MCSA Certification: What It Was, Why It's Retired, and What Replaced It
MCSA is retired — here is what Microsoft replaced it with and what to study instead
Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA) was Microsoft's mid-tier certification family — sitting between the entry-level MCP and the senior-level MCSE. MCSA covered Windows Server, SQL Server, Office 365, Azure, and more. In January 2021, Microsoft retired MCSA (along with MCSE and MCSD) as part of a wholesale restructure of its certification portfolio. If you held an MCSA, it still appears on your transcript — it just no longer renews. If you are studying toward MCSA, you need to redirect to the modern equivalents. This guide tells you exactly what replaced what.
Why Microsoft retired MCSA
Microsoft retired MCSA, MCSE, and MCSD in January 2021 for a straightforward reason: the certification structure was built for on-premises products (Windows Server 2016, SQL Server 2016) and did not reflect how Microsoft customers actually work anymore. The cloud had shifted the skills landscape completely. Microsoft redesigned its entire certification framework around cloud-first role-based certifications — Azure Administrator (AZ-104), Azure Solutions Architect (AZ-305), Microsoft 365 Administrator (MS-102) — rather than product-version-specific credentials.
If you hold an MCSA, it stays on your Microsoft Learn transcript permanently. It does not disappear. However, Microsoft no longer offers renewal for retired certifications, and the MCSA logo is no longer part of Microsoft's active badge program.
What replaced MCSA: Windows Server
MCSA: Windows Server 2016 required passing 70-740, 70-741, and 70-742. The modern equivalent for Windows Server and hybrid infrastructure skills is now split across: AZ-800 (Administering Windows Server Hybrid Core Infrastructure) and AZ-801 (Configuring Windows Server Hybrid Advanced Services). Together, these two exams earn the Windows Server Hybrid Administrator Associate credential. These exams are updated for Windows Server 2022 and Azure hybrid scenarios.
What replaced MCSA: SQL Server / Data
MCSA: SQL 2016 covered database administration and development. The modern equivalents are: DP-300 (Azure Database Administrator Associate) for SQL database administration — covers Azure SQL Database, Azure SQL Managed Instance, and SQL Server; DP-203 (Data Engineer Associate) for data engineering, ETL, and analytics pipelines — covers Azure Synapse, ADF, and Databricks; DP-600 (Fabric Analytics Engineer Associate) for analytics and Power BI-based reporting on Microsoft Fabric.
What replaced MCSA: Office 365 / Microsoft 365
MCSA: Office 365 covered Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, and Teams administration. The modern replacement is MS-102 (Microsoft 365 Administrator Expert), which is an Expert-level exam covering the full Microsoft 365 tenant — Entra ID, Exchange Online, Teams, SharePoint, Defender XDR, and Purview compliance. MS-900 (Microsoft 365 Fundamentals) is the entry-level equivalent. MD-102 (Endpoint Administrator Associate) covers device management with Intune and Autopilot.
What replaced MCSA: Azure
MCSA: Cloud Platform was an early Azure certification that required two exams from the 70-53x series. Azure certification is now role-based: AZ-900 (Fundamentals) for everyone, AZ-104 (Administrator Associate) for infrastructure management, AZ-204 (Developer Associate) for application development, AZ-305 (Solutions Architect Expert) for architecture design, AZ-500 (Security Engineer Associate) for security. All of these are actively maintained and updated regularly.
The old 70-xxx exam series is completely retired — preparation materials from before 2021 are obsolete. Only study for the current role-based certifications.
Should you list MCSA on your CV in 2026?
Yes, with context. If you hold an MCSA earned before 2021, it is still a valid signal of past experience — especially MCSA: SQL 2016 or MCSA: Windows Server 2016, which employers recognise as indicators of infrastructure depth. However, it should appear under a 'Legacy certifications' or 'Historical' section, with your current role-based certifications prominently listed above. Recruiters searching for 'MCSA certified' in 2026 understand it is a legacy credential. Pair it with a current AZ-104 or DP-300 to show you have kept pace with Microsoft's platform evolution.
Do not study for MCSA in 2026. The 70-xxx exams are retired and no longer offered. If you started an MCSA path before retirement, redirect to the role-based equivalent listed above.
Key tips
MCSA on a transcript is permanent — it does not disappear even though the certification is retired.
Study for AZ-104, DP-300, or MS-102 depending on your MCSA specialisation — these are the active equivalents.
The 70-xxx exam series is fully retired and unavailable — do not buy prep materials for these exams.
Windows Server skills from MCSA remain valid for AZ-800 and AZ-801 (Windows Server Hybrid Administrator).
Microsoft offers free learning paths on Microsoft Learn for every active certification — use these as the primary study resource.
Frequently asked questions
Is the MCSA certification still valid?
MCSA certifications earned before January 2021 remain on your Microsoft transcript permanently. However, the certification is retired — Microsoft no longer offers the exams, and the credential does not renew. It is a legacy qualification.
When was the MCSA retired?
Microsoft retired MCSA, MCSE, and MCSD on January 31, 2021, as part of a shift to role-based, cloud-first certifications.
What replaced MCSA?
MCSA was replaced by role-based Azure and Microsoft 365 certifications: AZ-104 (Azure Administrator) replaced cloud-focused MCSA paths; MS-102 replaced MCSA: Office 365; DP-300 replaced MCSA: SQL Server DBA; AZ-800/AZ-801 replaced MCSA: Windows Server.
Is MCSA worth putting on a CV?
Yes, if you earned it before 2021 — it is still recognised as evidence of past Microsoft infrastructure experience. Label it as 'Legacy' or 'Historical' and list your current active certifications prominently above it.
Can I still take the MCSA exam?
No. MCSA exams (70-740, 70-741, etc.) are retired and no longer available from Pearson VUE or any other provider. If you want a Microsoft credential, you need to take the current role-based exams.
How is MCSA different from MCSE?
MCSA (Solutions Associate) was the mid-tier credential — it validated associate-level skills in a Microsoft technology area. MCSE (Solutions Expert) was the senior credential — it required an MCSA plus a specialist exam. Both were retired in January 2021.
Related glossary terms
Software as a Service
Software as a Service (SaaS) is a cloud computing model where users access software applications over the internet on a subscription basis, without installing or maintaining the software locally.
Platform as a Service
Platform as a Service (PaaS) is a cloud computing model that provides a complete platform for developing, running, and managing applications without the complexity of building and maintaining the underlying infrastructure.
Virtual Private Cloud
A Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) is a logically isolated section of a public cloud where you can run resources in a private, customizable network environment.
Function As A Service
Function as a Service (FaaS) is a cloud computing model that lets you run small pieces of code in response to events without managing servers or infrastructure.
Anything As A Service
A model where you rent any IT resource or service over the internet instead of owning it.
Infrastructure as a Service
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) is a cloud computing model that provides on-demand virtualized computing resources over the internet, such as virtual machines, storage, and networking, instead of owning and maintaining physical hardware.
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