MCSA/MCSE Upgrade Exams Head Out to Pasture
4/4/2007 -- In keeping with an exam retirement policy that has been in place since October, the Microsoft Learning Solutions group has announced retirement of two exams for Windows 2000 next year. Those announcements were unveiled during a Certification Live Meeting that took place online this week.
The two exams placed on that retirement list are 70-292, Managing and Maintaining Windows Server 2003 for an MCSA-Windows 2000, and 70-296, Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining Windows Server 2003 for an MCSE-Windows 2000.
With the announcement being made this year, the official retirement of those exams will happen March 30, 2008. Availability of the exams will be limited worldwide in the months preceding the official retirement, however, as the exam approaches official retirement. Microsoft encourages candidates to take the exams soon if a candidate needs them to fulfill their certification upgrade requirements. With that in mind, the company is also offering an incentive for those who take the upgrade, with 40 percent off Windows 2003-to-"Longhorn" upgrade exams for those who pass the soon-to-be-retired exams.
MCSEs who took 70-292 or 70-296 to fulfill their credentials need to do nothing; Microsoft no longer retires certifications and doesn't require recertification to maintain certification status.
Microsoft will have more information on its MCP site (information hasn't been updated as of this writing).  -Michael Domingo, courtesy of MCPmag.com
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There are 16  user Comments for “MCSA/MCSE Upgrade Exams Head Out to Pasture”
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| 4/4/07: Anonymous says: |
Wouldn't these be Windows 2003 exams? |
| 4/4/07: Deezul says: |
Great, right after I pass 292 (February) and 296 (March), they announce incentives for late test takers. |
| 4/4/07: Dennis Parks from Beaverton Oregon says: |
it seems absolutely crazy that they would retire an exam while Windows Server 2003 is still widely used. In fact, there is no new replacement for it yet. This is stupid to say the least. |
| 4/4/07: James Pollock from Beaverton, OR says: |
Dennis, the 292 and 296 exams are being retired, but they didn't say anything about 290, 291, 293, or 294. The 292 exam is just the new stuff from 2000 to 2003 from 290 and 291, and replaces those exams, and 296 is just the new stuff for 293 and 294. So a Windows 2000 MCSE who wanted to update to 2003 would have the option of taking just 292 and 296 instead of 290, 291, 293, and 294. The long way around, taking all four core exams, is still available, and should be for two more server OS releases. (MS typically keeps certifications active for the current product and one product back, and the Windows 2000 exams will go away as the Longhorn Server product shows up. That first anonymous post is right, though: 292 and 296 are both Windows 2003 exams, not 2000, (although you have to be a Windows 2000 MCSE to take 70-296 and either a MCSE or MCSA to take 292.) Bottom line, MS believes that the natural audience for this exam has already upgraded their certification if they are going to. |
| 4/5/07: Anonymous says: |
Guess my CCNA is back on hold. 70-292 here I come. |
| 4/5/07: Jimmy J from Ontario Canada says: |
My CCNA will have to be put on hold as well. It almost feels like it was yesturday that I earned my MCSE on 2000. 70-292 - 70-296, doesn't sound so tuff. :) |
| 4/6/07: Michael from Canonsburg, PA says: |
I took both of my upgrade exams nearly two years ago. My experience, the 70-292 is more challenging then the 70-296 exam. I didn't take the long way around on upgrading my certification from Windows 2000 to Windows 2003. I did take the long way around when I upgraded my MCSE from NT4 to Windows 2000 (I did have the options to take the upgrade route but decided not to since I wanted to get a good understanding on Active Directory). Looking back I would say there may be less exams for an upgrade but I would not say it is easier. Just my advice to everyone looking at upgrading. Now back to finishing my MCITP on SQL 2005. |
| 4/16/07: Tinus says: |
Strange, there's no mentioning here: http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcpexams/status/examstoretire.mspx |
| 4/20/07: Eric Vanderburg from Cleveland, OH says: |
It seems premature to retire these Server 2003 tests since Longhorn server has not been released yet. It would make more sense to wait until the software is available and a new IT pro track is available for server certification. |
| 4/30/07: Anonymous says: |
I suppose I should get on the 296 exam. Since 2008 is right around the corner I don't blame MS for retiring the exams. At some point you must force folks to use the current software and learn the new systems. It's a bit of a kick in the pants for procrastinators like me! |
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