Microsoft MCSA Windows 10 & Cloud Platform Certifications

Jose Cobo

Hello all,
Microsoft will retire the Windows 10 certification on march 31st, 2019.
Is it worth it to get certified on Windows 10?
Is it worth to get any certification that will retire in the short term?
And also,
Why is Microsoft retiring the Cloud Platform Certification considering this is the technology were people and business are moving.
thanks, Jose

Cherokee Boose

Hi Jose,
This is a great question! Microsoft has decided to re-brand a lot of their certifications to mirror other vendor certs. The certifications will be defined as role based. Let's take the Cloud Platform Certification for example. Yes, they are retiring the title but the content or skills will be packaged inside of different exams. If you examine the older 70-533 exam objectives and then compare them to the az-100 and az-101 you will find them broken up between the two. The below link should help. Also, bridge exams are currently available to help during this transition period. I'm not 100% sure how the Windows 10 content will map. I haven't seen too much info on those yet but I am guessing we will see that soon. The shows Mike and I shot in the 70-697 and &0-698 will still be relevant and able to help you learn and be ready for the new exams when they are available aside from new features that may come with subsequent Win 10 updates. I hope that helps. Feel free to reach out with any other questions!

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/learning/community-blog-post.aspx?BlogId=8&Id=375159

Kindly,
Cherokee

Jose Cobo

Many many Thanks Cherokee!

Daniel Loyer

In regard to the MIcrosoft MCSA Win 70-697 and 70-698, Unless this is an old post, I thought that the Windows 10 certifications exam was extended until April 30 2019?

Adam Gordon

Daniel,

I hope all is well. You are correct, Microsoft has recently announced that the MCSA Windows 10 exams will officially be retired on April 30, 2019.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/learning/mcsa-windows-10-certifications.aspx

If you have any other questions, please let us know.

Cheers,

Adam

Daniel Loyer

Hi Adam:

Thanks for the reply on this post regarding the MCSA Windows 10, I just recently found out (Friday March 15th 2019) after watching a segment ITPro Win 70-698, I think there was a link somewhere in one of the episodes, then it redirects me to Microsoft website, it shows that the 70-698 exam expires on march 31 2019? Not sure if I missed this or that Microsoft has changed it again, I don't like Microsoft when they change Exam Certification dates? Or it might of been on the PearsonVue website. Only 2 weeks left (deadline March 31 2019) is it worth the time and money to pursue it, If I don't then I might lose the MCSA Windows 10 Certfication (status) , then just earn the MCP certification if I continue on with the 70-697 studies, I have purchase the IT pro TV premium package, ITDVDs.com and the TestOut/Labsim to prepare myself for both of these exam, my original plan was to take the 98-366? MTA Networking essentials, as a "test the waters' type of test.

here's a link

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/learning/exam-70-698.aspx

Dan Loyer

Adam Gordon

Dan,

I hope all is well. Unfortunately, when a vendor makes a decision to impose an "end of life" deadline on a certification, there are always casualties.

The "official" EOL (end of life) for the MCSA Windows 10 certification date according to Microsoft is April 30th, 2019. How that translates into when Pearson will stop making the 70-697 and 70-698 exams available, I am not sure. You would have to check EITHER with Microsoft Certification Support, and/or Pearson support to be sure that you have the correct information.

For Microsoft, depending on where you are located, use the appropriate link from this page:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/learning/help.aspx

For Pearson, you would have to go to the Pearson Vue site, and get to the Microsoft page of their site URL here:

https://home.pearsonvue.com/microsoft

And then you would have to contact their support team from there.

Assuming that the April 30th date is the true EOL, and that you could test up to, or close to that date, the you would have approx. 4 - 6 weeks to get the exams done from this point. While that may or may not be enough time, that is all that is left if you want to have the MCSA Windows 10 cert as part of your credentials.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/learning/mcsa-windows-10-certifications.aspx

IF HOWEVER, that timeline does not work for you, then you would be looking to track towards the new Role-based Certifications, which you can learn more about from here:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/learning/browse-new-certification.aspx

Specifically, you would be most interested in the Microsoft 365 Certified: Modern Desktop Administrator credential, as described here:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/learning/modern-desktop.aspx

Now, before you say it, I know that they are saying on the page above that the 70-698 exam is retiring as of March 31, 2019, and if you have done it before then, you can just take the MD-101 exam and then you will get the new cert.

As I suggested, CHECK WITH MICROSOFT SUPPORT DIRECTLY, as the information is not clear, and they are the final arbiter of what the dates are, and how all this will work.

Confusing, I know, but I hope it helps to at least point you in the right direction to get the correct information.

Good Luck !!!

If I can be of any further help, please let me know as needed, my direct e-mail is: adam@itpro.tv

Cheers,

Adam