[German]Microsoft has just announced that it will discontinue its certifications (MCSA, MCSD, MCSE) for certain programs such as Windows Server 2019, Windows SQL Server 2019 and so on.
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Microsoft provides so-called certifications in programs like MCSA (Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate), MCSD (Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer), MCSE (Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert). To get such a certification, people have to take an exam. The certificates are intended to provide evidence of expertise that the acquirer has certain knowledge of Microsoft products in the relevant field.
A Twitter splitter
I stumbled yesterday on Twitter upon a tweet from Tero Alhonen, saying, that Microsoft is retiring these certifications. The tweet alludes to the fact that Microsoft on Twitter has just announced innovations for Cortana, but at the same time is retiring the certifications.
We're also excited to share that there will not be Windows Server 2019 and SQL Server 2019 certifications and basically everything that has anything to do with on-prem will be wiped out https://t.co/ZveSxGMS1j
— Tero Alhonen (@teroalhonen) February 28, 2020
This has been announced within the Microsoft Learning Blog in the article MCSA, MCSD, MCSE certifications retire; with continued investment to role-based certifications. The reason: Microsoft's new focus on role-based training and certification (i.e. focus on the cloud).
Expansion of the Cloud
Since Microsoft announced its focus on role-based training and certification in September 2018, the portfolio has been expanded by a total of 34 certifications in the areas of Azure, Modern Workplace and Business Applications.
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Old certificates are being discontinued
As Microsoft intends to further expand its role-based learning offerings in the cloud solutions area, all remaining exams related to Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA), Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD) and Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE) will be discontinued on June 30, 2020. Here is the list of what will be discontinued:
Certifications with exams scheduled to retire on June 30, 2020
MCSA: BI Reporting
MCSA: Dynamics 365 for Operations
MCSA: SQL 2016 BI Development
MCSA: SQL 2016 Database Admin
MCSA: SQL 2016 Database Dev
MCSA: SQL Server 2012/2014
MCSA: Universal Windows Platform
MCSA: Web Applications
MCSA: Windows Server 2012
MCSA: Windows Server 2016
MCSD: App Builder
MCSE: Business Applications
MCSE: Core Infrastructure
MCSE: Data Management & Analytics
MCSE: Productivity
Exams Retiring on June 30, 2020
70-333: Deploying Enterprise Voice with Skype for Business 2015
70-334: Core Solutions for Microsoft Skype for Business 2015
70-339: Managing Microsoft SharePoint Server 2016
70-345: Designing and Deploying Microsoft Exchange Server 2016
70-457: Developing Mobile Apps
70-410: Installing and Configuring Windows Server 2012
70-411: Administering Windows Server 2012
70-412: Configuring Advanced Windows Server 2012 Services
70-413: Designing and Implementing a Server Infrastructure
70-414: Implementing an Advanced Server Infrastructure
70-417: Upgrading Your Skills to MCSA Windows Server 2012
70-461: Querying Microsoft SQL Server 2012/2014
70-462: Administering Microsoft SQL Server 2012/2014 Databases
70-463: Implementing a Data Warehouse with Microsoft SQL Server 2012/2014
70-464: Developing Microsoft SQL Server 2012/2014 Databases
70-465: Designing Database Solutions for Microsoft SQL Server
70-466: Implementing Data Models and Reports with Microsoft SQL Server
70-467: Designing Business Intelligence Solutions with Microsoft SQL Server
70-480: Programming in HTML5 with JavaScript and CSS3
70-483: Programming in C#
70-486: Developing ASP.NET MVC Web Applications
70-487: Developing Microsoft Azure and Web Services
70-537: Configuring and Operating a Hybrid Cloud with Microsoft Azure Stack
70-705: Designing and Providing Microsoft Licensing Solutions to Large Organizations
70-740: Installation, Storage, and Compute with Windows Server 2016
70-741: Networking with Windows Server 2016
70-742: Identity with Windows Server 2016
70-743: Upgrading Your skills to MCSA: Windows Server 2016
70-744: Securing Windows Server 2016
70-745: Implementing a Software-Defined Datacenter
70-761: Querying Data with Transact-SQL
70-762: Developing SQL Databases
70-764: Administering a SQL Database Infrastructure
70-765: Provisioning SQL Databases
70-767: Implementing a Data Warehouse using SQL
70-768: Developing SQL Data Models
70-777: Implementing Microsoft Azure Cosmos DB Solutions
70-778: Analyzing and Visualizing Data with Microsoft Power BI
70-779: Analyzing and Visualizing Data with Microsoft Excel
MB2-716: Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customization and Configuration
MB6-894: Development, Extensions and Deployment for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance
MB6-897: Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Retail
MB6-898: Microsoft Dynamics 365 Human Resources
So anyone who is currently studying for MCSA, MCSD or MCSE certification should get into the hoofs. After all, they have to pass all the necessary tests before the programs are discontinued. However, the training content in these areas should still be available. Details can be found in the article MCSA, MCSD, MCSE certifications retire; with continued investment to role-based certifications.
