It's a fact, you can earn over $60,000 per year by becoming aMicrosoft Certified Systems Engineer.
Becoming an MCSE is not easy, though. Microsoft has been taking the desktop computing industry by storm for years. Compared to Novell, they are still relatively new to the server world, but don't let their infancy fool you. According to recent surveys, many people who obtain their MCSE are now making more money than people who have CNE's.
Microsoft NT is being installed on more new networks than Novell Netware, which could account for the salary difference, but the MCSE track is not easy either. You have to pass 6 tests; four core exams, and two elective exams (check out the Certification Track link to find out more) to obtain an MCSE. The main reason, however, is probably because Microsoft has specifically designed their products to work together. This allows people to pick up different Microsoft products that have similar user interfaces, which makes the different products easier to learn.
All the tests are difficult, and simple book work or class study isn't always enough. Microsoft is changing their tests around to reflect more real-world situations, so the difference between "passing the test" and really "knowing the product" is becoming obscured. For that reason, Certification Galore is adding Interactive Training guides to the self-study areas. These guides will have some combination of books, CD-ROM's, videos or other types of training. These guides are not free, though. The links to them will take you to either Amazon.com or Beyond.com, the two best places we've found to purchase the products.

This Site:

Each set of pages on this site will be full of information. The main page of each set will tell you about the test(s) those pages cover, and whether the test is a core requirement, core elective, or elective.

	Core requirement = You have to take that test to get your certification
	Core elective = You have to take one of the listed options to get your certification
	Elective = You can choose any minimum number of the listed options to get your certification