MCSA 2012 to MCSE 2016 and Securing MCSA

xp2k2k3

[FONT=&quot]verytime I read certification changes, Microsoft is very unclear about expiration date, how to secure certification and path for different MCP certification. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]I took 3 exams two years ago and obtained MCSA 2012. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Question 1[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]As I read the changed certification paths, if I take one exam 70-413 or 70-414, I'll get MCSE, but detailed intro of two exams show that exam 70-413 is part one, 70-414 is part two. Does this mean it's two exams to be passed?[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]And in fact the exam 70-413 and 70-414 seem as it's for 2012, not 2016. Am I right? But then, why it says MCSE 2016? [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Update: I like to strength my Azure knowledge, so I like to take 70-532, will I be given MCSE?[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Question 2[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Securing MCSA 2016[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]As MS cert FAQ says, my MCSA 2012 won't expire. But why does exam says 'securing MCSA'. Does this mean if I take this one exam, I will get new MCSA 2016?[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Question 3[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]After obtaining MCSE (2012 or 2016, still not clear what I will get if I take 70-413), what happens if I don't secure MCSA 2016? [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Thank you in advance. [/FONT]

djrabes

To gain the MCSE: Cloud Platform and Infrastructure certification, you only need to pass one elective exams.

You can take and pass either; 70-413 or 70-413.

You can take 'Securing Windows Server 2016' and get the MCSE CP&I, its entirely up to you. You will not get an MCSA: Server 2016 by passing this exam however.

Your MCSA: Windows Server 2012 does not expire, it just retires when Server 2012 comes out of extended support. You can obtain the MCSA: Windows Server 2016 by passing one exam (70-743) like I did.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/learning/mcse-cloud-platform-infrastructure.aspx

relegated

Sorry don't mean to thread hijack but I have the same question. I have my 2012 MCSA, thinking about upgrading to 2016 either MCSA or MCSE. Looks like you take this one to upgrade your MCSA to 2016.

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

Upgrading to MCSE 2016 isn't as clear. This page says I just need to pass one exam, 70-413 for example.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/learning/mcse-cloud-platform-infrastructure.aspx

djrabes why did you upgrade your MCSA rather than going to MCSE?

Kyrak

It's definitely a little confusing the way they do things now.

If you have a MCSA 2012 and you take one of the following (532, 533, 534, 473, 475, 744, 745, 413, 414, 246, 247, 537, 538, 539) then you will obtain MCSE 2017 if you take it before Dec 31. If you pass that one test after January 1 then you get..... MCSE 2018. And if you pass it in 2019 then you will have MCSE 2019 etc. If you take one test before Dec 31, then a different one after Dec 31, then you will have both MCSE 2017 and MCSE 2018.

If you have a MCSA 2012 take 70-743 you will now have MCSA 2016 (as well as your MCSA 2012 which never expires until EOL of 2012)

Just to confuse you if if you have a MCSE 2017 and pass 70-743 in 2018 it won't give you MCSE 2018, just the MCSA 2016. If you want to get the MCSE 2018 you will need to pass one of the elective exams from the long list I gave above.

relegated

Yeah that doesn't make any sense, at any date the MCSE 2017 or 2018 would still be based off Windows Server 2016 correct? I suppose maybe their rationale is to force people to date their MCSE on their resume so that they are not listing the one they got from 2000? I still don't understand though if it only takes one to upgrade to MCSA or MCSE why you would not choose MCSE since it is "better" other than the fact that the test is probably more difficult.

Kyrak

relegated wrote: »

Yeah that doesn't make any sense, at any date the MCSE 2017 or 2018 would still be based off Windows Server 2016 correct? I suppose maybe their rationale is to force people to date their MCSE on their resume so that they are not listing the one they got from 2000? I still don't understand though if it only takes one to upgrade to MCSA or MCSE why you would not choose MCSE since it is "better" other than the fact that the test is probably more difficult.

No, your MCSE 2017 or 2018 could be based off your MCSA 2012 OR a MCSA 2016. Basically the year after the MCSE is the last time your increased your Microsoft knowledge by passing one of that list of exams (which will change as time goes by). They are trying to prevent exactly what you said. So if I have a MCSE 2017 on my YourAcclaim/LinkedIn and it is 2025 then potential employers know I haven't been keeping up. And to answer your question I would do the MCSE 2017 all day long instead of upgrading to a MCSA 2016 (which is what I am doing right now preparing for 534). The MCSE is THE search thing HR is looking for for SysAdmin/Eng. I'm not sure their plan will work because people will still put MCSE on their resume and HR will still search for MCSE so the year part is just a sideline.

relegated

So 70-413 would get me to MCSE 2016 but do I need to complete it by the end of the year. Or am I able to take it in March of next year and accomplish the same thing?

Kyrak

relegated wrote: »

So 70-413 would get me to MCSE 2016 but do I need to complete it by the end of the year. Or am I able to take it in March of next year and accomplish the same thing?

Passing 70-413 TODAY would get your MCSE 2017. Passing it in March would get your MCSE 2018 so maybe wait to get that one extra year if you aren't looking to get the MCSE to help you with job hunting today.

relegated

Sounds like a good plan, not expecting to go anywhere at the moment. Thanks.

techfiend

Another reason for adding year might be because server 2016 is a service OS like windows 10. It might be the last microsoft server OS we see for a decade, or ever. You can bet the new features from the (bi)annual updates will be getting into the cert tests.