Sunday, March 30, 2008

70-646 Beta results released

It's been almost three months since I took the 70-646 beta exam (PRO: Windows Server 2008, Server Administrator), but the results are out. It appeared on my transcript this past week and I'm happy to say I passed.

Exams usually go live within about 30 days of the beta results being released, so the 70-646 should go live soon. You can check out the objectives here.

The 70-646 is one of the exams required for the MCITP: Server Administrator certification.

All the exams required for the MCITP: Server Administrator certification are:
- 70-640 (TS: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory, Configuring)
- 70-642 (TS: Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure, Configuring)
- 70-646 (PRO: Windows Server 2008, Server Administrator)

If you are an MCSA in Windows Server 2003, you can take the upgrade exam, 70-648, in the place of 70-640 and 70-642 exams:
- 70-648 (TS: Upgrading Your MCSA on Windows Server 2003 to Windows Server 2008, Technology Specialist)
- 70-646 (PRO: Windows Server 2008, Server Administrator)

It's a little early to order it, but the following book will be coming out later this year to help you prepare for the 70-646 exam:
MCITP: Windows Server 2008 Administration Study Guide (Exam 70-646, with CD)

Darril

Thursday, March 20, 2008

MCITP: Database Developer book released

The DHL man left a great gift on my doorstep yesterday - two boxes filled with
MCITP SQL Server 2005 Database Developer All-in-One Exam Guides (Exams 70-431, 70-441 & 70-442). Today, I've mailed off half a dozen copies to reviewers.

The book isn't available on Amazon or Bookpool yet, but it'll be just a matter of days now.

Darril

Friday, March 7, 2008

MCITP: Database Developer at the printer

If you've been waiting for the
MCITP SQL Server 2005 Database Developer All-in-One Exam Guide (Exams 70-431, 70-441 & 70-442)
there's good news.

The publisher sent it to the printer last week and it could be released any day now.

The official release date is April 11th, 2008 (just a couple of days after mainstreams support for SQL Server 2000 ends), but I fully expect it to be out well before then.

If you want, you can reserve your copy on Amazon now.

Darril Gibson

Renewals not required for MCITP Certs

Microsoft has rethought the policy and decided that instead of requiring you to recertify your MCITP certifications every 3 years, the certs will remain active until mainstream support ends. Even then, the certs won't drop from your transcript but instead be moved to a "retired section" on your transcript to show your depth of experience.

Here are a few links to get more info

Microsoft's post:
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/newgen/lifecycle/default.mspx

Trika and Gerry's posts (Certification people at Microsoft):
Trika
GerryO

What does this all mean?

First, once you earn the certification, you keep it forever. You're not required to recertify to keep the certification.

Second, others (such as potential employers will know you had those certs even if they have expired).
Say you go out and get your MCITP: DBA on SQL Server 2005 or
MCITP: DB Dev on SQL Server 2005
, and then about 8 years from now you apply for a job that needs experience on SQL Server 2014. You can show your transcript that verifies that only do you know the current product, but you've been working with it through several versions.

Darril