Microsoft Announces Retirement of MCSE+I, MCP+Site Building
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These announcements weren't unexpected: The three exams required for MCP+SiteBuilding have been out of date for quite some time.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.
|
There are 39  user Comments for “Microsoft Announces Retirement of MCSE+I, MCP+Site Building”
|
|
Page 2 of 4
|
| 1/16/01: Bill says: |
This new certification process is just about money money money!!!! Sure progress is good and very important. But it is Microsort's continued arrogance that bothers me and many other MCSEs. There is really no justification for the high price tag on Microsoft's certification and testing process. This is merely defend under the guise of increased value. So I have decided that I am not going to upgrade my certification. The time, money, and aggravation simply are not worth just learning about how to use a Microsoft product. Instead, I will invest my time in earning a Computer Science degree from a "real" school of learning -- college. In the end it may be a little more expenseive and take a litte more time. But, it will certainly be worth it since this will be one certification which cannot be unilaterally taken away and its value greater. So what would I say to Microsoft, "stuff it." |
| 1/16/01: Just says: |
Well, I think a lot of people forget what the M stands for in the MCSE. It doesn't stand for Me or for Millions. M stands for Microsoft. So, Microsoft uses the MCSE for marketing purposes. Who cares? |
| 1/16/01: Mike says: |
I agree with Ray above - how do you announce the retirement of something when the replacement exams (and cert) were not available yet? While the W2K cert is definitely part of the natural order of things, I feel it was rushed a bit to pad Microsoft's pockets. If they had proceeded a bit more slowly, they may not have burned so many bridges. Concerning the "value" of an MCSE - I started working on mine about a year ago. I have 3 years experience in the field, and I still need to take the TCP/IP exam. I feel that experience should have been a prerequisite for getting your MCSE cert., and that would have helped to restore its value. I have worked hard to become an MCSE, and the dedication of time and resources has NOT been cheap. Let's not forget - Microsft certified these "boot camps" to train people in two weeks how to be an MCSE, because they wanted to push their certification out onto the market. They devalued it themselves. Think it won't happen again? Watch and see. Though I don't agree with the time frame for the certification expirations, I say let them do what they want. At $100 a pop for the tests, I wonder who is getting rich from the process, anyhow. I think $50 is much more reasonable. |
| 1/16/01: Former MCP says: |
I strongly agree with Bill above. I will not invest any time pursuing any more Microsoft certifications. I rather spend time earning my college degree in CIS or pursuing CCNA/CCNP certification. It is just too costly to pay for MCSE classes, books, tests, and study hours to have it all taken away so Microsoft can push Windows 2000. Several companies have recently upgraded to NT/98/95. I do not think they are going to Win2k anytime soon. Microsoft should keep MCSE for NT 4 intact and have a separate Win2k MCSE certification. The only way I will pursue any more Microsoft certifications is if the company I am working for pays for it. Goodbye Microsoft! Hello Cisco! |
| 1/16/01: Dennis says: |
I totally agree with you fellows. Microsoft is a money hungrey corp. We work so hard on our certs and they are retiring the NT track like it is a piece of trash. Unbelievable! Smart as they are, you would think there would be a way to tell the difference between NT or WINK2 cert. Linux, here I come. |
| 1/17/01: Josh says: |
Experience backs up the certifications. The MCSE is considered a premium certification for a reason. It is not intended to be an entry level cert. So based upon that fact, without experience, the cert is worth nothing and that reflects the attitude of most managers in the industry. The so-called "paper" MCSE finds it rather difficult to get a job based on the cert alone. I am planning to upgrade my MCSE since it goes hand in hand with the job experience I am obtaining now. If my company were not upgrading to Win2k, then neither would I upgrade my certs. Get certified on what you work with, otherwise you do all the other people who have worked for their certs. |
| 1/17/01: Scott says: |
Microsoft is a bunch of crooks, they think they can do anything they want and get away with it. I personally think they're wrong and will regret what they are doing to the 4.0 track. I agree you need to push forward and keep up with technology, but forcing people and companies alike to abandon products some of them have just recently gained is a big headed idea that only Microsoft could come up with. I will choose to go with Cisco from now on, their certs are going to get you a better paying job anyway. So I say Microsoft can do what they want,pretty soon no one will care about them anyway. |
| 1/18/01: agree with ice beer says: |
a designer certification makes a lot of sense to me |
| 1/19/01: Joe says: |
I agree with the point that the certification and exam retirement is early (probably by a year or so). On the other hand, it is their certification program, and they can do what they want. Companies will still recognize the certification as long as it suits their needs. I'm focusing on Cisco and other certifications, but am still going to upgrade to the Win2k MCSE as well. If it helps with my career, I'm going to do it. |
| 1/22/01: James says: |
For those that are not aware, Sylvan Prometric takes $50 of exam for themselves, the testing center get a split of the remaining $50. Microsoft is most likely loosing money on the test themselves. I have been an MCSE since 1994 and also got my MCSE+I two years back. My MCP ID is 9079. Yes, I am disappointed about losing this initial. There are way too many paper MCSEs and this has to stop. The idiots in HR in many companies cannot figure out the difference. Maybe MS could consider adding number of years they have been cerfitied as a MSCE for renewal purposes to the formula. |
First Page Previous Page Next Page Last Page
|
|
|
|
