MCSA Windows 7, 680 & 685 not retiring?

Discussion in 'Windows 7 / 8 /10 Client Exams' started by Juelz, Sep 23, 2015.

  1. Juelz

    Juelz Gigabyte Poster

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    I was doing abit of Googleing and I can see that the MCSA Windows 8 is retiring very soon but see no mention of the MCSA Windows 7 retiring, this seems odd, surely 7 will retire before 8?

    EDIT:
    Found it in the end!

    "The MCSA: Windows 7 certification is retiring in the fall of 2015. Exam 680, Exam 685, and Exam 686 will continue to be available to earn Specialistcertifications. See the lists of retired exams andretired certifications for more information."

    Not sure if worth it if you dont get the MCSA.. dunno why MS would do this, makes no sense.
     
    Last edited: Sep 23, 2015
  2. Sparky
    Highly Decorated Member Award 500 Likes Award

    Sparky Zettabyte Poster Moderator

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    Bit like MS retiring Exchange 2007 certs but keeping Server 2003 going - as you do :)
     
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  3. JK2447
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    JK2447 Petabyte Poster Administrator Premium Member

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    I don't get the point of retiring exams as early as they do. Surely its another net out to catch peoples money, unless its weighed up against some kind of fee the testing companies charge maybe
     
    Certifications: VCP4, 5, 6, 6.5, 6.7, 7, 8, VCAP DCV Design, VMConAWS Skill, Google Cloud Digital Leader, BSc (Hons), HND IT, HND Computing, ITIL-F, MBCS CITP, MCP (270,290,291,293,294,298,299,410,411,412) MCTS (401,620,624,652) MCSA:Security, MCSE: Security, Security+, CPTS, CCA (XenApp6.5), MCSA 2012, VSP, VTSP
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  4. Juelz

    Juelz Gigabyte Poster

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    I Understand its all money making but this particular situation is ridiculous, they've retired the MCSA Windows 7 but you can still do the exams? trying to see logic in this.
     
  5. Jaron78

    Jaron78 Gigabyte Poster Forum Leader

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    Agreed Jim. Its a joke. Especially when a massive majority of Users (Corporate and Home) are still using Windows 7.

    I am doing the Network+ with the intention of moving back to the 70-680/686. Looks like that isn't going to happen.

    Bobbins :(
     
  6. JK2447
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    JK2447 Petabyte Poster Administrator Premium Member

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    I think very highly of Microsoft and their certifications but I don't understand decisions around certification. They know for a fact Windows 7 is loved similar to XP so XP 2. 8 will become a Vista ie SKIP, and 10 will become XP 3. I am getting a little bored of all these reiterations. Just call it Microsoft Windows for Desktops and Microsoft Windows Server for Servers the end.
     
    Certifications: VCP4, 5, 6, 6.5, 6.7, 7, 8, VCAP DCV Design, VMConAWS Skill, Google Cloud Digital Leader, BSc (Hons), HND IT, HND Computing, ITIL-F, MBCS CITP, MCP (270,290,291,293,294,298,299,410,411,412) MCTS (401,620,624,652) MCSA:Security, MCSE: Security, Security+, CPTS, CCA (XenApp6.5), MCSA 2012, VSP, VTSP
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    mojorisin likes this.
  7. garycul

    garycul Nibble Poster

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    Certifications: 70-697 Configuring Windows Devices, 70-680 Configuring Windows 7, 70-687 Configuring Windows 8.1, TCP/IP ON NT4, NT 4 Server, NT4 Workstation, Windows 95, Windows 3.1, ITIL SLM Practitioner, ITIL v2 and v3 Foundation
  8. garycul

    garycul Nibble Poster

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    Well there is a point in still taking the single Windows 7 exams as they are specialist certifications on their own. They are moving towards specialist exams again as in with Windows 10.
     
    Certifications: 70-697 Configuring Windows Devices, 70-680 Configuring Windows 7, 70-687 Configuring Windows 8.1, TCP/IP ON NT4, NT 4 Server, NT4 Workstation, Windows 95, Windows 3.1, ITIL SLM Practitioner, ITIL v2 and v3 Foundation
  9. Juelz

    Juelz Gigabyte Poster

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    Really? does that mean there wont be an MCSA Windows 10? and simply just individual Windows 10 exams?
     
  10. garycul

    garycul Nibble Poster

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    Not sure but I know there is definitely a single Windows 10 specialist exam. I am catching up after being out of techy IT for a few years and I am working towards MCSA Windows 8.1. I was disappointed to find out they were retiring the Win 8.1 MCSA end November so hoping I can get the second exam in time. I am then going to do 70-680 Win 7 as a single specialist exam then work towards Windows 10. I asked Microsoft when they will retire the Win 7 specialist exams and they couldn't give me a date so I am risking getting all the training material and booking the exam.
     
    Certifications: 70-697 Configuring Windows Devices, 70-680 Configuring Windows 7, 70-687 Configuring Windows 8.1, TCP/IP ON NT4, NT 4 Server, NT4 Workstation, Windows 95, Windows 3.1, ITIL SLM Practitioner, ITIL v2 and v3 Foundation
  11. garycul

    garycul Nibble Poster

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    To be honest I don't really know exactly what is going on. I'm with you guys, there seems no rhyme or reason to their strategy on certifications.
     
    Certifications: 70-697 Configuring Windows Devices, 70-680 Configuring Windows 7, 70-687 Configuring Windows 8.1, TCP/IP ON NT4, NT 4 Server, NT4 Workstation, Windows 95, Windows 3.1, ITIL SLM Practitioner, ITIL v2 and v3 Foundation
  12. RichyV

    RichyV Megabyte Poster

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    Think we need to wait and see - they are starting along a 'brave new path...' with there idea of 'copying' Apple from the standpoint of one client OS (10) plus increments, instead of their 'new year - new OS' attitude. Hopefully, exam-wise, things will start to make sense early 2016...
     
    Certifications: B.Sc.(Hons), MBCS. MCP (271,272), MCDST, MCTS (680), MCITP:EDST7, MCSA:WIN7, MCPS, MCNPS
    WIP: 70-686, then onto MCSE: Desktop Infrastructure via MCSA: Server 2012...
  13. B33 ENN

    B33 ENN Nibble Poster

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    It's just more stupidity from a company that has no idea how to support its own industry. I talked to them two years ago wanting to do Windows 7 exams and was told point blank they were being retired that year. Fast forward to now and they are still there having undergone two changes in title.

    Specialist now? What the hell was wrong with retaining MCTS then?

    Why, if both exams are still available, are they just not continuing it as an MCSA? What is this rubbish?

    If it's confusing for us, what is it like for HR departments?

    I couldn't agree more, and have argued this for ages: Just have the exams generalised like this without the version in the title as you indicated. It's not like the core technology of NT is changing dramatically, just feature additions and revisions.
     
    Certifications: ECDL, ECDL Expert | Cisco ITE | CompTIA Strata, A+ | Microsoft MTA Operating System, MTA Server Administration | CCNA Exploration
    WIP: CompTIA Network+ | Microsoft MCSA Windows 7, Server 2012 | Cisco CCENT, CCNA

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