1/11/2001 -- Microsoft announced today via its Web site that it will retire its MCSE+Internet and MCP+Site Building certifications.

According to the announcement, most of the core exams for MCSE+I will be retired on February 28, 2001. Those candidates who earn the certification before that date will retain their title until Dec. 31, 2001. No upgrade path is planned.

Exam 70-055: Designing and Implementing Web Sites with MS Front Page 98, a core exam for the MCP+Site Building designation, will be retired on June 30, 2001. However, tests 70-057: Designing and Implementing Commerce Solutions with Microsoft Site Server 3.0, Commerce Edition, and 70-152: Designing and Implementing Web Solutions with Microsoft Visual InterDev 6.0 will continue to be available. Thus, candidates may continue earning the MCP+Site Building credential with exam 70-057 and 70-152 through June 30, 2002. No upgrade path is planned; instead, Microsoft recommends that candidates consider upgrading to the Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD) certification.

These announcements weren't unexpected: The three exams required for MCP+SiteBuilding have been out of date for quite some time. And in its February 2001 issue, Microsoft Certified Professional Magazine will quote Anne Marie McSweeney, the acting director for Microsoft's Certification Skill and Assessment group, acknowledging the upcoming retirement of the MCSE+I. She said: "We won't be coming out with [a new version of the] MCSE+Internet. We've upped the bar on the MCSE. Those individuals who have been challenged [with the MCSE+I] - I think they're going to be challenged with the [new] MCSE [for Windows 2000]."

For more information, visit: http://www.microsoft.com/trainingandservices/default.asp?PageID=mcp&PageCall=retire. - B.N.