What is involved in upgrading your MCSE Windows Server 2003 to Windows Server 2008?

You have your

<A href="http://www.buyitcert.com/">MCSE</A>on Windows Server 2003 and you want to upgrade to Windows Server
2008. The first thing to remember is that this is a series of new
certifications and while there is an upgrade path, you are not earning an MCSE
on Windows Server 2008 rather an MCTS or MCITP on windows Server 2008. Also
remember that the era of the MCSA/MCSE certifications has ended – it is now
MCTS and MCITP (and others beyond the scope intended here) and have an entirely
different focus.

I talked about the differences between the
MCTS and MCITP in an earlier blog. The Microsoft Certified Technology
Specialist (MCTS) is concerned with and focused on a deep understanding and use
of a Microsoft product. The MCITP, on the other hand, represents a broader view
of a series of products and is concerned with planning (short and long term)
and network architecture and design. The important thing to keep in mind is
that the MCTS is not a prerequisite for the MCITP – in other words it is not a
stepping stone certification.

There are two MCITP tracks available the
MCITP: Server Administrator or MCITP: Enterprise Administrator (doesn’t mean
you can’t get both, just that they are two separate certifications with
different requirements and target audiences). Regardless of which track you
wish to pursue, you will need to take the 70-649 TS: Upgrading your MCSE on
Windows Server 2003 to Windows Server 2008, Technology Specialist exam. Passing
this exam will earn you the: MCTS: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory,
Configuration (equivalent to the 70-640 exam), the MCTS: Windows Server 2008
Network Infrastructure Configuration (equivalent to the 70-642 exam) and the
MCTS: Window Server 2008 Application Infrastructure Configuration (equivalent
to the 70-643 exam).

Now that you have the 70-649 exam, you can
decide which of the MCITP tracks you wish to pursue. If you want to earn the
MCITP: Server Administrator then you will need to pass the 70-646 Pro: Windows
Server 2008, Server Administrator. If, on the other hand, you are interested in
the MCITP: Enterprise Administrator, you still need to take the 70-649 TS:
Upgrading your MCSE on Windows Server 2003 to Windows Server 2008, Technology
Specialist, but you also need to take two other tests (for a total of 3 tests).
You can take either the 70-620: TS Microsoft Windows Vista, Configuring OR
70-624 TS: Deploying and Maintaining Windows Vista Client and 2007 Microsoft
Office System Desktop (your choice here, but one of the two is required). The
last test you need to take is the 70-647: Windows Server 2008, Enterprise
Administrator. Once you have taken all three – congratulations, you are now a
MCITP: Enterprise Administrator.

As you can see, the upgrade path from MCSE
Windows Server 2003 to MCITP Server or Enterprise Administrator on Windows
Server 2008 is straight forward – a far cry from the old 70-240 exam!