News

MCSA/MCSE Upgrade Exams Head Out to Pasture

Microsoft Learning retires Windows 2000-to-Windows 2003 MCSE upgrade exams next year.

In keeping with an exam retirement policy that has been in place since Oct, the Microsoft Learning Solutions group has announced retirement of two exams for Windows 2000 next year. Those announcements were unveiled during a Certification Live Meeting that took place online this week.

The Two exams placed on that retirement list are 70-292, Managing and Maintaining Windows Server 2003 for an MCSA-Windows 2000, and 70-296, Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining Windows Server 2003 for an MCSE-Windows 2000.

With the announcement being made this year, the official retirement of those exams will happen March 30, 2008. Availability of the exams will be limited worldwide in the months preceding the official retirement, however, as the exam approaches official retirement. Microsoft encourages candidates to take the exams soon if a candidate needs them to fulfill their certification upgrade requirements. With that in mind, the company is also offering an incentive for those who take the upgrade, with 40 percent off Windows 2003-to-"Longhorn" upgrade exams for those who pass the soon-to-be-retired exams.

MCSEs who took 70-292 or 70-296 to fulfill their credentials need to do nothing; Microsoft no longer retires certifications and doesn't require recertification to maintain certification status.

Microsoft will have more information on its MCP site (information hasn't been updated as of this writing).

About the Author

Michael Domingo has held several positions at 1105 Media, and is currently the editor in chief of Visual Studio Magazine.

Featured

  • Microsoft Offers Support Extensions for Exchange 2016 and 2019

    Microsoft has introduced a paid Extended Security Update (ESU) program for on-premises Exchange Server 2016 and 2019, offering a crucial safety cushion as both versions near their Oct. 14, 2025 end-of-support date.

  • An image of planes flying around a globe

    2025 Microsoft Conference Calendar: For Partners, IT Pros and Developers

    Here's your guide to all the IT training sessions, partner meet-ups and annual Microsoft conferences you won't want to miss.

  • Notebook

    Microsoft Centers AI, Security and Partner Dogfooding at MCAPS

    Microsoft's second annual MCAPS for Partners event took place Tuesday, delivering a volley of updates and directives for its partners for fiscal 2026.

  • Microsoft Layoffs: AI Is the Obvious Elephant in the Room

    As Microsoft doubles down on an $80 billion bet on AI this fiscal year, its workforce reductions are drawing scrutiny over whether AI's ascent is quietly reshaping its human capital strategy, even as official messaging avoids drawing a direct line.