In the continuation of the move towards all role-based certifications, Microsoft has announced that they are officially retiring all of the MCSE, MCSD, and MCSA certifications; as well as their associated exams. This means there are a total of 15 certifications, and 42 exams being retired on January 31, 2021. Wow!

Now, we’ve known for awhile now that this would be coming. Back in September 2018, Microsoft first announced the new role-based certification paths with the initial role-based Microsoft Azure certification paths. And, they’ve been slowly adding more role-based paths to the new certification lineup since then. Now that they’ve created role-based certifications for all the most popular certification paths, they are looking to finally retire the old “technology-based” certification paths.

UPDATE: Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic Microsoft has extended the retirement of the MCSA, MCSD, and MCSE certifications to January 31, 2021 instead of the original June 30, 2020 date that was announced.





MCSE, MCSD, and MCSA are being retired January 31, 2021

As Microsoft looks to close one certification chapter, and begin a new, they are going to be retiring the Microsoft Certified Solution Expert (MCSE), Microsoft Certified Solution Developer (MCSD), and Microsoft Certified Solution Associate (MCSA) certifications on January 31, 2021.

Perhaps there’s a song that could be written here…

Bye, bye, MCSE… I connected my laptop to wifi, but the wifi was gone… 🎶 https://t.co/EWsxY0DiB9 — Chris Pietschmann (@crpietschmann) February 27, 2020

Here’s a list of the MCSE, MCSD, and MCSA certifications that will be retired:

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

If you on your path to earning these certifications, then you have until January 31, 2021 to pass the required exams to earn the certifications. After that date they will no longer be available to be earned. Once retired, these certifications will remain on your official Microsoft certification transcript. In fact, they will remain on your transcript for 2 years from the January 31, 2021 date; after which they will be moved to the “inactive” section of your transcript. With the new role-based exams being active for a period of 2 years once earned, this change makes sense for the MCSE, MCSD, and MCSA certifications to be in line with that two year expiration / renewal cycle.

The MCSE, MCSD, and MCSA certifications will remain on your transcript for 2 years from the January 31, 2021 date; after which they will be moved to the “inactive” section of your transcript

Wait? Does this mean there will no longer be a Windows Server, SQL Server, or C# / .NET developer certifications? Yes, that’s exactly what this certification retirements means. To make this more confusing, Microsoft has stated that you will learn enough Windows Server and SQL Server from the cloud-based certifications offered, and they don’t need to create new role-based certifications for these “on-premises focused” technologies. This is odd angle to all this certification expiration news, and hopefully we’ll hear more information from Microsoft to clarify this soon. However, unless they change their stance and direction, you only have until January 31, 2021 to earn a technology-based certification in Windows Server, SQL Server, and C# / .NET development. Sorry, not sorry, to those who need these certifications for their resumes and to meet employer requirements.

Lots of exams retired too…

With these MCSE, MCSD, and MCSA certifications being retired, the necessary exams needed to earn these certifications will also be retired on January 31, 2021. I know it’s a lot of exams, and you may be worried about your own certification journey, but there are more details for you below.

Here is the list of exams being retired:

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

If you are currently studying for one of these exams, then you’ll want to take them and earn your desired certification before January 31, 2021. After that date, the exams will be retired and no longer available to sit.

Transitional Paths towards Role-based Microsoft Certifications

There are a lot of certifications being retired, in fact, I believe this is the largest certification and exam retirement Microsoft has ever done in a single cycle. These are big changes, and they have laid out a recommended path for those on the old MCSE and MCSD paths to move towards the new role-based certifications. While there aren’t full equivalents for all the certifications yet, I’m sure Microsoft will be working in the near future (or at least in the next couple years) to fill in blanks as peoples certifications go “inactive” and they are looking to renew again.

Recommended Path to Microsoft Role-based Certification Options – Credit: Microsoft

The current migration path that Microsoft recommends for moving from the MCSE and MCSD certifications to the existing role-based certification paths are as follows:

MCSE: Core Infrastructure Start with any of these… Azure Administrator Associate Azure Solutions Architect Expert Azure Security Engineer Associate

MCSE: Productivity Start with any of these… Teams Administrator Associate Messaging Administrator Associate Security Administrator Associate Then take… Enterprise Administrator Expert

MCSE: Data Management and Analytics Start with any of these… Azure Database Administrator (coming soon) Data Analyst Associate (coming soon) Azure Data Engineer Associate Azure AI Engineer Associate Azure Data Scientist Associate

MCSD: App Builder Start with… Azure Developer Associate

MCSE: Business Applications Start with any of these… Dynamics 365 Finance Functional Consultant Associate Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management, Manufacturing Functional Consultant Associate Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management Functional Consultant Associate Dynamics 365 Customer Service Functional Consultant Associate Dynamics 365 Field Service Functional Consultant Associate Dynamics 365 Marketing Functional Consultant Associate Dynamics 365 Sales Functional Consultant Associate



I know this list looks to be a bit short in filling the full breadth of what the MCSE, MCSD, and MCSA certifications covered. For example with this change there is no longer a path for someone to get certified with .NET Core / ASP.NET. Keep in mind that Microsoft is continually working on improving the certification paths they offer. So, I would imagine within the next year or so we will likely see more information about new certifications that will be coming to fill in these holes left by retiring the MCSE, MCSD, and MCSA certifications.

Keep in mind that Microsoft is continually working on improving the certification paths they offer. So, I would imagine within the next year or so we will likely see more information about new certifications that will be coming to fill in these holes left by retiring the MCSE, MCSD, and MCSA certifications.

Additionally, for answering your other questions about this change, please refer to the original announcement from Microsoft for more “frequently asked questions”. I’m sure many of you have questions, so hopefully that link helps. If not, maybe we’ll see more information and clarification on these changes in the coming months leading up to January 31, 2021.

Yes, I know it seems Microsoft keeps making changes to their certification programs every couple years. This is true. However, the new role-based direction is one that is better aligned with real world job roles, and are better serving people to help them in their careers. At least that’s my opinion and observation of all the changes towards this role-based set of certification paths. As technology keeps changing, and you need to keep updating your skills to stay relevant in this industry; so do the certifications necessary to test and verify those skills.

Happy studying, and I hope you achieve your certification goals!

Article Author

Chris Pietschmann Chris is the Founder of Build5Nines.com and a Microsoft MVP in Azure & IoT with 20 years of experience designing and building Cloud & Enterprise systems. He is also a Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect, developer, Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT), and Cloud Advocate. He has a passion for technology and sharing what he learns with others to help enable them to learn faster and be more productive.