The Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) was a certification offered by Microsoft for IT professionals who demonstrated expertise in designing, implementing, and administering Windows server infrastructure and other Microsoft technologies. The certification was popular in the 1990s and 2000s, but Microsoft retired the MCSE certification in 2017 in favor of new certifications that better align with the companys current technologies and services.
To become an MCSE, one had to demonstrate their ability to design, install, administer, and troubleshoot desktop and networking infrastructure based on Microsoft. The requirements for obtaining the MCSE varied over time as Microsoft updated the certification to reflect changes in their technology stack. MCSE holders had to pass recertification exams or earn a new certification every few years to demonstrate their familiarity with changes in Microsoft technologies.
Microsoft has introduced several new certification paths that are comparable to the MCSE certification, depending on the area of expertise an IT professional is interested in. These new certifications are role-based and are designed to better meet the needs of IT professionals and employers in a rapidly evolving technology landscape.
