Upgrading from MCSA 2003 to MCSE 2003

csmoot

I am a bit confused. What is the point of the upgrade? Isn't it possible to get your MCSA on the way to getting your MCSE?

sthomas

The point of the upgrade is if you already have your MCSA/MCSE in Windows 2000 then you can take the 292 to upgrade to MCSA 2003 and the 296 to upgrade to MCSE 2003.

csmoot

The MS cert site made it seem as if they were upgrading from MCSA2003 to MSCE2003. It didn't mention anything about 2000. This is what I read: "An MCSA on Microsoft Windows Server 2003 has already met several of the requirements for the MCSE on Windows Server 2003 credential." So the 292/296 had nothing to do with it. That's why I'm confused.

WanBoy67

I've never seen that page before!
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/mcse/windows2003/mcsa.mspx

It is kind of an 'upgrade', because if you have 4 of the MCSA exams done, you'll have done 4 of the 7 exams required for the MCSE (like you say you get your MCSA on the way to MCSE). So your 'upgrade' is 3 exams, the remaining networking system core exams 293 & 294 and the design core elective 297 or 298. I think it only lists the other elective exams as a warning because there are a few exams listed as MCSA electives but they are not MCSE electives.

MCSA - 2 networking system core exams, 1 client core exam, 1 elective exam
MCSE - 4 networking system core exams, 1 client core exam, 1 design core exam, 1 elective exam

csmoot

thats where I got confused. I was wondering why they listed the other electives. It made it seem like you would end up taking 8 exams total to upgrade as opposed to just getting your MCSA on your way to the MCSE which would only be 7 exams. Thanks for explaining!