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January: Two More Developer Betas Coming
.NET-based exams 70-526 and 70-529 get their time in front of developers next month.
December has been a busy month for the Microsoft Learning Group, which launched four MCP exams to beta testers. January looks to be almost as busy, as the group launches two more exams, aimed squarely, again, at the developer crowd.
Up first is Exam 70-529 TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 - Distributed Application Development, which will be beta tested beginning January 4 at selected Pearson Vue and Prometric testing centers worldwide. This exam is a Technology Specialist exam for .NET developers who have expertise in creating distributed applications. Exam 70-529 is one of two required for the MCTS: .NET Framework 2.0 Distributed Applications certification (the other is exam 70-536: TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 - Application Development Foundation, which is in beta this week), and one of five exams needed for the exam-heavy Microsoft Certified Professional Developer: Enterprise Applications Developer title. The 70-529 beta will conclude two weeks later, on January 17.
On January 12, Microsoft will begin beta testing 70-526, TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0-Windows-Based Client Development. Like 70-529, it's another TS exam, but it specifically tests developers on their Windows programming expertise. The exam is one of two required for the MCTS: .NET Framework 2.0 Windows Applications title (the other is exam 70-536: TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 - Application Development Foundation, which is in beta this week), and one of three for the MCPD: Windows Developer (and is on the list of prerequisites for the MCPD: EAD). The 70-526 beta ends January 25.
To view exam objective guides and study resources, go to http://www.microsoft.com/learning/exams/70-529.asp and http://www.microsoft.com/learning/exams/70-526.asp.
All beta exams are available through Pearson Vue and Prometric testing centers for free, but only to those who are invited to take the exams by Microsoft. Registration for these exams wasn't open as of this writing. To find out more, go to http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcpexams/status/beta.asp. Microsoft did not indicate when the live versions of these exams would be available.
About the Author
Michael Domingo has held several positions at 1105 Media, and is currently the editor in chief of Visual Studio Magazine.