Credential expiration policies

Role-based and specialty Certifications expiry

Microsoft role-based (associate and expert) and specialty Certifications are valid for one (1) year from the date that you complete all requirements to earn that Certification.

To prevent your Certification from expiring you must renew the Certification before the Certification expiration date. For more information about Certification renewals, visit Renew your Certification. After the Certification expires, you will no longer be able to renew that Certification and will need to re-earn the Certification by passing all the required exam(s).

Fundamentals Certifications expiry

Microsoft fundamentals Certifications do not expire.

Other Microsoft Certifications expiry

MOS, MTA, MCSA, MCSD, MCSE, and MCE Certifications do not expire.

Beta exam Certification expiry

If you passed a beta exam and earned a Certification as a result, your Certification achievement and expiration dates will be based on the date that your beta exam was rescored (approximately 10 days after it goes live). This ensures that you have sufficient time to renew your Certification after earning it.

Applied Skills credential expiry

Microsoft Applied Skills credentials do not expire.

Expiration of Certification and Applied Skills credentials based on technology changes

Technology is evolving, and some Certifications and Applied Skills become outdated and obsolete. To ensure that all Microsoft credentials remain relevant, valid, and meaningful, Microsoft reserves the right to retire exams, Certifications, and Applied Skills assessment labs at any time.

When a credential is retired, it will no longer be available for new candidates to earn. However, the credential will remain in the Active section of their transcript until it expires (if it has an expiration date) or for two years following the retirement of the credential (if it doesn’t have an expiration date).