Historically, MCSE and MCSD credentials required the individual to recertify after a period of two to three years in order to keep the credential in the 'Active section' of their transcript.

However, on March 26, 2020, Microsoft announced that the remaining exams associated with MCSA, MCSE and MCSD will retire on January 31, 2021. These certifications were planned to be phased out effective Jin favor of 'role-based' certifications focused primarily on Azure and Microsoft 365.

Under the new process, the number and selection of exams required to achieve a Microsoft certification varies. The current iteration was introduced in February 2020, when Microsoft announced that it was retiring all existing Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP), Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD), Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE) and Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA) certifications, introducing new pathways, and changing the way individuals earn and maintain those Microsoft certifications. The process of earning certification has changed multiple times since its inception. Microsoft Certifications are earned by passing exams aligned to a specific certification.

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