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MCSA Security Specialization plus recertification Earns ANSI Accreditation

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MCSA Security Specialization plus recertification Earns ANSI Accreditation

19 Jan 2010 10:46 AM
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In December, the MCSA Security Specialization plus recertification was accredited by ANSI as complying with the requirements of ISO 17024. If you hold the MCSA Security Specialization and would like to “upgrade” to the ANSI accredited version of this credential, you must pass exam 70-699: Windows® Server 2003, Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) Security Specialization Skills Update every three years. If you do not recertify every three years, your MCSA Security Specialization plus recertification credential will expire and will revert to the MCSA Security Specialization without the recertification designator.

If you currently hold an MCSA Security Specialization credential and work for the Department of Defense or an organization that prefers ANSI accredited credentials, you should take 70-699 and “upgrade” to the MCSA Security Specialization plus recertification credential. Candidates seeking employment in jobs where skills related to the security functions on Windows Server 2003 are critical to successful job performance should consider recertification if they hold this credential.

Learn more about MCSA recertification. Note that recertification is necessary to meet the requirements of ISO 17024; because legacy certifications (MCSA, MCSE, etc.) do not expire, Microsoft created a recertification process to meet this requirement for the MCSA Security Specialization credential. ANSI only recognizes MCSA Security Specialization plus recertification version of this credential as meeting the requirements of ISO 17024. If you do not pass 70-699, you will continue to hold the MCSA Security Specialization credential, but it is not recognized by ANSI as meeting the requirements of this standard. Because of the complexities related to recertification and credential expiration required by the standard, this is likely to be the only legacy credential for which we will seek accreditation.

I should also mention that the process we used to develop this recertification exam received a commendation from ANSI, which means the process was, well, awesome. Trust me, after years of working on accreditation for this credential, the praise went straight to my head…

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  • Benjamin S
    19 Jan 2010 10:17 AM
    Is there a chance to substitute 70-699 for any of the current tests required for MCSA Security Specialization? Do we need to first obtain the normal certification and then pass another test on the same material for ANSI accredidation?
  • Liberty Munson
    19 Jan 2010 2:08 PM
    Hi Benjamin,

    No, 70-699 can't be used to meet any of the requirements for the "normal" version of the MCSA Security Specialization certification because it is used for recertification, meaning that it covers content from all the core exams required to earn that credential (see the prep guide at: http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/Exam.as...). You have to earn the "normal" credential first and then take 70-699, which will cover content from all core exams, but the items will be different. Additionally, depending on the OS exam that you used to earn the "normal" credential, you may find that new content is covered as well (content which you weren't tested on to earn the original credential). 70-699 doesn't include any questions on XP; the OS questions are focused on Vista and Win7.
  • Hendrik Andresen
    19 Jan 2010 2:28 PM
    What will happen to the 70-699 after the MCSA Certification-Path is retired? How will someone earn this credential in the future then?

    best regards
  • Liberty Munson
    20 Jan 2010 7:36 AM
    Hi Hendrik,

    This credential never expires, but the exams that are part of the credential will be retired at some point (no plans for that yet). As long as you have earned this credential before the exams retired and continue to take 70-699 every three years, you will continue to hold the MCSA Secruity Specialization plus recertification version of the credential.
  • OtherKevin
    20 Jan 2010 7:46 AM
    Question: I obtained my MCSA: Security in February of 2008. The first exam that I took towards that credential was in December 2007. If I understand this correctly I currently meet the requirements of ISO 17024 . However, I will need to take pass the 70-699 before February 2011 in order to still meet those requirements after that date, is that correct? Or do I currently not meet the requirements of ISO 17024 because I have never taken and passed 70-699?
  • Liberty Munson
    20 Jan 2010 8:28 AM
    The credential will never retire but the exams that are part of the credential will at some point (no plans for that yet). So, as long as you have earned the credential before the exams have retired and continue to take 70-699 every three years, you will continue to hold the MCSA Security Specialization plus recertification version of the credential.
  • jasonpjohnson
    21 Jan 2010 7:02 AM
    what about MCSE: Security ?
  • OtherKevin
    21 Jan 2010 8:15 AM
    From the post:

    "Because of the complexities related to recertification and credential expiration required by the standard, this is likely to be the only legacy credential for which we will seek accreditation."

    MCSE = legacy credential
  • Liberty Munson
    27 Jan 2010 11:12 AM
    Hi OtherKevin,

    The only version of this credential that ANSI recognizes as meeting the standard is the 'plus recertification' version. The only way to earn this version is to take the recertification exam (70-699). This means that even if you earned the MCSA Security credential yesterday, you have to take 70-699 to obtain the ANSI accredited version of this credential. Until you do, the version of the credential that you hold is not recognized by ANSI. It sucks, I know, but this was the only way we could meet the requirements of the standard and still keep our promise to the community that the legacy credentials will never expire (only the 'plus recertification' version does). If you want to continue to hold the ANSI recognized version, you will have to take 70-699 (or its replacement) every 3 years.
  • Liberty Munson
    27 Jan 2010 11:13 AM
    As OtherKevin indicated, the MCSA Security credential will likely be the only legacy credential for which we try for accreditation.
  • nadine
    27 Jan 2010 3:13 PM
    Hi
    I am Nadine Johnson, It is my pleasure to contact you after going through your Ad , i will like to communicate with you for more important issue and about business investment, i will be happy if your respond for more communications.
    Thanks Nadine.

    nadi_gg_lm@yahoo.co.uk
  • Liberty Munson
    27 Jan 2010 7:12 PM
    Hi OtherKevin,

    The only version of this credential that ANSI recognizes as meeting the standard is the 'plus recertification' version. The only way to earn this version is to take the recertification exam (70-699). This means that even if you earned the MCSA Security credential yesterday, you have to take 70-699 to obtain the ANSI accredited version of this credential. Until you do, the version of the credential that you hold is not recognized by ANSI. It sucks, I know, but this was the only way we could meet the requirements of the standard and still keep our promise to the community that the legacy credentials will never expire (only the 'plus recertification' version does). If you want to continue to hold the ANSI recognized version, you will have to take 70-699 (or its replacement) every 3 years.
  • Liberty Munson
    27 Jan 2010 7:13 PM
    As OtherKevin indicated, the MCSA Security credential will likely be the only legacy credential for which we try for accreditation.
  • nadine
    27 Jan 2010 11:13 PM
    Hi
    I am Nadine Johnson, It is my pleasure to contact you after going through your Ad , i will like to communicate with you for more important issue and about business investment, i will be happy if your respond for more communications.
    Thanks Nadine.

    nadi_gg_lm@yahoo.co.uk
  • JeffSenter
    16 Feb 2010 3:33 PM
    What IAT levels will be covered if you get the certification?
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