To get a Microsoft certification is no easy task. It requires systematic study, completion of coursework and an examination. Candidates need to face multi-level testing of their design implementation and administration skills in Microsoft Windows platforms to provide business solutions. MCSE classes, boot camps, online study guides and practice exams can help them go a long way in getting certified.

So, what do you need to get the certification? MCSE certification requires lot of hard work and focused studying. To help MCSE aspirants pass the certification exam with decent grades, there are boot camps that comprise of intense classes stretching over two to three weeks. These are different from traditional MCSE classes that are held weekly and help students prepare for the exams.

MCSE certification involves seven levels of testing, with intense course modules in operating systems, design and other electives on implementation. The exams are broken into four exams in operating systems, design and two others chosen by the candidate. The first five exams are called core exams, and the remaining are elective exams. Though the students get a choice even in their core exams, they have to pass one exam from each set of operating systems exams namely client operating systems and networking systems. This effectively means they have to pass one out of two operating systems exams and one of three networking systems exams. And they need to pass only one out of six design exams set by the Microsoft and two out of more than a dozen electives.

Microsoft recommends different requirements for certification for the Windows Server 2003 and Windows 2000 platform. Microsoft's recommendations for the former include MCSE on Windows 2000 and NT 4.0 with specializations in Messaging and Security on Windows Server 2003. For Windows 2000 platform, Microsoft recommends just MCSE in Windows 2000 with specialization in Messaging and Security in Windows 2000.