY says: I TOOK THE MCP TEST THE TESTING SITE WHERE I TOOK THE TEST WAS VERY NOSIY AND ALSO THE PEOPLE WHO WORK THERE ESCORTED THE PEOPLE INTO THE TESTING ROOM KEPT SLAMMING THE DOOR WHEN THEY WERE EXTING THE ROOM MAYBE SOMEONE SHOULD VISIT THEESE TESTING SITES AND EVALUATE THEM!!!
3/5/01: Anonymous says: It about time!
3/13/01: Jenny says: I am one of the 20,000 MCSD's who did not take the tests to upgrade my MCSD. I do like keeping up with certifications and have recently received my Java Certification. But an "upgrade" to Microsoft is to basically take the entire set of exams over again. The only advantage is that one of the tests you have taken previously counts as an elective. My company pays for me to get my certifications but I just don't have the time to keep taking tests for the entire track over again. Microsoft should come up with an "upgrade" test that makes sure our knowledge is current but cut back on the number of tests to renew your certification.
3/13/01: geoff says: I took all 4 core exams prior to Feb 28 and passed. I cannot see any problem with the expiration of these exams. We should all be keeping up with the technology anyway, shouldn't we? I work as Network Support and we are changing to Windows 2K later this year so being forced to upgrade is a good thing for me.
3/13/01: Frank says: 1. LESLEY SAULS: If door slamming is distracting, then you should get up for 30 seconds and tell them so. It works, I know! I had to do it. 2.Anonymous: It's about time for what? 3.Jenny Fauteux: You are right there should be an upgrade, so if all the MCSD stick together, you just might get it. And this is coming from an MCSE not an MCSD. Don't give up. 4. Geoff bright: You are correct in your comment, but think about it, how long did it take to retire NT 3.51 compared to NT 4.0? Microsoft is pushing for everyone to go too Win2000, but the only problem with that is that everyone is not ready for it yet. No harm intended to my responses.
3/13/01: Frank says: 1. LESLEY SAULS: If door slamming is distracting, then you should get up for 30 seconds and tell them so. It works, I know! I had to do it. 2.Anonymous: It's about time for what? 3.Jenny Fauteux: You are right there should be an upgrade, so if all the MCSD stick together, you just might get it. And this is coming from an MCSE not an MCSD. Don't give up. 4. Geoff bright: You are correct in your comment, but think about it, how long did it take to retire NT 3.51 compared to NT 4.0? Microsoft is pushing for everyone to go too Win2000, but the only problem with that is that everyone is not ready for it yet. No harm intended to my responses.
5/12/01: Sohail says: i want mcsd (visual basic) training book or example test :)
5/15/01: Dan says: Microsoft is retiring these exams a wee bit early, I must admit, but on the other hand, NT 4.0 has been out since 1996....
7/11/01: David says: I was always under the understanding that Microsoft supported the current version and the last version of their products. That would mean that NT 4.0 is still supported. I will have to take the core again because my workstation exam for my MCSE is in Windows95 and I think that's unfair. I might not do it this time around. I have enough experence now in the industry that I could get a job without the certification. We will see.
8/25/10: low-format.ru from Dominican Republic says: Î÷åíü äàæå íå ïðîõîé è çàíèìàòåëüíûé ñàéò http://low-format.ru î êîìïüþòåðàõ
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