Upgrading to the MCSA Windows 10 and announcing the retirement of Windows 7 exams

October 6, 2017 at 12:04 pm | Posted in Certification Paths, Microsoft | 3 Comments
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Hi, can I still upgrade from windows 8.1 to MCSA 10, by taking 70-697?

While researching this reader’s question, I went to the Microsoft certification site and discovered that the MCSA: Windows 8/8.1 was no longer listed anywhere on the site, including in the retired certifications list. The only desktop MCSA described is the Windows 10 MCSA.

I’m confident that the information we reported in November 2016 is no longer current, and students should look at the Microsoft site first to determine which exam to take.

I also reached out to Microsoft regarding the exams for MCSA: Windows 10. Their official response was that it was no longer possible to upgrade from the Windows 8 certification. The only way to achieve a MCSA: Windows 10 is  to pass two exams, 70-697 and 70-698. Passing only one of these exams earns you the MCP (Microsoft Certified Professional), but nothing more.

The death of desktop certs

If you look at the most recent Microsoft certification paths, you’ll see that the MCSA: Windows 10 is listed as a point on the path to MCSE: Mobility.

mcse 2017

Once you’ve earned the MCSA, taking one more “elective” exam (70-398, 70-695, or 70-696) will earn you the MCSE: Mobility credential. Current and future Microsoft certifications will be divided into the following categories that reflect Microsoft’s move away from local installation:

  • Mobility
  • Cloud
  • Productivity
  • Data
  • App Builder
  • Business
Grab your Windows 7 certification while you still can

After a long, hard run, Microsoft has finally released retirement dates for Windows 7 certifications. All of the following exams will expire on July 31, 2018:

70-680: Windows 7, Configuring
70-685: Windows 7, Enterprise Desktop Support Technician
70-686: Windows 7, Enterprise Desktop Administrator

As of this writing, each of these exams earns the MCP, but no credit toward an MCSA or MCSE.

Happy certifying!

-George Monsalvatge

3 Comments »

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  1. hi,

    if i take exam 70-696 without mcsa windows 10 can i get mcse mobility ? but i have earned other mcsa is mcsa office 365.

    thanks you

    Comment by novihsa— November 3, 2017 #

    Reply

  2. […] we announced nine months ago, Microsoft is retiring the Windows 7 client certifications. The last date to take any of these […]

    Pingback by Windows 7 certifications to retire July 2018 | Kaplan IT Training Blog— June 22, 2018 #

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