Does the MS-100 and MS-101 exam count towards the new MS-102 exam?

Hi Peter,

We are pleased that you have contacted Microsoft’s Community. We hope you are having a wonderful day.

We understand you need clarification for ms-102 pathway.

Please keep in mind that the Exam is one of the two conditions to be certified as a Microsoft 365 Certified: Administrator Expert - Certifications | Microsoft Learn.

This certification can be earned by completing the following requirements:

• Pass Exam MS-102

At the same time, you one of these prerequisites:

• Microsoft 365 Certified: Endpoint Administrator Associate - Certifications | Microsoft Learn

• Microsoft 365 Certified: Messaging Administrator Associate - Certifications | Microsoft Learn

• Microsoft 365 Certified: Teams Administrator Associate - Certifications | Microsoft Learn

• Microsoft Certified: Identity and Access Administrator Associate - Certifications | Microsoft Learn

• Microsoft Certified: Information Protection and Compliance Administrator Associate - Certifications | Microsoft Learn

Please note that since September of 2023 the MS-100 and MS-101 were retired meaning that if you finished the path way before that time you would have gotten the certificate, now those exams are not active or count to get the certificate. Now to get the certificate you need to do the MS102 exam.

Also note that for the previous version of the certificate called modern desktop you also needed to do a prerequisite to also get it.

Keep in mind the certificate had a complete change in focus meaning the previous versions of the exam no longer count for the new certificate.

If this solves your problem, please indicate “Yes” to the question and the thread will automatically be closed and locked. In case we do not receive a response, the thread will be closed and locked after one business day.

Best wishes,

Hi thanks for the response. I believe I shouldn’t be penalized and have to take the ms-102 exam when I have passed both ms-100 and ms-101 (both active). The only reason why I didn’t get the certification was because I forgot to take the ms-203 renewal exam. Microsoft has been changing a lot of the certificate requirements, retiring exams constantly that makes it difficult for us keep up with all of the changes. The only fault of mine was letting ms-203 expire before i took the renewal. I have issue taking the prerequisite ms700 but making me also take ms-102 seems very unfair to me.

Hello, Peter.

Thank you very much for your reply.

At the time of our reply, we received your information and now we are reviewing the details of your case. Please allow us to contact you back with an update in the next business day.

We wish you a great day,

Hi Peter,

Please note that since September of 2023 the MS-100 and MS-101 were retired meaning that if you finished the path way before that time you would have gotten the certificate, now those exams are not active or count to get the certificate. Now to get the certificate you need to do the MS102 exam.

Also note that for the previous version of the certificate called modern desktop you also needed to do a prerequisite to also get it.

Keep in mind the certificate had a complete change in focus meaning the previous versions of the exam no longer count for the new certificate.

there is no exception since the MS-100 and MS-101 are no longer valid for the new certificate.

If this solves your problem, please indicate “Yes” to the question and the thread will automatically be closed and locked. In case we do not receive a response, the thread will be closed and locked after one business day.

Best wishes,

Hi, I would have received the certification, but because Microsoft 365 Certified: Messaging Administrator Associate expired before I can take the renewal or retake the exam before you retired ms100 and ms101, I did not receive the certification and that exam also was retired last year, so I really did not have a lot of time restudy or schedule the exam. So now I have to take the prerequisite certification MS700, and then MS102 to get Microsoft 365 Certified: Administrator Expert certification? This seems really unfair to me and a lot of other users who were affected by you suddenly deciding to retire an exam and the previous exams counts towards nothing, and the new exam will give you the same certification before you decided to retire ms100 and ms101.

I don't understand why I need to take both the prerequisite exam and MS102, when MS100 and MS101 even though they're retired, does not count towards MS102. Just because you (Microsoft) decided you wanted to retire the old exams, the people who had just received or were in the process of studying for those old exams are screwed because all of the time they spent to study and to take the exam was all for nothing.

There needs be a grandfather rule for users that passed ms100 and ms101 to substitute the MS102 exam for users in my situation.

Hi Peter,

Yes, is no exception for this given that the retirement of the exam was going to be retired and also please note every user who had done the MS-100 and MS-101 and the prerequisite before the retirement of the exams which was 09/30.

Yes, if you had renewed the MS-203 you would have gotten the certificate but since it was expired you did not get it, since now the ms-100 and ms-101 are retired now you need to do the ms-102 and one of the prerequisites to get your certificate.

If this solves your problem, please indicate “Yes” to the question and the thread will automatically be closed and locked. In case we do not receive a response, the thread will be closed and locked after one business day.

Best wishes,

Hello Peter.

We have not been able to get a hold of you and we will have to proceed with the closure and locking of this Forum.

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Best regards,