Microsoft provides both the MSCE and MCP certification courses through their learning center. As part of the package, the center provides both online and classroom training, skills assessment and certification exams. Training is offered at various levels and can be taken by people in all stages of their careers. Employees that are already working in the IT industry might turn to the Learning center to master a new application. Students of computer technology could take certification exams here to enhance their job opportunities.
Certification from the Microsoft Corporation gives you recognition when you look to upgrade your career opportunities or advance in a company. Microsoft Learning provides nine levels of certification at the time of publication. Each one covers different areas of expertise regarding computer science and systems engineering. This is where it is easy to confuse MCSE and MCP, two different types of learning that you can get with Microsoft.
Microsoft Certified Professional -- MCP -- is a catch-all term for the networking certification courses available at Microsoft. The center's website describes an MCP as an IT professional who has taken the exams to be certified as an expert at Microsoft. Once you take the courses and pass the tests to get this distinction, you can join the community of MCP technicians available online through Microsoft. This gives you a place to post a resume and look for jobs in this field.
Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer -- MCSE -- is a similar concept but with a different slant. The MCSE training and evaluation focuses on servers. This is a more complex systems engineering certification program than the MCP. Microsoft requires one to two years of experience in servers prior to taking the course. If you become an MCSE professional, you will be an expert in systems such as Windows Server, Exchange Server and SQL Server.