Microsoft 365 certification and exam updates

To keep Microsoft role-based certifications current, we continually review the program. This helps to ensure that the certifications reflect the latest in Microsoft technologies and associated job roles. Based on these reviews, we regularly update the program to best reflect market and business needs. Occasionally, this means retiring exams or certifications.

When an exam or certification is retired, our goal is to provide you with several months’ notice so that you can plan your certification journey accordingly. Based on a recent analysis of our Microsoft 365 certification options, we’re making some changes.

Exam consolidation for Microsoft 365 Certified: Messaging Administrator Associate

Effective June 2, 2020, MS-200: Planning and Configuring a Messaging Platform and MS-201: Implementing a Hybrid and Secure Messaging Platform will be consolidated into MS-203: Microsoft 365 Messaging. When you pass exam MS-203, you earn the Microsoft 365 Certified: Messaging Administrator Associate certification.

On August 31, 2020, MS-200 and MS-201 will be retired. But you can still earn the Microsoft 365 Certified: Messaging Administrator Associate certification, as long as you pass both exams by August 31, 2020.

Those who have passed one or both of these exams will still be able the share the exam-level badges that they’ve earned. So, if this is you, even though MS-203 is a consolidation of MS-200 and MS-201, you can continue to show others that you have demonstrated competence in the skills that are unique to planning and configuring messaging platforms or specific to implementing hybrid and secure messaging platforms—skills not covered in MS-203.

Certification retirement—Microsoft 365 Certified: Teamwork Administrator Associate

Effective August 31, 2020, MS-300: Deploying Microsoft 365 Teamwork and MS-301: Deploying SharePoint Server Hybrid will be retired, along with the Microsoft 365 Certified: Teamwork Administrator Associate certification.

If you’re interested in earning a related certification in Teams, take MS-700: Managing Microsoft Teams and earn the Microsoft 365 Certified: Teams Administrator Associate certification. Please note that even in if a certification that you’ve earned has been retired, it remains on your transcript and can be shared as usual. A retired certification remains in the active section of your transcript for at least two years after its retirement.