News
MCTS, MCPD Beta Exams Out in November
Registration has opened for beta versions of exams required for MCTS and MCPD certifications.
Information posted on the Pearson Vue testing site indicates that registration
has opened for beta versions of exams that are required for the new-generation
Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist and Microsoft Certified IT Professional
certifications. Exams up for beta testing include the following:
- 70-528, TS: .NET Framework 2.0-Web-based Client Development to be available
from Nov. 7 to Nov. 18.
- 70-431, TS: SQL Server 2005-Implementation and Maintenance, available from
Nov. 22 to Dec. 5.
- 70-441, PRO: Designing Database Solutions Using SQL Server 2005, available
from Nov. 22 to Dec. 5.
The beta versions of the exams will be preceded by a 71 rather than a 70 while
in beta testing phase. They're also available in beta format through Prometric
as well as Pearson Vue testing centers.
Beta exams are free, but available only by invitation from Microsoft. Beta
exams are often also more time-intensive and typically have dole out more questions
than live versions. But passing a beta exam counts like a live version of an
exam when used toward certification fulfillment. To find out how to be invited
to take a beta exam, go to http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcpexams/status/beta.asp.
Information for exams 70-536, TS: .NET Framework 2.0-Application Development
Foundation and 70-443, PRO: Designing a Database Server Infrastructure by Using
SQL Server 2005, was also posted, but the Pearson Vue site listed these exams
as currently unavailable for registration.
For more information on these exams, see "Exam
Objective Guides for MCTS and MCPD Exams Now Available" in the News
archive. To read about the new-gen certifications, see "MCP
for the New Generation."
About the Author
Michael Domingo has held several positions at 1105 Media, and is currently the editor in chief of Visual Studio Magazine.