With COVID 19, any talk about Microsoft extending the retirement date for exams?

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This question may be in vain but with everything else in the world being put on hold or cancelled right now, has there been any talk from Microsoft that they may push back the date of all the exams the intend on retiring? I know there are several users out in the community sending MS their petitions for MS to push back the date and this was even before WHO called the virus pandemic. Many argued that it takes on average about 3 months to train and study for the exam and giving a 4 month window of notification was not allowing them enough to allow them to do that. Also, some are making the case where they were supposed to go travel to training centers to take the courses but with many companies banning or restricting travel, this is not possible.

@Derek-Sompong,

As of 10 March 2019, No.
https://trainingsupport.microsoft.com/en-us/mcp/forum/all/extension-on-the-mcsamcse-exams-due-to-corona/52f61422-eb8b-4531-b8e6-53410abe7ccb

"As of this writing Microsoft has no extension announcement due to the said pandemic outbreak.

Should there be further notice of changes with our certification in the future, updates will be posted in our Community Blog Site.

We appreciate your understanding in this matter."

PearsonVUE suspending test delivery at all US and Canadian test centers until at least April 16.

https://home.pearsonvue.com/coronavirus-update

However, if this lasts longer, you would think the Microsoft should extend the retirement dates of the exams. How are people supposed to take the exams by June 30 if test centers remain closed?

@Derek-Sompong,

I would continue to check the Community Blog Site to see what happens.

@Ronnie, Thanks for linking my Question from Training support Somehow the answer looked familiar while reading.

I presume we will have to wait but i dont see how they can keep the schedule while everything closes down around them.

Hi Ronnie:

I would agree with all of those User/Candidates that want to extend the Microsoft Exam Deadline (June 30th 2020), it would make sense to push back the dates to either Sept or Dec 2020, with this pandemic going around world wide and everything shutdown, how can you take the exams, everyone either lock-in and more worried with their health or Finance, they (Microsoft) should do the right thing here and push back the exam deadline.

I understand that you can take online exams from Microsoft via proctor. Is PearsonVUE the vendor for online proctored exams? Will they still administer online exams while their test centers are closed? I looked for information on both PearsonVUE and Microsoft sites for this information and can't seem to find it. No could I find how to contact either one directly? Any help with this?

@Derek-Sompong,

I've not seen anything official come out yet. So until you can link it back to Microsoft's own announcement. I would have to say it may be more a "plea" about testing. CompTIA is promising to do this online testing and possibly others. Pearson Vue, the testing centers, have temporarily closed with no announcement on how to proceed. Cisco has extended their expiration dates.

So I wouldn't trust any announcement until you get it from Microsoft directly. That is where we must keep vigilent.

@Derek-Sompong I just spoke with someone who is going into a physical testing center for a Microsoft exam Wednesday. I also have not seen a direct statement from Microsoft. According to Pearson Vue if you can book the exam, expect on taking it with additional heath measures put into place. Also this is going to vary by location as many States/ Counties are starting to implement their own shutdowns. I will keep an eye out, until then check out this link in addition to the one @Ronnie-Wong mentioned to you.
https://home.pearsonvue.com/coronavirus-update

I contacted a manager of Education Services at an IT education training center where I have taken several PersonVUE exams in the past. This was her response concerning taking online proctored MCSA exams: after getting the response from Microsoft directly:

"Hi Derek – I wanted to make sure your received the exact wording regarding scheduling your exam online from Microsoft:

All Microsoft exams available thru Pearson VUE are able to be taken online.

That being said, there is limited availability so it may look like the exam cannot be taken online if there are no openings during the time period that the candidate wants to schedule the exam."

I attempted to schedule an exam through Microsoft's site but I keep getting an error stating there are issues with the web page. I tried this on 3 different devices using 3 different internet browsers. So there may not be any available open spots at this time to take the exams online as many other are trying to do so as well.

@Derek-Sompong,

Glad you got some update.

I would say they may be available soon..but until you see Microsoft make the announcement formally on their website. It may mean they want to do but to do it may not be ready as of today...as your experience has shown you.

So be patient.

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

Pushed to January 31st, 2021.

Super happy about this.

Edit: The announcement blog post is here - https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/learning/community-blog-post.aspx?BlogId=8&Id=375289

Awesome, finally a post regarding this, long overdue.

@Eric-Wenthe

Hi Eric:

You beat me to it

Yes, I am super excited that Microsoft has finally decided to extend the deadline till jan 2021

here's the link:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/learning/community-blog-post.aspx?BlogId=8&Id=375289

Update: March 26, 2020. All remaining exams associated with Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA), Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD), Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE) will retire on January 31, 2021.

Dan Loyer