70-412 No Longer Required - Choose from 4 Electives

pandiculator

From 15th September the 3rd exam for MCSA certification is an elective. You can pick from:

• Exam 346: Managing Office 365 Identities and Requirements
• Exam 409: Server Virtualization with Windows Server Hyper-V and System Center
• Exam 412: Configuring Advanced Windows Server 2012 Services
• Exam 461: Querying Microsoft SQL Server 2012

Source: Born to Learn Blog

Shdwmage

You beat me to it!

ajs1976

I like the change, but I wonder what prompted them to make it.

aaronchristenson

Probably because no one was taking the "cloud" exams except 409 which has ended up becoming a free exam.

Shdwmage

I'd like to note that it appears with this change you can do the 70-410,411,461,462 and have 2 different MCSA exams.


It appears as though you will still need to do the 412 to get the MCSE cert/title.

lsud00d

It doesn't really affect anything but the 409 is in the 74 series of the exams, i.e. 74-409.

tprice5

I have no interest in pursuing it, but I wonder if the MCSA Server 2012 would qualify as the "elective" for the MCSA SQL 2012. It doesn't directly list 7-417 as a possible exam but considering the content of that exam is a combo of 410+411+412, it really should.

sanrus

nice. If I understand it right, now you can get both MCSA:server2012 adn MCSA:SQL just by passing 4 exams: 410,411,461,462

srabiee

Thanks for posting this. Very strange change indeed.

jmasterj206

Interesting. I guess if I fail my 70-412 tomorrow I could always switch over to the Hyper V exam since that is more what I do anyway. There are just not a lot of materials out there for the 74-409.

kriscamaro68

@kris, if you already took some of the exams that now make up the requirements for the certification, you will earn the certification. For example, if you have already taken exam 409 and 410, you just need to take exam 411 to earn MCSA: Windows Server 2012. Once you earn MCSA: WIndows Server 2012, you're on your way to earning your MCSE -- even if you earned your MCSA with electives. Thank you!! <- This is from Holly Dickson herself. So looks like the 70-412 is not needed to get the MCSE.

jonny72

Think this is a really good move by Microsoft. Things aren't black and white and the previous paths meant what you were learning didn't always map to what your job was. For example, the Server 2012 MCSA would take you far beyond what you'd need to know as a regular sys admin, whilst not even touching on SQL or Office 365 which are often a part of the job.

It's given me a boost and the kick I needed to get back to the studying - just 3 exams to get Server and SQL MCSA's compared to 5 this morning.

tprice5

tprice5 wrote: »

I have no interest in pursuing it, but I wonder if the MCSA Server 2012 would qualify as the "elective" for the MCSA SQL 2012. It doesn't directly list 7-417 as a possible exam but considering the content of that exam is a combo of 410+411+412, it really should.

I don't think I worded this well. Let me try again...

I have my MCSA Server 2012 by way of the upgrade exam, 70-417. If I wanted to pursue the MCSA SQL path, would I be required to sit 2 or 3 tests?

thatguy67

Pretty cool for the test-takers, time and money-wise. I wonder if Microsoft will incorporate more stuff into the 411 and 462 exams? Maybe Microsoft will see a trend that people are taking two exams to get an MCSA. Or perhaps they'll make an exception (i.e. you cannot use a core exam from one track to count for the elective in the other).

Bloogen

jonny72 wrote: »

Think this is a really good move by Microsoft. Things aren't black and white and the previous paths meant what you were learning didn't always map to what your job was. For example, the Server 2012 MCSA would take you far beyond what you'd need to know as a regular sys admin, whilst not even touching on SQL or Office 365 which are often a part of the job.

It's given me a boost and the kick I needed to get back to the studying - just 3 exams to get Server and SQL MCSA's compared to 5 this morning.

From the comments on the link:Electives for Windows Server 2012 & SQL Server 2012 MCSA Certifications Now Available - Born to Learn - Born To Learn - Born to Learn

"at this time 417 will not be an alternative to 411 or 412 in the SQL path, but thank you for this feedback. Thanks for asking about this!"
-Holly Dickson - Microsoft

I think they should consider changing this policy to allow the 417 to qualify.

