April 2013 deadline for MCTS and MCITP designations via 70-640, 642, 646)

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I was aiming to hit 70-640, 642 and 646 to get the MCTS, MCITP and MCSA designations before the July 31st 2013 deadline.

It now appears that these designations will be retired "by July 31st" and those specifically related to the MCSA 2008 exams will infact be retired end of April 2013.

Q.Will I be able to earn an MCTS for passing exams that count towards the MCSA: Windows Server 2008 certification?
A.
You will continue to earn an MCTS for passing Exams 70-640 and 70-642 until April 2013. Until April 2013, when you earn an MCSA: Windows Server 2008 certification, you will also receive the MCITP: Server Administrator certification. After April 2013, the MCITP: Server Administrator certification will be discontinued.

Source: Computer & IT Certifications | Microsoft Learning

Takes the pressure off of me as I'll just head for the MCSA designation, which everyone recognises better anyway without worrying about getting the MCTS and MCITP ones.

Update:

A different page here indicates the following.

Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2008 Certifications
We will be retiring all of the Windows Server 2003 and most of the Windows Server 2008 exams on July 31, 2013. As of that date, the following certifications will no longer be available to be earned:
• MCTS: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory, Configuration
• MCTS: Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure, Configuration
• MCTS: Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure, Configuration
• MCITP: Server Administrator 2008
• MCITP: Enterprise Administrator 2008
• MCSA on Windows Server 2003
• MCSE on Windows Server 2003
• MCSE: Security on Windows Server 2003

My question would then be, can you still take the 70-640, 642 and 646 after July and have them count towards the MCSA 2008, but not receive the MCTS/MCTIP or are the exams retired so that they cannot be taken? Anyone know? I'll fire an email off to see if I can find out.

 

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From what I understand (and has been the case for a while) the MCTS & MCITP CERTIFICATION is being retired. There is no evidence that the EXAMS are retiring and as they make up the new MCSA, I don't see how they can be yet.

HTH

 

Further reading on Retired exams doesn't list 70-640, 642 aor 646 down the bottom under Retiring Exams so confirms what we're thinking. Waiting for confirmation from the MCPHelp horses mouth.

It'll ease off my studying deadlines if it is.

 

Let us know what they say, as I'd be interested to find out where the 'April' bit comes from(?) Even their own site (and this wouldn't be the first time that there has been contradictory & confusing info therein...) states that the retirements are 31st July 2013.

 

The official MS response is as follows, so as we thought. No info on the April deadline so have replied to request clarification of that.

Hello Greg,

Thank you for contacting Microsoft about confirming the expiration of the Microsoft certification.

I appreciate your continued interest in Microsoft certification and will be glad to assist you.

You can take the exams 70-640, 70-642 and 70-646 after July 31, 2013 also since the exams are not getting retired. The certification for some MCTS and MCITP are getting retired.

Thus, after taking the above mentioned exams, a candidate can earn the certificate for MCSA Windows Server 2008 and not the MCTS/ MCITP.

In case you require any further clarification regarding the Microsoft certification, please let us know. Thank you for using Microsoft.

******
MCP Customer Service Representative

 

Hmmm, so they didn't really explain anything there - did they?

Hope they get around to replying and explaining the April thing, but have to guess at the moment that it's a genuine mistake.

 

Well they confirmed what we thought about only the certs expiring and not the exams. So that's confirmed.

Prob get a response by tomorrow regarding the April jobbie.

- - - Updated - - -

Well here's the confirmation:

"I will be glad to assist you further.

As per the FAQs, you can take the exams 70-640 and 70-642 after April 2013 also. However, the certification of MCTS and MCITP: Server Administrator certification will be discontinued after April 2013. You can still earn the certificate for MCSA: Windows Server 2008 after April 2013.

The information that these certifications will be retired on July 31, 2013 (http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/mcitp-certification.aspx) implies to all the MCITP certification.

In order to achieve the MCTS, MCITP and MCSA certifications, you will require to pass the exams before April 2013."

 

Im using this deadline to push me through exam dates, otherwise it will take you a year to complete. I said to myself that I want to take an exam each month; but working full-time puts a spanner in the works. Sending you around the country makes it even more difficult.