Question about the Server 2008 Certs..Please Help

All,

Can someone who is Server 2008 certified or someone who knows, please answer this question for me since I'm just a bit confused? I recently became MCSA for Desktop Windows 7, but in order to be MCSA, I had to pass the MCTS, and the MCITP exams. Microsoft would not grant a certification for one or the other MCTS, MCITP, until I passed both. Once I did, i earned the MCSA.

My question is to be Server 2008 certified, does the same concept apply? As in do I have to pass all three 70-640, 70-642, 70-646 in order to earn my certs? I read somewhere on this forum that you dont have to, that for each exam you pass, you ear a cert.

Can someone please confirm this for me? Also there seems to be confusion on the retired dates. Some are saying that these exams retire July 31st of this year 2013, but on the MS site, it states Jan 2014. Of course I should believe what the MS site says and not Google post right?

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MickQ

Short answer, yes.

You can get a cert for the "Specialist (MCTS)" in each exam.
However, in order to qualify for MCITP, it's all or nothing. You need to pass all the exams in the group to be qualified as the MCITP.

edgar2387

Thanks MickQ

ahphoto

MickQ wrote: »

Short answer, yes.

You can get a cert for the "Specialist (MCTS)" in each exam.
However, in order to qualify for MCITP, it's all or nothing. You need to pass all the exams in the group to be qualified as the MCITP.

Also note:
You have until July 31, 2013 to earn your MCITP. After then, you can only earn your MCSA 2008.
Per Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP)
"[MCITP] certifications will be retired on July 31, 2013. You must meet all of the requirements for these certifications prior to July 31, 2013, in order to earn them."

DoubleNNs

I thought after July 31st the MCTS was going away too?

ahphoto

DoubleNNs wrote: »

I thought after July 31st the MCTS was going away too?

Interesting, I didn't know that... good to know!

Just checked the website in more detail and found the following information:

Windows Server Certification | Microsoft Learning
MCTS certifications
"These certifications will be retired on July 31, 2013. You must take and pass the required exams prior to July 31, 2013, in order to earn these certifications."

DoubleNNs

So then after July 31st, passing only 1 or 2 of the required 3 exams doesn't give you a cert at all.
So if you pass the first of the 3 exams on August 1st, but can't successfully pass the 3rd exam by Jan 31st, you essentially have nothing?

edgar2387

Ok, im lost now, so July 31st retires the MCITP level for certs, but I didnt think the MCTS would retire as well, the Microsoft site states Jan 2014. Can anyone confirm this?

MeatCatalogue

edgar2387 wrote: »

Ok, im lost now, so July 31st retires the MCITP level for certs, but I didnt think the MCTS would retire as well, the Microsoft site states Jan 2014. Can anyone confirm this?

Microsoft changed the expiration dates for several exams last week sometime. However, the title:

MCITP: Enterprise Administrator STILL expires on July 31, 2013.

Prior to last week, exams 70-647 and 70-643 (required for title) also expired July 31. These exams now expire January 31, 2014. However, if you want the title, you must STILL pass all exams by July 31, 2013. Stupid huh?

MCITP: Enterprise Desktop Administrator (70-680, 70-686) can still be had until January 31, 2014.

Yes its confusing and very stupid.

Mutata

I could be wrong, but from my reading the MCTS designation won't expire. But after January 31 2014, you no longer be able to sit for the 70-640,642 etc

DoubleNNs

That's not what it says on the site ahphoto posted.
The MCTS designation will no longer exist by the end of next month.

Mutata

Interesting,

I see that link - maybe they are expiring the MCTS designation end of next month and the actual exam January 2014.

Retired exams - Shows the 640-642-646 expiring January 2014.

So we can still get the MCSA:2008, but no MCTS for all the exams required to get it.

Which brings us to our tough decision, can you fit 3 exams in 7 months for the MCSA-2008 or should you just move on and go for the 2012

Crikey

I'm done with worrying about Microsoft certs. Between this and the absurdly vague exams that do not test anything other than your ability to visualize where to go in their GUI to uncheck a box, it's a waste of my time. Other certs are more valuable and the tests more reasonable.