What Happen to the MCSA Cloud Certification

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Hello IT Pro TV or Mike Rodrick:

Cherokee, I hope I spelled that right? As I was watching an old YouTube Video on the internet where they are discussing about Cherokee Certification background, where i think she mentioned about having a MCSA Cloud Certification? But after looking it up on Microsoft Certification page, I don't see anything related to MCSA Cloud Certification, did Microsoft changed this again? Also, I was planning to prepare for the MCSA 365 (exam 70-346 and 70-347 exams) but after looking at the time line less than 2 weeks left (Expires on April 30 2019) I don't believe I would make it, still debating of taking the MCSA 70-697 exam either to take the chance on it or wait later for the next exam that relates to the Microsoft Windows 10. I also remember from the recent webinar hosted on ITPro.TV regarding "How to prepare for Microsoft exam", which I think was well done, too bad I couldn't attend due to work, Mike mentioned something about that Microsoft is going toward a Role based model regarding their certification, rather then on specific technology based exams such as the Windows 10 (70-697 and 70-698) or Microsoft Server 2016? but rather a MCSA Server Administrator role based exams? please correct me if I am wrong on this? My new certification path is maybe to concentrate on the MTA Cloud, CompTIA Cloud+, then the MCSA Cloud Certification (if its still available) since the MCSA Cloud seems to cover more information regarding cloud services?

Dan L.

Dan

I sat and passed 347 last week after completing 346 a few months ago. I personally welcome the new role based exams as 347 was just too broad and covered pretty much every aspect of office 365, much of which I will never user

Hey @Daniel-Loyer ,

The MCSA: Cloud Platform has retired, as of December 31, 2018, and you are right about 70-346 and 70-347 exams, and the MCSA: Office 365 certification retiring in April, 2019. Things are changing fast!

IMHO, I wouldn't worry about trying to take any of the tests that are scheduled to retire. Everything you have learned in your studies so far will apply to the new exams, so no time or effort lost

Role-based certification is the new model for Microsoft certifications. I agree with @Richard-Naylor , this is a welcome change, as the exams were getting really broad in subject matter.

As for your certification path, it really depends on where you want to end up. It is important that you have a long term goal in mind. It sounds like you want to focus on cloud-based skills. I would definitely recommend the Comp-TIA Cloud+, as a good starting point.

As for Microsoft certifications, I would recommend looking at the Microsoft Certified Azure Fundamentals This is Microsoft's new entry-level Azure certification. You only need one exam, AZ-900.

After that, you might look at Microsoft 365 Certified Fundamentals. Only one exam for this as well, the MS-900.

Once you have these fundamental certs done, you will need to decide whats next. Hopefully by working on the fundamental exams, you have realized what you enjoy and what area you would like to focus on. Try browsing to Microsoft's role-based certifications and choose Associate from the 'Certification Level' filter and pick what's next!

@Mike-Rodrick said in What Happen to the MCSA Cloud Certification:

I would definitely recommend the Comp-TIA Cloud+, as a good starting point.

As for Microsoft certifications, I would recommend looking at the Microsoft Certified Azure Fundamentals This is Microsoft's new entry-level Azure certification.

ITPro.TV doesn't currently have a course for the current version of the Cloud+, so he might want to start with Microsoft Certified Azure Fundamentals until after an updated Cloud+ course is posted.

I think an earlier thread mentioned that employers prefer vendor-specific cloud certs anyway. In the longer term, I think a vender-specific cloud cert plus a vendor-neutral cloud cert probably complement each other well.

Hey Dan,

The cert I was refencing MCSE Cloud Platform and Infrastructure. You can see from this link it is now retired.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/learning/mcse-cloud-platform-infrastructure.aspx

I think az-900 is a great place to get started. We have the course on our roadmap. It can help you transition to the az-103 and from there you can choose areas of specialty to become an expert.

Microsoft learning has decent free labs that can help if you're just getting started. Using the free credit in the Azure platform is probably my top recommendation, for now.

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/learn/paths/azure-fundamentals/

Kindly,
Cherokee