Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) candidates on the Microsoft Windows Server™ 2003 track are required to satisfy the following requirements:

Core Exams (6 Exams Required)

Core Exams: Networking System (4 Exams Required)

Exam 70–290: Managing and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment
Exam 70–291: Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure
Exam 70-293: Planning and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure
Exam 70-294: Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active Directory Infrastructure

Core Exams: Client Operating System (1 Exam Required)

Exam 70–270: Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Exam 70-210¹: Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional

Core Exams: Design (1 Exam Required)

Exam 70-297²: Designing a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active Directory and Network Infrastructure
Exam 70-298²: Designing Security for a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Networ

Elective Exams (1 Exam Required)

Exam 70–086³: Implementing and Supporting Microsoft Systems Management Server 2.0
Exam 70-227³: Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2000, Enterprise Edition
Exam 70-228³: Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition
Exam 70-229³: Designing and Implementing Databases with Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition
Exam 70-232: Implementing and Maintaining Highly Available Web Solutions with Microsoft Windows 2000 Server Technologies and Microsoft Application Center 2000
Exam 70-297²: Designing a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active Directory and Network Infrastructure
Exam 70-298²: Designing Security for a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network

Upgrade Exams (2 Exams Required)

For the MCSE on Windows 2000 credential:

Networking: An MCSE on Windows 2000 has the option to take Exams 70-292 and 70-296 instead of the four core network exams. However, an MCSE on Windows 2000 can choose to take all four core network exams.
Client: An MCSE on Windows 2000 has already passed Exam 70-210 or 70-270, which also satisfies the client requirement for MCSE on Windows Server 2003; therefore, no action is required.
Design: The design skills required of an MCSE on Windows Server 2003 do not differ significantly from those required of an MCSE on Windows 2000; therefore, no action is required.
Elective: Elective exams are required so that candidates prove technical breadth, interoperability skills, or additional technical depth. For MCSEs on Windows 2000, the current MCSE credential satisfies the elective requirement for Windows Server 2003 because it proves the ability to support another version of the platform; therefore, no further action is required.

For the MCSE on Windows NT 4.0 credential:

Networking: The core networking skills required for Windows Server 2003 are significantly different than those required for Windows NT 4.0; therefore, an MCSE on Windows NT 4.0 must prove their skills on all four core network exams.
Client: If the candidate has already taken either Exam 70-210 or 70-270, no further action is required.
Design: An MCSE on Windows NT 4.0 was not required to prove design skills, so they must prove their skills by passing either a Windows 2000 or Windows Server 2003 design exam. If the candidate has already taken a Windows 2000 design exam, no further action is required.
Elective: Elective exams are required so that candidates prove technical breadth, interoperability skills, or additional technical depth. For an MCSE on Windows NT 4.0, the MCSE credential itself satisfies the elective requirement for Windows Server 2003 because it proves the ability to support another version of the platform; therefore, no further action is required.

Upgrade Exams for an MCSE on Windows 2000 (2 Exams Required)

Exam 70-292: Managing and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment for an MCSA Certified on Windows 2000
Exam 70-296: Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment for an MCSE Certified on Windows 2000

Note: There are no additional core or elective exam requirements for an MCSE on Windows 2000 who passes exams 70-292 and 70-296.

¹ Candidates who passed Windows NT 4.0 Exams 70-067, 70-068, and 70-073 had the option to take the comprehensive Exam 70-240: Microsoft Windows 2000 Accelerated Exam for MCPs Certified on Microsoft Windows NT 4.0. By passing this exam, candidates met the MCSE exam requirement for 70-210. Exam 70-240 is no longer available.

² Exams 70-297 and 70-298 may each count once as either one core design exam or one elective exam.

³ Exams 70-086, 70-227, and 70-228 may each count toward both the MCSA and MCSE elective exam requirements.