Piers

This is pretty cool news to me, my current (now old I suppose) plan was to finish the 70-646 exam to be able to write the 70-417 upgrade (2 tests). I was having trouble rebooting my brain after taking a few years away, and really just wanted a fresh start with 2012.

Now, thanks to MVA and their free exam, I'm already 1/3 done the MCSA. Goodbye 2008, I already got what I wanted from you (Infrastructure and AD), it's time to take that base knowledge and move on I'll do the 410 and 411, and if that doesn't fry me, go for the MSCE

Shdwmage

MVA free exam?

RINTI1012

yeah, free exam?

unfbilly11

A while back Microsoft offered vouchers for a free shot at the 74-409 exam. Those vouchers expired on 6/30/2014...to my knowledge.

I wonder how this change will affect current WGU students...? I am imagining nothing will change and I will be forced to take the 412 still, but I'd really like to take the 461 instead because it more closely relates to my work. Plus, that would put me only 1 more exam away from the MCSA: SQL Server 2012.

Piers

RINTI1012 wrote: »

yeah, free exam?

yeah, free exam free training

http://www.techexams.net/forums/mcsa-mcse-windows-2012-general/94764-free-microsoft-exam-voucher.html

bendarmody

hey guys,

i went to the site and signed in but cant see any mention of the free exam voucher?
can anyone confirm if this is still available,

has anyone managed to do this recently.

netsysllc

I took mine when it was free, even though the site still says 50% off the footnote shows that it is expired.

Piers

bendarmody wrote: »

hey guys,

i went to the site and signed in but cant see any mention of the free exam voucher?
can anyone confirm if this is still available,

has anyone managed to do this recently.

The online video course was in November, and I believe is still available, but the voucher received after registering expired in the summer. Here's post with an email received

EspiOne wrote: »

So I got my voucher and email today. But it sounds like you need to register now, or can you wait until you are ready?? I am looking at about 4 months, roughly. Any input would be appreciated. Thank you for registering for the free 74-409 Server Virtualization with Windows Server and System Center exam voucher. The number of free exams is limited so schedule your exam soon.

Your personal voucher number is:

XXXXXXXXXX

This VOUCHER number is valid for the following:

74-409 Server Virtualization with Windows Server and System Center exam

Please make a note of this voucher and print out this page and keep it in a safe place. You will need this voucher to register for your free retake in the event that you fail your initial exam.

VOUCHER EXPIRATION:

These vouchers expire on June 30, 2014. All exams must be taken by June 30, 2014.

Piers

Here's the training .. Server Virtualization with Hyper-V & System Center Training - Microsoft Virtual Academy

Krusader

Think I'll take the 74-409 now instead of the 70-412. Think the content will be more interesting. I did have a free voucher for it but didn't sit the exam.
I assume you still get the specialist cert for passing the 74-409 also.

2 MCSAs can be achieved with 4 exams or 3 for 6, 70-410 + 70-411 + (70-461 + 70-462) or (70-346 + 70-347) = MCSA Server 2012 + (MCSA SQL 2012) or (MCSA Office 365)

AlexM

Great news, already having 409 & 410, my MCSA goal is only one exam away!

DY770

After I have completed 410 and 411, which is the easier path? 412 or 409?

Fulcrum45

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korr2221

lets say i pass 410- 411- and 409... what test would upgrade me to 2016 server? or generally is there a need to do this? how many exams is it?

poolmanjim

The upgrade exam is the 70-743. Once you have an MCSA you only need to pass the 70-743 to receive an upgrade to MCSA:Server 2016.

One thing to note is the 70-743 is a collection of the contents of 70-740, 70-741, and 70-742. It will most likely focus on new content. If you take the 71-409 as your "capstone" course, you will still want to have an understanding of AD CS, AD RMS, and AD FS in particular to be able to pass the 70-742 content portion of the 70-743.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/learning/exam-70-743.aspx

RomBUS

Wow that's kind of a load off since I took and passed the 74-409 a while ago...so all I have to do is pass the dreaded 70-410 and 70-411 to receive MCSE Server 2012?! Kind of amazing that the 74-409 kind of paid off when I took that MVA course so long ago.