MCSA: Linux on Azure Certification

Among the various Microsoft MCSA certification, the MCSA: Linux on Azure is certainly a little of it’s own league. This is the only Microsoft certification that requires a Linux Foundation certification in order to earn. This certification will validate and test your skills in a good combination of Microsoft Azure cloud and Linux system administration.

EXAM IS RETIRED: This exam was retired December 31, 2018.

What exams qualify?

There are 2 exams that you need to pass in order to earn the MCSA: Linux on Azure certification. The 2 exams are listed here:

As you can see this certification is a mixture of Linux and Azure. With both the LCFS and 70-533 Azure exam, it’s definitely an Infrastructure and System Administrator focused certification.

Foundation for MCSE: Cloud Platform and Infrastructure

The MCSA: Linux on Azure is one of the MCSA certifications that provide the foundation to earning the new MCSE: Cloud Platform and Infrastructure certification. There have been some “foundational” type paths in Microsoft certifications in the past, but the new changes to the program offer different certification paths in a fairly easy to follow way. You can choose the path that fits you best with the appropriate exams, and there’s plenty of room to turn it up to 11 and earn the full MCSE: Cloud Platform and Infrastructure certification.

The path from MCSA: Linux on Azure to MCSE: Cloud Platform and Infrastructure certification only requires a total of 3 exams to be passed. You take the first 2 to earn the MCSA: Linux on Azure (as shown above), and then you take 1 additional elective exam to upgrade that MCSA to earn the full MCSE: Cloud Platform and Infrastructure certification!

The MCSE: Cloud Platform and Infrastructure offers a total of 10 elective exams to choose from! This give you full flexibility to tailor your certification to your own interests, expertise or work role with plenty of options to choose the path best for you!

Happy studying!

About the Author

Chris Pietschmann

Chris Pietschmann is a Microsoft MVP, HashiCorp Ambassador, and Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT) with 20+ years of experience designing and building Cloud & Enterprise systems. He has worked with companies of all sizes from startups to large enterprises. He has a passion for technology and sharing what he learns with others to help enable them to learn faster and be more productive.

13 Comments

bingo on September 8, 2017 at 4:06 pm

Hi Chris,
I’m interested in MCSA: Linux on Azure , Microsoft Certification.
I would like to know if I may take LFCE exam instead of LFCS exam?

thx
regards

Chris Pietschmann on September 15, 2017 at 11:44 am

Unfortunately, no, that is the only exam that Microsoft will count towards the certification.

VINOTH on March 8, 2018 at 8:03 am

Hi Chris,

Do i get a 25% discount , while i take LCFS: Linux Foundation Certified System Administrator after completing the 70-533: Implementing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions.

Chris Pietschmann on March 8, 2018 at 9:47 am

I have not heard of any discounts being made available.

topshot on April 16, 2018 at 6:13 am

Hi Chris,

Is Redhat an option to choose from the Linux distributions?

Chris Pietschmann on April 16, 2018 at 9:40 am

Yes it is.

Sergei on July 26, 2018 at 8:10 am

Hello! I already have MCSA certificate (passed 70533 and 70535 exams).
Can I now pass LCFS exam in order to obtain MCSE certificate?
Thank you.

Chris Pietschmann on July 26, 2018 at 8:45 am

Yes you could do that. Congrats on those exams BTW!
- Sergei on July 27, 2018 at 2:19 am
  
  Thanks.
  Somewhy I don’t see LFCS exam in MSCE roadmap:
  https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/learning/mcse-cloud-platform-infrastructure.aspx

Ingo D. on November 12, 2018 at 11:56 am

I already passed the 533 Exam and I am planning to take the LFCS next week. If I should pass the LFCS Exam next week, how do I prove to Microsoft that I passed it? I couldn’t find any information in the Microsoft Learning Portal. Maybe you can help me here.

