Data Center certifications are being retired in the coming months

[#1]

G’day, Training and Certification friends!

I’m writing to share an update from the Atlassian certification team.

Atlassian is invested in its Cloud product growth, and our customers are increasingly collaborating with the power of the Atlassian Cloud and System of Work. With most of our new features and products being developed for this platform, we want to assure you that our certification catalog will reflect this transformation to better serve your needs.

Due to the shift to Cloud, Atlassian will be retiring these two Data Center (DC) certifications in the coming months:

• Atlassian Certified Professional - Jira Administration for Data Center

• Atlassian Certified Professional - Managing Jira Projects for Data Center

Please note that the price for these two certifications has been decreased to $100 until their retirement in September 2025. 

For all candidates that currently hold either of these certifications, please be aware that the inactive and expiration dates have both been extended by two years, and there is no need to earn continuing education units to extend them.

By phasing out Data Center certifications from our catalog, we are thoughtfully reallocating resources to create innovative Cloud content and support additional products and roles that align with Atlassian’s System of Work. We appreciate your understanding as we navigate this transition together. 🤓

Which Cloud certification will you check out first? Let us know in the comments.

[Roberto Miasack]

Bye bye Data Center

[Huynh Nguyen]

Dear Ree Kent

I have the Managing Jira Projects for Data Center

I'm interested in the Atlassian Certified Administration Expert ACAE, which can be earned by clearing 4 out of any of the followings:

Jira Administration for Data Center

Jira Administrator for Cloud

Managing Jira Service Projects for Cloud

Managing Jira Projects for Data Center

Managing Jira Projects for Cloud

Atlassian Cloud Organization Admin

now with the plan on the retirement of the two data-centers, would I still be able to get the designation ACAE if I get Jira Administration for Data Center in September 2025 and two others in 2026?

And what about the scheme for maitaining the Expert designation?

[Jimmy Seddon]

@Ree Kent Thanks for the update.  I'll be sad to see these go :(

@Huynh Nguyen Not to speak for Atlassian, but I think we can deduce that if the 2 DC certs are going to be retired, the path Atlassian Certified Administration Expert

Going forward is going to be:

• Jira Administrator for Cloud
• Managing Jira Service Projects for Cloud
• Managing Jira Projects for Cloud
• Atlassian Cloud Organization Admin

Can you earn the designation using the DC certs prior to them expiring? Probably.  But you won't be able to maintain it once the two years has past.  You'll likely need to earn the remaining Cloud Certifications.

[Huynh Nguyen]

Thank you for your comment @Jimmy Seddon 

I definitely think that there would be only one way to get the designation after September.

I am only asking because it sounds the most economical way of getting it.

Spend only $600 more to get the designation instead of having to pay $1000.

Then wait to see if the designation pays off in 2 years and decide to invest in the two others (Organization & Service)

[Ree Kent]

Hi @Huynh Nguyen Yes, you could earn one or both of the Data Center certifications, before September 11, to use toward the Expert designation. Those would be valid for two years after you earn them. Also, we are developing a certification exam for Confluence Administration that will be part of the Expert designation. 

Thank you! 

[Matis Aas]

What does this mean in the grand scheme of things? 
Is Data Center EOL approaching? 

[Mark Smith]

 I would like to hear about other tools that people are going to be starting to evaluate as a replacement.  In the DoD world, we cannot use Atlassian Cloud products.  We have to have on-prem or AWS/Azure solutions (IL4).

[Frederik Kunze]

Sad to see the DC certifications go. But I think most of us did see this one coming with the efforts from Atlassian for cloud first. I hope that will still have some years left with DC as there are still a lot of us that can't switch to cloud yet.

[Kristin Lyons]

Sad to see the Data Center certs being retired.  I'll have to see what certs to get for Cloud going forward :)

[Charlie Sobel]

Where can I get more information about Atlassian Certified Administration Expert ACAE? My search on the Atlassian University site only found this: https://www.atlassian.com/blog/confluence/become-an-atlassian-certified-professional-confluence-administrator

Thanks.

[Ree Kent]

Hi @Charlie Sobel You can learn more about the Atlassian Certified Administration Expert designation here: Atlassian Certified Designations .

[Scott Chase]

What's the impact for someone who has been studying to take the certification test for Jira Admin for DC and takes the next say in a two weeks?  Is the cert still good for two years?

Thanks,

Scott

[Ree Kent]

@Scott Chase , You have until September 11, 2025 to register and take the exam. Then the certification is valid for two years. 

[Arkadiusz Baka]

Unfortunately, the whole situation demonstrates that customer needs are being ignored, as many people prefer and need DC

[Dan Koh]

Cloud was having better function especially AI, users would love the function a lot! but how would Atlassian planning to handle those customer which can not have customer data store externally? For example banking sector with strict audit requirements.