Windows 2003 MCSE Certification Requirements

What are the Windows 2003 MCSE certification requirements?

On February 17 2003, Microsoft has updated their Microsoft Certification Requirements page.
This page will keep record of the most up-to-date certification requirements as posted by Microsoft on their public certification pages.
Note: This page quotes Microsoft’s page and uses their language and course descriptions. I’ve added notes where deem fit.
Upgrade from Windows 2000 certification: People certified with Windows 2000 MCSE can choose to upgrade their certification. See the following page for more info on that: Windows 2003 MCSE/MCSA Upgrade Requirements
Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) candidates on the Microsoft Windows Server 2003 track are required to satisfy the following requirements:
Note: The Windows Server 2003 exams will be released in the second half of 2003.

Core Exams (6 Exams Required)

  • One client operating system exam
  • Four networking system exams
  • One design exam

Click the individual Exam and Course titles for more info.

Client Operating System (1 exam required) Courses
Select one of the following 2 exams
Exam 70-210: Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Course 2151: Microsoft Windows 2000 Network and Operating System Essentials (3 days)
Course 2152: Implementing Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional and Server (5 days)
Exam 70–270: Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows XP Professional Course 2272: Implementing and Supporting Microsoft Windows XP Professional (5 days)
Course 2285: Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows XP Professional (3 days)

Note: As you see, W2K Pro (70-210) is still a valid elective towards the Win2003 MCSE certification.
and

Networking Systems (4 exams required) Courses
Do all 4 exams
Exam 70–290: Managing and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment Course 2274: Managing a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment (5 days)
Course 2275: Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment (3 days)
Course 2208: Updating Support Skills from Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 to Microsoft Windows Server 2003 (5 days)
Exam 70–291: Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure Course 2276: Implementing a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure: Network Hosts (2 days)
Course 2277: Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure: Network Services (5 days)
Course 2208: Updating Support Skills from Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 to Microsoft Windows Server 2003 (5 days)
Exam 70-293: Planning and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure Course 2278: Planning and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure (5 days)
Exam 70-294: Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active Directory Infrastructure Course 2279: Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active Directory Infrastructure (5 days)

plus

Design (1 exam required)

Courses
Select one of the following exams
Exam 70-297: Designing a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active Directory and Network Infrastructure Course 2282: Designing a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active Directory and Network Infrastructure (5 days)
Exam 70-298: Designing Security for a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Course 2830: Designing Security for Microsoft Networks (3 days)

Elective Exams (1 Exams Required)

Together with the core exams, the elective exams provide a valid and reliable measure of technical proficiency and expertise in solution design and implementation. MCSE candidates should also have at least one year of experience implementing and administering network operating systems and desktop operating systems.
Click the individual Exam and Course titles for more info.

Elective (1 exams required) Courses
Select one of the following exams
Exam 70–086: Implementing and Supporting Microsoft Systems Management Server 2.0 Course 828: Deploying and Supporting Microsoft Systems Management Server 2.0 (5 days)
Course 827: Administering Microsoft Systems Management Server 2.0 (3 days)
Exam 70-227: Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2000 Enterprise Edition Course 2159: Deploying and Managing Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration Server 2000
Exam 70-228: Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition
Bonus: Do this one and get 2 certifications at once – MCSE & MCDBA
Course 2072: Administering a Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Database
Exam 70-229: Designing and Implementing Databases with Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition
Bonus: Do this one and get 2 certifications at once – MCSE & MCDBA
Course 2073: Programming a Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Database
Course 2071: Querying Microsoft SQL Server 2000 with Transact-SQL
Exam 70-232: Implementing and Maintaining Highly Available Web Solutions with Microsoft Windows 2000 Server Technologies and Microsoft Application Center 2000 Course 2203: Deploying and Managing Microsoft Application Center 2000 (2 days)
Exam 70-297: Designing a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active Directory and Network Infrastructure Course 2282: Designing a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active Directory and Network Infrastructure (5 days)
Exam 70-298: Designing Security for a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Course 2830: Designing Security for Microsoft Networks (3 days)

Note: Exams 70-297 and 70-298 may each count once as either one core design exam or one elective exam.
Important note: Exchange 2000 is not a valid MCSA or MCSE Server elective because the product is not supported on Windows Server 2003. Exchange 2003 will become an elective for the new MCSA or MCSE later this year. I also expect a lot of alternative elective options to arrive later this year or during the course of 2004.
See Microsoft’s Official Windows 2003 MCSE certification page.