MCSE stands for Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer and such a certification is a value addition to your resume, if you want to make a career out of computers. Apart from just giving a boost to your career, a certification from Microsoft can also increase your pay scales considerably. Getting certified increases your understanding and knowledge of the way systems work, making your talents a major asset and investment for your organization. It opens new windows for you, and prepares you for infrastructural implementation of designs unique to each business requirement.

MCSE is useful in any computer system that runs on Microsoft Windows 2000 or 2003 platform, as it trains the person in the basics of systems and prepares him/her in anything from the infrastructure design of a system to analysis of a company's needs before implementing a design. The certification boosts the industry recognition of a person's knowledge and proficiency in Microsoft products and services.

Since the start of the new millennium, Microsoft has introduced a lot of benefits for candidates wishing to certify. These include discounts in computer training up to 50%, and rebates on the subscriptions of TechNet and TechNet Plus during the first year. The computer training opens up access to MCP member site, through which candidates can get discounts on products and services from Microsoft and other select companies. Also, they get free subscriptions of important magazines, and can download wallet card, transcript, logo and other materials from the website after certification.

MCSE certification is highly useful and appropriate for systems engineers, systems analysts, network specialists, technical consultants and technical support engineers. The certification will be their passport to professional organizations, their reference for successful implementation of advanced Windows operating systems in different organizations.

However, eligibility of MCSE is clearly stated by Microsoft. For a person to enroll as an MCSE candidate, he/she needs to have at least one year experience in a system networking environment a minimum of 200 supported users and five physical locations.