The exams cover a wide range of topics and require a tremendous amount of study and hands on with the software to be able to pass. MCSE represents a truly knowledgeable and skilled individual able to function in a computer networking environment. Microsoft wanted the MCSE certification to be difficult to obtain to lend credibility to its use and meaning. According to the latest issue of MCP Magazine , the number of MCSE's worldwide have doubled in the last year along with a huge increase of MCP's as well. According to the last survey conducted by MCP Magazine, the MCSE base salary last year was around $67800 and has decreased to $67100 this year. Those with a year or less of experience, as 23 percent of the magazine's respondents reported, and who have passed a single Microsoft exam and thus hold the entry-level Microsoft Certified Professional title, reported an average base salary of $45,800. Experience, as always, is the key differentiator in salary, followed by area of the country and job function . Remember also that these are averages and may not apply in your particular area. To get every detail about MCP, MCT, MCSE, MCSA and MCSD salaries go to MCP's 6th Annual Salary Survey .

MCSE ( Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer ) is a person qualified to effectively plan, implement, maintain and support information systems with Microsoft Windows NT/2000 and other advanced Microsoft products and operating systems. If you've been wondering how the latest Microsoft OS upgrade will affect your career, you're not alone. The introduction of Windows 2000 affects every one of the estimated 471,000 MCSEs out there, and anyone who's considering training for Microsoft's top-flight networking credential. It only took six months for Microsoft to sell over 3 million Windows 2000 operating system licenses worldwide. And analysts estimate that this number could increase to 10 million by the end of the year. Windows 2000 is also very reliable. According to a survey of over 1000 MCSEs conducted by Giga Information Group and Sunbelt Software, Inc. nine out of 10 Windows 2000 Professional customers found Windows 2000 significantly more reliable than prior versions.