My company has indicated that they would like me to become MCSA
certified. They've said that a specialization isn't necessary, just
the base level MCSA. They have also said they would prefer the MCSA
for 2003 to the equivalent next generation cert by Microsoft as most
of our customers have no Vista plans at this time.

I know that Microsoft has said the MCSA (and MCSE) will never be
expired and will always be recognized. Their value will just diminish
as companies slowly migrate to Vista.

This is my question. The MCSA is basically the exams 70-290, 70-291,
and 70-270 (already passed) and an elective (already earned).

Will Microsoft at some point stop administering the 70-290 and 70-291
exams even though the cert itself won't be expired or retired?

Just trying to get a good idea of how long I have to get the MCSA 2003
done before the exams are no longer available. I know the cert won't
be expired but I'm guessing, at some point, the exams won't be offered
anymore.

Can anyone advise?

Thanks
Drew

Re: mcsa exams by Michael

Michael
Sun Oct 14 13:34:16 PDT 2007

"Drew" <drew@drew.com> wrote in message
news:s3u4h3p48mqu5a6jp1487k895o8m6g83dg@4ax.com:

> My company has indicated that they would like me to become MCSA
> certified. They've said that a specialization isn't necessary, just
> the base level MCSA. They have also said they would prefer the MCSA
> for 2003 to the equivalent next generation cert by Microsoft as most
> of our customers have no Vista plans at this time.
>
> I know that Microsoft has said the MCSA (and MCSE) will never be
> expired and will always be recognized. Their value will just diminish
> as companies slowly migrate to Vista.
>
> This is my question. The MCSA is basically the exams 70-290, 70-291,
> and 70-270 (already passed) and an elective (already earned).
>
> Will Microsoft at some point stop administering the 70-290 and 70-291
> exams even though the cert itself won't be expired or retired?
>
> Just trying to get a good idea of how long I have to get the MCSA 2003
> done before the exams are no longer available. I know the cert won't
> be expired but I'm guessing, at some point, the exams won't be offered
> anymore.
>
> Can anyone advise?
>
> Thanks
> Drew

You are correct. The exams, in time, will expire. No official date has
been release for the 2003 retirement exams.

--
Michael D. Alligood, MCITP, MCTS, MCSA, MCDST
The I.T. Classroom - http://www.theitclassroom.com/
CertGuard, Inc. - http://www.certguard.com/
Microsoft Exam Security Newsgroup -
microsoft.public.certification.exam.security



Re: mcsa exams by Montreal

Montreal
Sun Oct 14 17:35:08 PDT 2007

If it helps to speculate, the equivalent Windows 2000 exams are retiring
March 31, 2008. If we follow logic (not always prudent) the Windows Server
2003 exams should retire sometime in 2011.

My advice: Don't wait until December, 2010! :)

M

--
Mitch Garvis, MCT
MCSA, MCITP, MCDST, MCTS
Microsoft MVP: Windows Server - Customer Experience
Visit my blog at http://feeds.feedburner.com/MitchGBlog
---
"Michael D. Alligood [CertGuard, Inc.]" <mdalligood@bellsouth.net> wrote in
message news:u1cXDHqDIHA.1056@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> "Drew" <drew@drew.com> wrote in message
> news:s3u4h3p48mqu5a6jp1487k895o8m6g83dg@4ax.com:
>
>> My company has indicated that they would like me to become MCSA
>> certified. They've said that a specialization isn't necessary, just
>> the base level MCSA. They have also said they would prefer the MCSA
>> for 2003 to the equivalent next generation cert by Microsoft as most
>> of our customers have no Vista plans at this time.
>>
>> I know that Microsoft has said the MCSA (and MCSE) will never be
>> expired and will always be recognized. Their value will just diminish
>> as companies slowly migrate to Vista.
>>
>> This is my question. The MCSA is basically the exams 70-290, 70-291,
>> and 70-270 (already passed) and an elective (already earned).
>>
>> Will Microsoft at some point stop administering the 70-290 and 70-291
>> exams even though the cert itself won't be expired or retired?
>>
>> Just trying to get a good idea of how long I have to get the MCSA 2003
>> done before the exams are no longer available. I know the cert won't
>> be expired but I'm guessing, at some point, the exams won't be offered
>> anymore.
>>
>> Can anyone advise?
>>
>> Thanks
>> Drew
>
> You are correct. The exams, in time, will expire. No official date has
> been release for the 2003 retirement exams.
>
> --
> Michael D. Alligood, MCITP, MCTS, MCSA, MCDST
> The I.T. Classroom - http://www.theitclassroom.com/
> CertGuard, Inc. - http://www.certguard.com/
> Microsoft Exam Security Newsgroup -
> microsoft.public.certification.exam.security
>
>


Re: mcsa exams by Drew

Drew
Sun Oct 14 19:29:47 PDT 2007


Thanks Guys!

Much appreciated! Do you guys think MCSA 2003 makes sense still with
the next generation of certs out? It seems fairly certain that many
companies won't be going with Vista for a while. Maybe I need to work
on 2003 and then the next gen.



On Sun, 14 Oct 2007 20:35:08 -0400, "Montreal MCT"
<mitch@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>If it helps to speculate, the equivalent Windows 2000 exams are retiring
>March 31, 2008. If we follow logic (not always prudent) the Windows Server
>2003 exams should retire sometime in 2011.
>
>My advice: Don't wait until December, 2010! :)
>
>M

Re: mcsa exams by Montreal

Montreal
Sun Oct 14 20:56:20 PDT 2007

I think the MCSA makes a lot of sense for two reasons:
1) It is what your company has asked of you; and
2) The next generation of certs for Server 2008 will not be out until
March/April timeframe.

Go get your MCSA... it is what you know, and you will be proud of yourself!

M

--
Mitch Garvis, MCT
MCSA, MCITP, MCDST, MCTS
Microsoft MVP: Windows Server - Customer Experience
Visit my blog at http://feeds.feedburner.com/MitchGBlog
---
"Drew" <drew@drew.com> wrote in message
news:u1k5h3ldmrpfd02242l83ndd61457kodf9@4ax.com...
>
> Thanks Guys!
>
> Much appreciated! Do you guys think MCSA 2003 makes sense still with
> the next generation of certs out? It seems fairly certain that many
> companies won't be going with Vista for a while. Maybe I need to work
> on 2003 and then the next gen.
>
>
>
> On Sun, 14 Oct 2007 20:35:08 -0400, "Montreal MCT"
> <mitch@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>
>>If it helps to speculate, the equivalent Windows 2000 exams are retiring
>>March 31, 2008. If we follow logic (not always prudent) the Windows
>>Server
>>2003 exams should retire sometime in 2011.
>>
>>My advice: Don't wait until December, 2010! :)
>>
>>M