So what can MCSE certification do for you? Of IT professionals who were surveyed by Redmond magazine, 43% said that MCSE certification helped increase their salary, and 40% said it was a factor in them finding or keeping a job, or getting a promotion.

Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) certification is appropriate for people who want the credentials to design and implement infrastructure for business solutions. Job responsibilities include installing, configuring, and troubleshooting network systems based on Microsoft Server 2003 or 2000.

People who work toward MCSE certification on Windows Server 2003 usually have at least a year of experience implementing and administering network and client operating systems at a mid-size to large company. If you currently work as a systems engineer, network engineer, systems analyst, network analyst, or technical consultant, MCSE certification could help you advance in your career. You'll have to take seven exams to get certified: four on networking systems, one on client operating systems, one on design, and one elective. However, if you're already certified on Windows 2000 Server, you'll only need to take two exams.

If you already have MCSE certification on Windows Server 2003, you can use those skills to work toward obtaining certifications for Windows Server 2008. You'll only need to pass one exam to earn all three Microsoft Certified Technology Specialists (MCTS) certifications on Windows Server 2008. Even if you get the newer certification, your MCSE certification on Windows Server 2003 will not be retired.