Disclaimer, there is going to be a lot of blue on this post.
Just a quick throwback to a late October 70-345 exam (Designing and Deploying Microsoft Exchange Server 2016), which has fulfilled the requirements for MCSE: Productivity (2018)
While Exchange Server 2019 has only just gone General Availability (subject to Windows Server 2019 hiccups), there is still relevance in current technology that has not entered End of Life yet – Exchange Server 2016 End of Mainstream Support 13/10/2020 and End of Extended Support 14/10/2025 (almost 7 years?).
On the subject of Microsoft Certifications, there were some major announcements made at Ignite Orlando this year:
- Changes to the Certification Marketplace, retirement of pay to print certificates and wallet card (Oct 31, 2018)
- Microsoft Certified Professional Profile will retire but your Certification information is retained in the Dashboard and Transcript areas.
- New Role-Based Certifications and
- New Badges.
The first area to receive a refresh is the Azure path, at a high level what is happening is the current Azure exams 70-532, 70-533 and 70-535 are retiring December 31st and two new Role-Based Certification exams will take each ones stead.
Administrator (Associate): AZ-100 & AZ-101
Developer (Associate): AZ-200 & AZ-201
Solutions Architect (Expert): AZ-300 & AZ-301
- 70-532: Developing Microsoft Azure Solutions (replacement exams: AZ-200 and AZ-201)
- 70-533: Implementing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions (replacement exams: AZ-100 and AZ-101)
- 70-535: Architecting Microsoft Azure Solutions (replacement exams: AZ-300 and AZ-301)
For a limited time there will be transition exams for those that have already passed the above exams; these will focus on the delta changes and other areas not focused on enough or at all in the previous exams. These transition exams have had their retirement date postponed to 30 June 2019.
- AZ-102: Microsoft Azure Administrator Certification Transition
- AZ-202: Microsoft Azure Developer Certification Transition
- AZ-302: Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Certification Transition
Be on the look out for a further role Azure DevOps Engineer (Expert), AZ-400 currently in Beta
Pass this exam and achieve Azure Administrator and Developer to attain the Expert Role.
This also affects the MCSE: Cloud Platform and Infrastructure certification as after January 1st there will be a new MCSE: Core Infrastructure certification which focuses on your Windows Server 2012 or 2016 MCSA certifications and an elective exam from a related shortlist.
The next area to be graced is the Office 365 space, as Microsoft 365 has matured over the past year it is becoming apparent the skill set needs to widen along with the stack.
The new Role-Based Certification is the Microsoft 365 Certified: Enterprise Administrator (Expert)
70-346 & 70-347 for the MCSA: O365 will be replaced with MS-100 and MS-101 will cover the Mobile Device/App Management, Intune, Enterprise Mobility & Security features included in M365.
These two exams are currently in beta and the Office 365 exams will retire 31 March 2019.
- 70-346: Managing Office 365 Identities and Requirements (replacement exams: MS-100: Microsoft 365 Identity and Services and MS-101 Microsoft 365 Mobility and Security; beta exams are planned for late 2018)
- 70-347: Enabling Office 365 Services (replacement exams: MS-100: Microsoft 365 Identity and Services and MS-101 Microsoft 365 Mobility and Security; beta exams are planned for late 2018)
Also subject to the new Role-Based Certifications is the MCSA: Windows 10 (expectation that MCSE: Mobility will also be affected)
- 70-695: Deploying Windows Desktops and Enterprise Applications (replacement exams: MD-100: Windows 10 and MD-101: Managing Modern Desktops; beta exams planned for late 2018)
- 70-697: Configuring Windows Devices (replacement exams: MD-100: Windows 10 and MD-101: Managing Modern Desktops; beta exams are planned for late 2018)
- 70-698: Installing and Configuring Windows 10 (replacement exams: MD-100: Windows 10 and MD-101: Managing Modern Desktops; beta exams are planned for late 2018)
Just announced, there will be two new Role-Based Fundamental exams to complement the Role-Based Certification program:
AZ-900: Microsoft Azure Fundamentals.
These will become available December 31st and 29th respectively and will be ideal for those looking to start that journey into getting certified.
To close off, I hate to admit it but my Exam Win Streak has been broken this week after 8 successive passes. (Have booked in a re-take next week)
To be honest, the expectation bar set on myself is fairly high – but the FOMO is strong for these expiring Certifications 😉
There is no shame in failure, as that is where we learn from our mistakes and improve.
As a mentor (pseudo or actual) I want to impart this idea and to encourage you to take the risk in challenging yourself and not to be afraid to make mistakes, even your senpai are not perfect.
Stay tuned for the next blog that will focus on the preparation side of things for taking certifications!
M365 Senpai 