Originally tied to Microsoft's Windows NT 3.5 version of their server product, the MCSE started to gain momentum in 1995 as Microsoft began to focus substantial efforts on displacing Novell from its position of dominance in the network operating system market.
With the release of Windows NT 4.0 in late 1996, Microsoft effectively branded its MCSE 4.0 certification program and by the time Microsoft released Windows 2000 Server, its next version of the server product, the ranks of individuals holding an MCSE designation had grown substantially. While Microsoft doesn't release specifics relating to the actual number of certified professionals in each of its categories, occasionally it provides some insight into the success of its certification program. In 2001 Microsoft announced there were "more than 1 million Microsoft Certified Professionals (MCPs) at the forefront of driving customer success with Microsoft technologies."
Beginning in 2002, the popularity of information technology (IT) certifications began to diminish. There were three factors that contributed to this outcome. With outsourcing of IT-related jobs, employment opportunities in the U.S. disappeared. The "dotCOM" bomb where the economic realities of companies formulated with business plans that ignored issues relating to profitability also contributed to the lack of jobs. Additionally, reputations of many certifications including Microsoft's MCSE were tarnished through the characterization of individuals who lacked hands-on experience as "paper MCSEs."
With the release of Windows Server 2008, Microsoft made the decision not to continue with the MCSE association with its new network operating systems. Introducing its Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) designation, Microsoft hoped to revitalize its certification offerings, free of the tarnished reputation associated with individuals obtaining MCSE certification without the associated skills Microsoft suggested they would have. Unfortunately little effort has been made by Microsoft to effectively brand this new certification with its Server 2008 product line.
Over time the tarnished reputation associated with "paper MCSEs" has lessened. Employers still regard certifications as a filtering tool in determining whether a resume hits the pile of individuals to be interviewed when making hiring decisions. This is particularly true in challenging times where applicants for a single IT position can number in the hundreds. Exclusion in the "to be interviewed" pile guaranties failure for job seekers. Inclusion means you are still in the race. If the only benefit of MCSE certification is inclusion, obtaining your MCSE makes sense.
The path to MCSE certification has narrowed as the result of retirement of many of the certification exams. In order to qualify for the certification you need to pass a series of seven (7) exams. The available "core" exams relate to the Windows Server 2003 operating system. There are four (4) core exams (70-290, 70-291, 70-293 and 70-294). Candidates need to take one workstation exam. To keep your certification as relevant as possible, a wise decision would be to take the 70-680 exam that relates to Windows 7. Additionally you must take an exam relating to network design. Most candidates take either the 70-297 or 70-298 exam. Microsoft provides a lengthy list of "elective exams." With the importance given to network security, an appealing third party exam available to complete this requirement is CompTIA's Security+ exam (SY0-201).