MCSA (Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate)

MCSA (Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate) is a certification program intended for people who seek entry-level jobs in an IT (information technology) environment. MCSA is a prerequisite for more advanced Microsoft certifications.
The MCSA credential supplants the now defunct Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator certification. Students can select any of the following specialty areas:

•     Windows Server 2008
•     Windows Server 2012
•     SQL Server 2012
•     Sever 2016
•     Windows 7
•     Windows 8

As they advance in the MCP program, professionals can gain any or all of the following certifications:

1.     Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE)
2.     Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD)
3.     Microsoft Certified Product Specialist (MCPS)
4.     Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT)

To prepare for the MCP exams, students can take courses at a certified training company location, in certified courses in a high school or college, or through self-study at Microsoft's self-study Web site or through certified training materials. Students who do not feel ready for MCSA can obtain the more basic MTA (Microsoft Technology Associate) certification first.

How to get an MCSA certification

Since Microsoft recommends at least one year of experience with technology before attempting an MCSA exam, IT professionals should earn MCSA certifications that best match their job roles and responsibilities. However, there are no firm prerequisites required to sit for an MCSA exam. For individuals with less than a year of experience, the foundational Microsoft Technology Association (MTA) certifications might be a better place to start. Otherwise, Microsoft offers 15 MCSA certifications, which largely map to their product and services.
Each certification requires passing at least two exams, but several require three. Here are the current MCSA certifications and their required exams (in alphabetical order):

MCSA: BI Reporting

    Exam 70-778: Analyzing and Visualizing Data with Power BI
    Exam 70-779: Analyzing and Visualizing Data with Microsoft Excel

MCSA: Data Engineering and Azure (retires June 30, 2019)

    Exam 70-775: Perform Data Engineering on Microsoft HD Insight
    Exam 70-776: Perform Big Data Engineering on Microsoft Cloud Services

MCSA: Machine Learning (retiring June 30, 2019)

    Exam 70-773: Analyzing Big Data with Microsoft R
    Exam 70-774: Perform Cloud Data Science with Azure Machine Learning

MCSA: Microsoft Dynamics 365 (retiring April 30, 2019)

    Exam MB2-715: Microsoft Dynamics 365 customer engagement Online Deployment
    Exam MB2-716: Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customization and Configuration

MCSA: Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Operations

    Exam 70-764: Administering a Microsoft SQL Database Infrastructure
    – OR-
    Exam 70-765: Provisioning SQL Databases
    Exam MB6-894: Development, Extensions, and Deployment for Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations

MCSA: Office 365 (retiring March 31, 2019)

    Exam 70-346: Managing Office 365 Identities and Requirements
    Exam 70-347: Enabling Office 365 Services

MCSA: SQL 2016 BI Development

    Exam 70-767: Implementing a SQL Data Warehouse
    Exam 70-768: Developing SQL Data Models

MCSA: SQL 2016 Database Administration

    Exam 70-764: Administering a SQL Database Infrastructure
    Exam 70-765: Provisioning SQL Databases

MCSA: SQL 2016 Database Development

    Exam 70-761: Querying Data with Transact-SQL
    Exam 70-762: Developing SQL Databases

MCSA: SQL Server 2012/2014

    Exam 70-461: Querying Microsoft SQL Server 2012/2014
    Exam 70-462: Administering Microsoft SQL Server 2012/2014 Databases
    Exam 70-463: Implementing a Data Warehouse with Microsoft SQL Server 2012/2014

MCSA: Universal Windows Platform

    Exam 70-483: Programming in C#
    Exam 70-357: Developing Mobile Apps

MCSA: Web Applications

    Exam 70-480: Programming in HTML5 with JavaScript and CSS3
    Exam 70-483: Programming in C#
    Exam 70-486: Developing ASP.NET MVC Web Applications

MCSA: Windows 10 (retiring March 31, 2019)

    Exam 70-698: Installing and Configuring Windows 10
    Exam 70-697: Configuring Windows Devices

MCSA: Windows Server 2012

    Exam 70-410: Installing and Configuring Windows Server 2012
    Exam 70-411: Administering Windows Server 2012
    Exam 70-412: Configuring Advanced Windows Server 2012

MCSA: Windows Server 2016

    Exam 70-740: Installation, Storage, and Compute with Windows Server 2016
    Exam 70-741: Networking with Windows Server 2016
    Exam 70-742: Identity with Windows Server 2016

MCSA Certification Cost

Most MCSA exams cost $165 (USD) for test takers in the United States. MCSA exams will cost international test takers from $55 to $165 per exam in their local currency. Because MCSA certifications require either two or three exams, the cost to earn an MCSA ranges from $330 to $495 in the United States.
Microsoft exams have a reputation for being challenging, and it’s not uncommon for learners to take an exam more than once. Microsoft is aware that their exams are difficult. Most years, it offers an Exam Replay, allowing an exam retake at a fraction of the original cost. Because Exam Replay availability varies by exam, test takers should regularly check their availability for certain exams.
MCSA certifications are relatively inexpensive compared to certifications offered by other vendors. But like any certification, additional costs will be accrued in MCSA training material.

MCSA Recertification and Renewal

MCSA certifications do not expire or require recertification/renewal. MCSA holders can find all their certifications listed on their official Microsoft Certified Professional Transcript classified as “Active” or “Legacy”. Certifications will remain in “Active” status until Microsoft retires the exam. Microsoft retires exams when the product or service associated with an exam reaches its end of life. When that happens, the certification will be listed as “Legacy.” But, it’s not expired.
 How much does an MCSA make?
Information technology has a diverse set of job roles and titles. With more than a dozen MCSA certifications that span the entire universe of Microsoft products, IT professionals who earn these certs can expect disparate and varying salary ranges.