Microsoft may be forced to extend its end-of-year deadline for IT
professionals to upgrade their certification status or lose
accreditation.
If the deadline is not extended, some experts predict that half the
UK's Microsoft-certified systems engineers could lose their
accreditation on New Years Day, 2002.
The software giant is scrapping the Windows NT4 exam and has told
Microsoft-certified systems engineers (MCSEs) at NT4-level that
they have until 31 December to pass the new tests on Windows 2000
to retain their MCSE certification.
The company introduced schemes such as the "Early Achiever"
identification for candidates completing Windows 2000 MCSE before
31 October.
But a combination of tight deadlines and the economic slowdown has
meant thousands of MCSE certified engineers have not taken the
necessary exams. Industry experts say this could force Microsoft to
push back the de-certification deadline.
One industry source told CW360 that at the beginning of 2001, the
UK had 18,000 NT4 MCSEs, of which 6,000 have now upgraded to
Windows 2000.
"That leaves a gap of 12,000," he said. "Microsoft has a lot of
numbers to pick up. Getting half of them upgraded by the end of the
year would be a good number, but that still leaves a shortage of
9,000. I believe that will push Microsoft into extending the
de-certification deadline by six months."
Jon Shepstone, business manager for Windows, hardware and
communications at QA training said: "It took over four years to get
18,000 NT MCSEs. It's a very high expectation to expect the whole
population to migrate to Windows 2000 by the end of the
year."
Microsoft may extend the fast track, 70-240 accelerated exam,
"beyond the December deadline", Shepstone said.
Microsoft refused to give out figures on the number of
professionals who have upgraded their MCSE credential, but did not
rule out the option that the deadline for de-certification could be
extended.
Ayesha Okhai, Microsoft's skills business manager, said: "Microsoft
is very happy with the number of people who have upgraded their
MCSE credential to the Windows 2000 platform. That said, we are
always assessing our offerings and evaluating whether there are
ways to improve the MCP programme to better meet the needs of our
customers."
She added: "We will make any changes that we or our customers feel
necessary."