Certifications & exams > Windows certifications
Windows certifications
Getting certified on the Windows operating system can help you reach your goals. In today’s increasingly complex IT environment, a Windows certification helps prove to customers and employers that you have the technical skills necessary to do the job.
Heard about the coming Windows 8 updates, called Windows 8.1? Read the FAQs below to find out how we are updating our certifications.
Choose a certification below:
The skills for your professional career
Other certifications
The lifespan of a certification varies, based on the certification track and certification technology. Retired certifications will still appear on your transcript.
- Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP)
MCITP: Enterprise Desktop Administrator on Windows 7
Validates your ability to deploy operating systems and desktop applications and to manage the client life cycle. When you pass these exams, you also earn the MCSA: Windows 7 certification.
After January 31, 2014, you can no longer earn the MCITP: Enterprise Desktop Administrator on Windows 7 certification, but you can still take the following exams to earn the MCSA: Windows 7 certification.
Certification | Required exam |
|---|
Windows 7, Configuring | |
Windows 7, Enterprise Desktop Administrator | |
MCITP: Windows 7, Enterprise Desktop Support Technician
Validates your ability to identify the cause and resolution of desktop application, network, and security issues. Also helps validate your ability to support and maintain systems and mobile devices that run Windows 7. When you pass these exams, you also earn the MCSA: Windows 7 certification.
After January 31, 2014, you can no longer earn the MCITP: Enterprise Desktop Support Technician on Windows 7 certification, but you can still take the following exams to earn the MCSA: Windows 7 certification.
Certification | Required exam |
|---|
Windows 7, Configuring | |
Windows 7, Enterprise Desktop Support Technician | |
- Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS)
MCTS: Windows 7, Configuration
Validates your ability to understand the functions and features of Windows 7 and to troubleshoot network connectivity and application issues.
This certification will be retired on January 31, 2014. Exam 680 will still be required for the MCSA: Windows 7 certification.
Title | Required exam |
|---|
Windows 7, Configuring | |
MCTS: Windows 7 and Office 2010, Deployment
Validates your ability to deploy, maintain, and upgrade to Windows 7 and Microsoft Office 2010. This certification will be retired on January 31, 2014.
Title | Required exam |
|---|
TS: Windows 7 and Office 2010, Deploying | |
This exam will be retired on January 31, 2014.
- Upgrade paths
See the following tables for upgrade paths from older certifications.
You can upgrade these certifications to the MCSA: Windows 8 certification.
MCITP: Enterprise Desktop Administrator
MCITP: Enterprise Desktop Support Technician
Step | Title | Required exam | Certification earned |
|---|
1 | Upgrading Your Skills to MCSA Windows 8 | | |
You can upgrade this certification to the MCSE: Desktop Infrastructure certification.
MCITP: Enterprise Desktop Administrator
Step | Title | Required exam | Certification earned |
|---|
1 | Upgrading Your Skills to MCSA Windows Server 2012 | | |
2 | Implementing a Desktop Infrastructure | |
3 | Implementing Desktop Application Environments | |
You can upgrade these certifications to the MCSA: Windows 7 certification.
MCITP: Enterprise Support Technician on Windows Vista
MCDST (Windows XP)
Step | Title | Required exam | Certification earned |
|---|
1 | PRO: Upgrading to Windows 7 MCITP Enterprise Desktop Support Technician | | |
Passing this exam also earns you an MCITP: Enterprise Desktop Support Technician Windows 7 certification and an MCTS: Windows 7, Configuration certification.
This exam will be retired on January 31, 2014.
