The END of the Microsoft Certifications track (i.e. MCSA, MCSE, MCSD)

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Dear IT Pro:

I may have asked this question several times, and I really hate the idea that Microsoft has ended the Certification track/path (i.e. MCSA, MCSE etc..for those who are interested in the System Administration or Server Administration roles, once the deadline has passed (Jan 30th or Jan 31st 2021) how does one go about the next step in the Microsoft Certification track, once the MCSA, MCSE are no longer available, Should one look at the CompTIA Server+, I just find that the MCSA or MCSE or CCNA certifications have a lot more value or weight in the eyes of the hiring manager.

@Daniel-Loyer

I agree, as someone who has been certified since Windows 2000 Server, it is sad to see the MCSA / MCSE certification tracks being retired. CompTIA Server+ is a good foundational certification.

Role-based certifications are much more aligned with todays environments. But it will take time for hiring managers to understand what they need to look for when hiring.

Focus on getting certified in a skillset, not an operating system version. Get certified in Azure or Microsoft 365, this is where most organizations are heading. As more and more move to the cloud, these are the certs you will want.

I miss deploying and configuring servers, but I don't have to any more. I go to Azure and spin up a new web app in minutes. Azure deploys, configures, and updates the underlying OS. I don't need to know what OS my Azure Active Directory is being hosted on. Its all PaaS and SaaS.

My crystal ball is often cloudy, but I see Windows Server following Windows 10 and being delivered as a service. Rolling updates, no more versions to get certified in.

I wish they weren't retiring the MCSA / MCSE, we have to adjust to it.

@Daniel-Loyer @Mike-Rodrick , I hope all is well. Just to build on what Mike has already said... and lamented over... the movement is not just away from the core certifications that WERE NOT really role based in any significant way, but towards the Cloud centric technologies that support the modern data centers we are asked as I.T. professionals to operate with and maintain.

Years ago we actually had this exact model when Microsoft created all of the specialist certifications to support many of the non-core technologies such as SharePoint, System Center, Lync, and Project.

The key differences are that now we are finally moving to a more skill based testing regime to support certifications, AND, we now have certifications that expire and have to be renewed EITHER through a skill assessment OR exam retake on an annual basis.

Certifications and the names they go by come and go, change is inevitable... what matters is the value of the skills you have as an I.T. professional and the way you can tell that story and demonstrate that value. The "mew normal" that Microsoft is creating around skill based and role based alignments and the need to prove/validate those skills annually is a good thing for all of us.

Cheers,

Adam

I just took the 70-743 exam but did not pass. I received 636 out of 700. Technically I still have 2 more weeks to take the exam before it is retired. Since I was so close, to passing it, should i re-take it or is it time to move on to the role based certifications? Some of the things that tripped me up were seeing commands I have never seen before that did not even look like PowerShell commandlets or other common Command line commons such as netsh, netdom, dnslookup, dnscmd, etc. and concepts that were not on the Exam objective list. If it is worth my time to re-take this exam, what are some general suggestions or tricks or tips for learning some of the things that tripped me up?

@Derek-Sompong Sorry, I meant to say I got 636 and to pass you need 700.

@Derek-Sompong ,

So close!

That's a tough call. Do you have any type of retake voucher or will it cost you full price to take it again?

I think it depends on why you are taking the exam. Are you currently working? Since you are taking the upgrade exam you must already have an MCSA in Server 2008 or 2012. Will upgrading to 2016 get you a raise or promotion?

If you are not working, what jobs are you applying for? What skills are they looking for? Have they moved to or planning to move to the cloud or do they still have a string on-premises presence?

@Mike-Rodrick I am working and I have the MCITP for 2008 Enterprise. It isn't needed for my job and I am not looking for a new one. This was more a resume builder if anything and since I have put a lot of time into studying for this, I would have something to show for it . Our company isn't moving to the cloud anytime soon but I thought that is where I would start a new learning path into that direction as the industry is headed that way. I don't think its a question of if our company goes that way it is when and it would be beneficial for them to have someone on the inside who has cloud background. It will cost me full price to take the exam again but my company may re-imburse me.

@Mike-Rodrick I also should have added that most of the technologies and concepts that are covered in the 70-743, I don't even work with (i.e.. Direct Access, ADFS, IPAM, etc) so most of may hands on with these technologies were with practice labs and not real world experience. So are the role based certifications more focused on one or a few areas or are they like the certs that are ready to expire and take on a lot areas.?

@Derek-Sompong ,

If it was me, I would probably try again. If for no other reason, to have something to show, as you said, for all of your effort studying. Something about the MCSA. But it's also a lot of money, that probably won't get you much in return.

The role-based exams focus on specific areas, like Azure, or Microsoft 365. They are still developing many of the exams. Some of the foundation exams, like AZ-900 and MS-900 are broad. The AZ-104, AZ-500, MD-100, etc are more focused, but still have long objective lists.

Hi Derek, having passed this exam yesterday, i would totally advise to buckle down take a closer look where you got low scores (from what i heard around me, most likely 70-741/SDN/Datacenter Firewalls) and retry shortly before the deadline.
It should be enough to do some labs (ITPro offers them as well), maybe look at rhe kaplan questions as well.
You saw some questions now, you should have a good understanding how MS asks stuff, which can be weird at times

Good luck!

Andreas