The MCSE (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer) used to be the gold standard for IT professionals, especially system administrators, network engineers, and infrastructure experts. It was retired in January 2021, and Microsoft transitioned to role-based certifications that are modular, more focused, and cloud- and hybrid-oriented.

Here are the closest modern role-based certifications that match the scope and prestige of the legacy MCSE—especially for infrastructure, cloud, hybrid, and enterprise IT roles:

Modern Certification (2025)Exam Code(s)Focus Area
Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect ExpertAZ-305Enterprise cloud architecture, networking, security, and compute
Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator AssociateAZ-104Core Azure infrastructure and operations (VMs, networking, identity)
Microsoft Certified: Microsoft 365 Administrator ExpertMS-102Enterprise Microsoft 365 services, Exchange Online, Teams, compliance
Microsoft Certified: Endpoint Administrator AssociateMD-102Device management, Intune, Windows Autopilot, security baseline
Microsoft Certified: Identity and Access Administrator AssociateSC-300Azure AD/Entra ID, Conditional Access, identity governance
Microsoft Certified: Security Operations Analyst AssociateSC-200Threat detection, response, and SIEM/SOAR using Microsoft Sentinel
Microsoft Certified: Windows Server Hybrid Administrator AssociateAZ-800, AZ-801Hybrid on-prem + Azure Windows Server management (closest to old MCSE Server Infrastructure)

Key Differences from Legacy MCSE:

Legacy MCSEModern Equivalent Path
Broad, all-in-one certificationModular certifications by job role (admin, architect, security)
On-premises focused (Windows Server)Hybrid and cloud-native (Azure, Microsoft 365, Intune, Defender)
One-time certificationRole-based with optional renewal every year (via free assessment)

Suggested MCSE Replacement Paths by Focus:

Old MCSE Specialty2025 Equivalent Certifications
Server InfrastructureAZ-800, AZ-801, AZ-104
Cloud Platform and InfrastructureAZ-104, AZ-305, AZ-500
Productivity (Exchange, Skype, SharePoint)MS-102, MS-700, MS-203, MS-600
SecuritySC-200, SC-300, SC-400
Enterprise Devices and AppsMD-102, MS-102, Intune, Autopilot

Summary of Changes

Legacy StructureModern Structure (2025)
MCSA → MCSE hierarchyModular certifications (Fundamental → Associate → Expert)
Technology-focused (e.g., SQL, Exchange)Role-focused (e.g., Data Engineer, Security Admin)
Static certificationYearly renewable via online assessment
Mostly on-premisesCloud-native or hybrid (Azure, M365, Intune, etc.)
CertificationsMicrosoft