Thanks you in advance

Chris Pietschmann on December 5, 2018 at 2:50 pm

If you can get it done by the end of the year (2018), then I’d say go for it. I was thinking about doing the MCSA: Linux on Azure cert as well myself. There’s instructions on Microsoft Learning site on how to let them know. If you don’t think you’ll get is passed by the end of 2018, then I’d still say go for it as the LFCS certification will still show your Linux skills, in addition to Azure skills with 533. It’s just that after Dec 31, 2018, Microsoft may no longer be granting MCSA: Linux on Azure since it’s being retired due to the 533 exam being retired. I hope they brig back a new option for this, as it’s a pretty neat certification path from Microsoft combined with Linux Foundation. 🙂

Anvar on December 12, 2018 at 12:02 pm

Is it insider info? Do I need to be hurry with passing LFCS exam or there will be an option to take it after that period of time? I have already bought a voucher of LFCS but still affraid of takimg exam.

Chris Pietschmann on December 17, 2018 at 10:04 pm

The LFCS is an exam offered by the Linux Foundation. It is not a Microsoft exam, nor is it retiring. Only the MCSA: Linux on Azure certification from Microsoft is retiring. If you are looking to get certified in Linux, then by all means go ahead and get the LFCS!

bingo on September 8, 2017 at 4:06 pm

Hi Chris,
I’m interested in MCSA: Linux on Azure , Microsoft Certification.
I would like to know if I may take LFCE exam instead of LFCS exam?

thx
regards
- Chris Pietschmann on September 15, 2017 at 11:44 am
  
  Unfortunately, no, that is the only exam that Microsoft will count towards the certification.
VINOTH on March 8, 2018 at 8:03 am

Hi Chris,

Do i get a 25% discount , while i take LCFS: Linux Foundation Certified System Administrator after completing the 70-533: Implementing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions.
- Chris Pietschmann on March 8, 2018 at 9:47 am
  
  I have not heard of any discounts being made available.
topshot on April 16, 2018 at 6:13 am

Hi Chris,

Is Redhat an option to choose from the Linux distributions?
- Chris Pietschmann on April 16, 2018 at 9:40 am
  
  Yes it is.
Sergei on July 26, 2018 at 8:10 am

Hello! I already have MCSA certificate (passed 70533 and 70535 exams).
Can I now pass LCFS exam in order to obtain MCSE certificate?
Thank you.
- Chris Pietschmann on July 26, 2018 at 8:45 am
  
  Yes you could do that. Congrats on those exams BTW!
  - Sergei on July 27, 2018 at 2:19 am
    
    Thanks.
    Somewhy I don’t see LFCS exam in MSCE roadmap:
    https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/learning/mcse-cloud-platform-infrastructure.aspx
Ingo D. on November 12, 2018 at 11:56 am

I already passed the 533 Exam and I am planning to take the LFCS next week. If I should pass the LFCS Exam next week, how do I prove to Microsoft that I passed it? I couldn’t find any information in the Microsoft Learning Portal. Maybe you can help me here.

Thanks you in advance
- Chris Pietschmann on December 5, 2018 at 2:50 pm
  
  If you can get it done by the end of the year (2018), then I’d say go for it. I was thinking about doing the MCSA: Linux on Azure cert as well myself. There’s instructions on Microsoft Learning site on how to let them know. If you don’t think you’ll get is passed by the end of 2018, then I’d still say go for it as the LFCS certification will still show your Linux skills, in addition to Azure skills with 533. It’s just that after Dec 31, 2018, Microsoft may no longer be granting MCSA: Linux on Azure since it’s being retired due to the 533 exam being retired. I hope they brig back a new option for this, as it’s a pretty neat certification path from Microsoft combined with Linux Foundation. 🙂
Anvar on December 12, 2018 at 12:02 pm

Is it insider info? Do I need to be hurry with passing LFCS exam or there will be an option to take it after that period of time? I have already bought a voucher of LFCS but still affraid of takimg exam.
- Chris Pietschmann on December 17, 2018 at 10:04 pm
  
  The LFCS is an exam offered by the Linux Foundation. It is not a Microsoft exam, nor is it retiring. Only the MCSA: Linux on Azure certification from Microsoft is retiring. If you are looking to get certified in Linux, then by all means go ahead and get the LFCS!