Certification Watch Volume 6 #13, continued

Published July 1, 2003

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Microsoft Announces Next Year's Exam Retirements

In its annual announcement of exams to be retired, Microsoft has identified 11 certification exams destined for the dust bin. Most relate to the MCSD or MCDBA on SQL 2000 titles. The exams will be discontinued a year from now - next June. Here's the full list:

70-015 Designing and Implementing Distributed Applications with Microsoft Visual C++ 6.0
70-016 Designing and Implementing Desktop Applications with Microsoft Visual C++ 6.0
70-019 Designing and Implementing Data Warehouses with Microsoft SQL Server 7.0
70-028 Administering Microsoft SQL Server 7.0
70-029 Designing and Implementing Databases with Microsoft SQL Server 7.0
70-100 Analyzing Requirements and Defining Solution Architectures
70-152 Designing and Implementing Web Solutions with Microsoft Visual InterDev 6.0
70-155 Designing and Implementing Distributed Applications with Microsoft Visual FoxProŽ 6.0
70-156 Designing and Implementing Distributed Applications with Microsoft Visual FoxPro 6.0
70-175 Designing and Implementing Distributed Applications with Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0
70-176 Designing and Implementing Desktop Applications with Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0

Microsoft Adds Windows Server 2003 Exams to MCDBA Track

Beginning this September, MCDBA on Microsoft SQL Server 2000 candidates can use Microsoft Windows Server 2003 exams to fulfill the networking systems core exam requirement in combination with SQL Server 2000 exams. Exam 70-290: Managing and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment, and Exam 70-291: Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure will be added in September 2003 as options to the core requirements. Exam 70-293: Planning and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure will be added in September 2003 to the pool of electives. The Windows Server 2003 exams can only be used in combination with SQL Server 2000 exams, not with SQL Sever 7.0 exams. For further details, read the FAQ on the Microsoft Web site.

CompTIA IT Project+ Exam to go Beta July 16

Candidates who want a shot at a reduced price IT Project+ certification should consider sitting for the beta version of the revised IT Project+ exam. The beta will be available for $99 starting July 16th 2003, for a limited time. The final version of the exam is slated for a September 2003 release. The beta can be taken through either Prometric or VUE testing centers. Full objectives can be found on CompTIA's Web site (PDF).

Network Appliance Storage Certification Program Updated

As of June 2003, the Network Appliance (NetApp) Filer certification program has been restructured to provide four levels of certification instead of two. The four levels are: Hardware Qualification, followed by Storage Associate, Storage Professional, and Storage Expert. Some of the higher-level tests are still being rolled out. Individuals who are certified under the current program will remain certified until their certification expires normally, at which time they must recertify using the new structure. The NetApp NetCache (content delivery) certification program is likely to migrate to the new format in October or November.

That's all for this edition of Certification Watch. Please keep your certification news and tips coming to news@gocertify.com.

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