MCSA 2008 expiration

Didn't realise this was going to be retired so soon. Checked the website today and its set to retire January 31st, 2014. I guess I will have to get cracking.

Retired exams

look under retiring within a year under server.

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Comments

sratakhin

Wait a second... Did Microsoft extend the retirement dates for 70-643, 647 and 649? I thought they were supposed to retire in July.

Tremiata

The confusion is the Exam vs certification. Exam not retiring in July. MCITP retiring in july.

nerdinhiding

Retiring on January 31, 2014
70-640: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory, Configuring
70-642: Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure, Configuring
70-646: Windows Server 2008, Server Administrator
70-643: TS: Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure, Configuring
70-647: Pro: Windows Server 2008, Enterprise Administrator
70-649: Upgrading your MCSE on Windows Server 2003 to Windows Server 2008, Technology Specialist

After January 2014 You can no longer get the MCSA 2008

NetworkingStudent

One word: LAME
I really thought Microsoft would let these certs stay around for alittle while longer. According to their website extended support goes until 2020. I just don’t like the idea of recertifying every 3 years. I don’t see the point in this. Yes technology changes, but renewing certs is expensive. Sure I would pay to recertify in Cisco, but I don’t see the point in certifying every 3 years for Microsoft. There are a lot of companies that don’t want the new OS or server that Microsoft tries shoving down their throat.( think Windows 8 )
Microsoft Product Lifecycle Search

Is it even worth it certifying for 2008? Is it worth studying for server 2012? I'm just frustrated!! I’m currently studying for the MTA sever exam and then transferring into the sever 2008 exams. However, this news may change my plans. Studying for certs isn’t cheap. I have to buy videos, books, ect.

By my calculations it looks like 6 months before the exams retire.

How long is the Windows sever 2012 good for? Will Microsoft keep changing the certification rules as they see fit?

Peterm44

I got the 640 out of the road and just started the 642, now im wondering if its worth it knowing the MCSA will expire in 7 months time. What are the rest of you looking at doing? At least the CCNA lasts 3 years.

MrAgent

It'd be worth it just so if/when you decide to upgrade, you can just take the upgrade path vs having to start from nothing.

cruwl

Wow... that's ridiculous. I hadn't seen this info yet.

I'm going to have to really think If I want to continue for my MCSA. I cant belive the MCSA Will only be available for 6-7 months, I Feel like writing a nasty letter to MCP now.

nXPLOSi

It is pretty ridiculous retiring the MCSA 2008 just 7 months or so after the MCSA 2003.

I am currently studying for the 70-640 with the aim of doing the three exams within the next year or so, which obviously now becomes 7 months tops.

I have wrote to MCP asking the question as to why they have done this. Who knows, if we all question it maybe they'll extend the date, I imagine there is still quite a demand for the 2008 path as there are plenty of people still going for it!

Kinet1c

This sucks balls! I was planning on doing MCSA W7 first but guess I'll have to change now and get the server 2008 R2 track done first.

ahphoto

Keep this in mind:

Most companies aren't going to upgrade their systems to Server 2012. It would be in most peoples best interest to obtain the 2008 certification track before the exam expires. It will still be on your transcript, and will help to justify that you know the 2008 technology. Then if you decide to upgrade to 2012, you will have both 2008 and 2012 on your transcript. One active, one not....but still there.

Peterm44

Thats a good call. After some thought I am still going to proceed with 2008 MCSA. The MCSA never expires but the exams taken do so it sounds worthwhile. Admittedly its a bit crazy that 2003 expires on July 31 but the 2008 doesnt last longer.

thronetm

Surprised at the short lifetime of these 2008 exams, hopefully all of you who are pursuing these exams get them before the cut off date!

blargoe

The CERTS do not expire, you just can't take the exams after January 2014. It remains a valid (and valuable) certification if you get it before then.

But yeah, it sucks that they are retiring all of the exams this soon.

MeatCatalogue

When the hell did MS change the dates for 70-643 and 70-647? These were supposed to be retired July 31. I've been busting my balls to get them done and now they are changed???!!!

