Earlier this year Microsoft announced that it would not recognise NT4.0 certification from December 31 and all MCSEs would have to upgrade to Windows 2000 certification.
However, the corporation has now bowed to international public pressure to keep the NT4.0 qualification.
While no further certification examinations will be held, Microsoft Certified Systems Engineers on Windows NT 4.0 will remain certified indefinitely, and MCSEs in Windows 2000 will now be formally referred to as MCSE on Microsoft Windows 2000.
But the change will not apply to Microsoft Channel Partners who will still have to upgrade their certification.
The changes are part of a major revamp of the corporation's IT certification program in the lead up to the release of its new .NET platform next year.
Microsoft Australia's technical community manager Derek Kerr says the company had "listened the public feedback" in reversing its decision to retire the NT4.0 certification.
Historically Microsoft has periodically retired credentials earned on older versions of its products.
But Kerr says that with the increased complexity of IT environments, however, it has become difficult for the company to accurately predict the appropriate timing for such retirements. The policy changes will eliminate the need for such predictions.
The Microsoft Certified Professional program will recognise credentials for as long as they are in demand in the market and assign credential version designations to differentiate individuals who have updated their skills to the latest technologies.
The company also will introduce a new credential targeting IT administrators, creating a third level of certification.
The new Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator will rank between Microsoft Certified Professional and MSCE.
No certification will be offered in Windows XP because it is not a server technology and the next certification program will be launched in the first quarter of next year for .NET.
Kerr says the Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer certification program includes unique design and implementation skills that are not directly applicable to the systems administrator job function.
"The MCSA credential has been designed to include a subset of the MCSE credential's exams, and is focused specifically on the skills necessary to successfully manage and troubleshoot the ongoing needs of Windows 2000-based systems."
