Microsoft Streamlines Technical Certifications

Microsoft Learning’s General Manager Alison Cunard announced Microsoft is streamlining its technical certifications, aligning to industry-recognized areas of competence while providing flexibility to showcase your specific skills on Microsoft products and services.Five new Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE) and Developer (MCSD) specialties are being released. These credentials are aligned to Centers of Excellence, used by the Microsoft Partner Network to identify technical competencies that are widely recognizable by both Microsoft partners and customers.

The five new expert certifications are:
MCSE: Cloud Platform and Infrastructure- focusing on skills validation for Windows Server and Microsoft AzureMCSE: Mobility- focusing on skills validation for Windows Client and Enterprise Mobility SuiteMCSE: Data Management and Analysis- focusing on skills validation for both on-premises and cloud-based Microsoft data products and servicesMCSE: Productivity- focusing on skills validation for Office 365, SharePoint, Exchange, and Skype for BusinessMCSD: App Builder- focusing on skills validation for Web and Mobile app developmentTo earn each of these credentials, you must first earn a qualifying Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA) certification and, then, pass a single additional exam from a list of electives associated with the corresponding Center of Excellence.
The resulting MCSE or MCSD certification will be added to your transcript and will never expire. Instead, the achievement date will signify your investment in continuing education on the technology. Every year, you will have the opportunity to re-earn the certification by passing an additional exam from the list of electives, demonstrating your investment in broadening or deepening your skills in a given Center of Excellence. Each time you earn the certification, a new certification entry will be added to your transcript. This process will replace the existing recertification requirement of taking a specific recertification exam every 2 years (MCSD) or 3 years (MCSE) in order to prevent your certification from going inactive.
Details on the exams required to earn each of the new MCSE and MCSD certifications can be found on the corresponding web pages and will be subjects of a series of additional BornToLearn blog posts over the next few months. You will find that many currently available MCP exams will map to one or more new expert-level certifications.
These certification changes apply only to MCSE and MCSD certifications. You will continue to earn and upgrade MCSA certifications as you do currently.
Transitioning to the New MCSE/MCSD Certifications
On the evening of 26-September,the new MCSE and MCSD certifications will be released and your MCP transcripts will bereevaluated. To recognize your efforts in keeping your existing certifications up-to-date, those individuals who currently holdactiveMCSE or MCSD certifications from the following listwill earn the corresponding new MCSE or MCSD certifications for 2016 without having to take any additional exams.
MCSE: Server InfrastructureMCSE: Private CloudMCSE: Data PlatformMCSE: Business IntelligenceMCSE: Enterprise Devices and AppsMCSE: SharePointMCSE: CommunicationMCSE: MessagingMCSD: Universal Windows PlatformMCSD: Web ApplicationsMCSD: SharePoint ApplicationsIn addition, all individuals who have passed a qualifying elective exam since January 1, 2016 will be granted the corresponding new MCSE or MCSD certifications for 2016 without the need to take additional exams, if they have met all exam requirements.
From now through Dec 31, 2016, Individuals withinactiveMCSE or MCSD certifications have the choice of taking a recertification exam or a new exam from the list of electives associated with the corresponding Center of Excellence to earn the new certification.
As the final part of the transition process, all existing MCSE and MCSD certifications (listed below) will be retired on March 31, 2017:
MCSE: Server InfrastructureMCSE: Private CloudMCSE: Data PlatformMCSE: Business IntelligenceMCSE: Enterprise Devices and AppsMCSE: SharePointMCSE: CommunicationMCSE: MessagingMCSD: Application Lifecycle ManagementMCSD: Universal Windows PlatformMCSD: Azure Solutions ArchitectMCSD: Web ApplicationsMCSD: SharePoint ApplicationsAfter that date, these certifications will no longer be attainable but, if already earned, will remain on your transcript in either Active or Inactive state until retirement of the corresponding technologies, at which point the certifications will be moved to the Legacy section of your transcript.