In other news, is the MCITP: EA cert still retiring July 31? I tried to do live chat but "all MS reps are busy"

nXPLOSi

Has anyone else noticed that the 70-646 has dropped off the retirement list for Jan 31st? I guess this is not scheduled for retirement now?

I thought I was losing the plot but double checking on this post it was definitely in there for retirement a week or so ago!?

nXPLOSi

I've since spoken to MS and they have confirmed that the 70-646 is now not scheduled for retirement, still seems strange to me but its a welcome change for sure.

Saundie

I guess this means I cannot afford to procrastinate about getting this cert under my belt. As some people have already noted, the Server 2003 certs have been around for a lot longer than the 2008 ones. Now that Microsoft are pursuing a much more aggressive release schedule on their operating systems, it does make me wonder if Microsoft are going to accelerate the retirement of their exams. If Server 2012 R2 is released only eighteen months after Server 2012, does that mean we'll see a Server 2012 R3 in early 2015, or will we get an entirely new version? What will that mean for certification?

nXPLOSi

I have again checked the retirement list this morning, and now the 70-640 and the 70-642 are also no longer being retired in Jan 2014. Not sure what is going on at the moment, the list seems to be changing on a weekly basis, but it seems like good news for those of us going for the MCSA 2008.

Deadpool85

Anyone found anything more on this? I was actually giving up on studying for this and I had already sat through a week of Server 2008 training. So if they extended I would begin pursuing it full time!

cruwl

I tried to verify with MCP support but they were clueless on this.

MrAgent

640, 642, and 646 are not showing up on their retirement schedule as of today.

Retired exams

Kinet1c

It would be pretty sweet if these are not going to be retired in January 2014!

Devilsbane

cruwl wrote: »

I tried to verify with MCP support but they were clueless on this.

Sadly, they generally are. Classic Microsoft right hand having no clue what the left hand is up to.

NetworkingStudent

I called Microsoft MCP support today and they said there were only retirement dates for the MCP status, which will retire go July 31, 2013. However, the MCSA exams 70-640, 70-641, and 70, 642 have no retirement dates. I guess Microsoft changed their mind.
MCSA: Windows Server 2008 | Microsoft Learning

MCTS Certification | Microsoft Learning
This shows the MCT status going away:
The MCTS: Windows Small Business Server 2011 Standard, Configuration; MCTS: Windows Essential Business Server 2008, Configuration; and MCTS: Windows HPC Server 2008, Development certifications will be retired on July 31, 2013. The MCTS: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory, Configuration; MCTS: Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure, Configuration; and MCTS: Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure, Configuration certifications will be retired on January 31, 2014.

Even after reading all this I'm still confused, the guy from Microsoft reassured me that the MCSA exams have no retirement date as of yet.

Deadpool85

So they are retiring the MCTS status for the 70-640, 70-642 and 70-646 in Jan 2014. Are they also expiring the MCITP that comes with the 70-640, 70-642?

Is the MCSA Server 2008 confirmed to not expire in Jan 2014?

Deadpool85

just spoke to an online microsoft representative and he is saying that MCSA Server 2008 is being retired on Jan 2014....

amcnow

Hooray for forum searches! I was just about to post a separate topic on this.

Anyway, it seems Microsoft has yet to eliminate the confusion on these exam retirement dates. It doesn't help when they list the (apparently) updated retirement date for exam 70-450 on the Microsoft SQL Server certifications page and leave the 70-450 page with the original retirement date.

This is actually a good thing since it buys me more time. With that said, get it together Microsoft!

horusthesun

Gentlemen .. get cracking

neathneathneath

I have given up on the 70-647: Pro: Windows Server 2008, Enterprise Administrator, due to the exam retirement timescale. Now it seems that the MCITP:EA is still good until January 31, 2014.

I have started looking at Server 2012 material and Windows 8, so reluctant to go back to 647 now.

Microsoft is having a joke with these dates. Many of us have put hours of study in to no avail

DoubleNNs

Seems like the MCTS: Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure, Configuration (70-642) and MCTS: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory, Configuration (70-640) are no longer retiring.

Sweet!

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en-us/mcts-certification.aspx#fbid=fALMH6Txt4t