New Microsoft Exams (English Language Only) released within last 6 months!

Microsoft is committed to offering certifications that are relevant, valued, and respected indicators of IT professional and developer technology skills. To fulfill this commitment, the Microsoft Certification team continually monitors industry trends and adjusts exams and standards accordingly, developing new exams to ensure that certification requirements keep pace with technology updates.

The following table lists new exams, beginning with those most recently released. Follow the links to the corresponding exam preparation guides to learn about the skills measured and credits you can earn toward certification.

Exams released in November 2010	Preparation guide
PowerPoint 2010 (English)	Exam 77-883

Exams released in October 2010	Preparation guide
Upgrade: Transition your MCPD .NET Framework 3.5 Windows Developer Skills to MCPD .NET 4 Windows Applications Developer (English)	Exam 70-521
Upgrade: Transition your MCPD .NET Framework 3.5 Web Developer Skills to MCPD .NET Framework 4 Web Developer (English)	Exam 70-523

Exams released in September 2010	Preparation guide
TS: Windows 7 and Office 2010, Deploying (English)	Exam 70-681

Exams released in August 2010	Preparation guide
Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 Financials (English)	Exam MB3-859
Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 Project Series (English)	Exam MB3-860
Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 Installation & Configuration (English)	Exam MB3-861
Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 Inventory & Order Processing (English)	Exam MB3-862

Exams released in July 2010	Preparation guide
TS: Microsoft SharePoint 2010, Application Development (English)	Exam 70-573
PRO: Designing and Developing Microsoft SharePoint 2010 Applications (English)	Exam 70-576
TS: Microsoft SharePoint 2010, Configuring (English)	Exam 70-667
PRO: Microsoft SharePoint 2010, Administrator (English)	Exam 70-668
Software Development Fundamentals (English)	Exam 98-361
Windows Development Fundamentals (English)	Exam 98-362
Web Development Fundamentals (English)	Exam 98-363
Database Fundamentals (English)	Exam 98-364
Windows Server Administration Fundamentals (English)	Exam 98-365
Networking Fundamentals (English)	Exam 98-366
Security Fundamentals (English)	Exam 98-367

Advertisement

List of Microsoft Exams retiring with next 6 months (either hurry or prepare for a newer version)

The Microsoft Certification team continually monitors industry trends and then revises exams and certification requirements to keep pace with changes in technology. On a regular basis, new exams are introduced and older exams are revised or discontinued.

Many of the Microsoft Exams are retiring within next 6 months. Here is the list with Exam retiring date:

Exams retiring on March 31, 2011	Exam
Implementing and Managing Microsoft Exchange Server 2003	Exam 70-284
Designing a Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Organization	Exam 70-285
TS: Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration Server 2006, Configuring	Exam 70-351
TS: Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0, Implementing and Managing	Exam 70-500
TS: Visual Studio 2005 Team Foundation Server	Exam 70-510
TS: Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 – Application Development	Exam 70-540
TS: Visual Studio 2005 Tools for Office	Exam 70-543
TS: Microsoft Forefront Client and Server, Configuring	Exam 70-557
PRO: Upgrading Your MCDST Certification to MCITP Enterprise Support	Exam 70-621
TS: Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0, Configuring	Exam 70-631

 

Exams retiring on June 30, 2011	Exam
TS: Developing Business Process and Integration Solutions by Using Microsoft BizTalk Server 2006	Exam 70-235
TS: Developing Business Process and Integration Solutions by Using Microsoft BizTalk Server 2006 R2	Exam 70-241
Supporting Users and Troubleshooting a Microsoft Windows XP Operating System	Exam 70-271
Supporting Users and Troubleshooting Desktop Applications on a Microsoft Windows XP Operating System	Exam 70-272
TS: Microsoft SQL Server 2005 ‒ Implementation and Maintenance	Exam 70-431
PRO: Designing Database Solutions by Using Microsoft SQL Server 2005	Exam 70-441
PRO: Designing and Optimizing Data Access by Using Microsoft SQL Server 2005	Exam 70-442
PRO: Designing a Database Server Infrastructure by Using Microsoft SQL Server 2005	Exam 70-443
PRO: Optimizing and Maintaining a Database Administration Solution by Using Microsoft SQL Server 2005	Exam 70-444
TS: Microsoft SQL Server 2005, Business Intelligence ‒ Development and Maintenance	Exam 70-445
PRO: Designing a Business Intelligence Solution by Using Microsoft SQL Server 2005	Exam 70-446
UPGRADE: MCDBA Skills to MCITP Database Administrator by Using Microsoft SQL Server 2005	Exam 70-447
TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 – Windows-Based Client Development	Exam 70-526
TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 – Web-Based Client Development	Exam 70-528
TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 – Distributed Application Development	Exam 70-529
PRO: Designing and Developing Web-Based Applications by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework	Exam 70-547
PRO: Designing and Developing Windows-Based Applications by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework	Exam 70-548
PRO: Designing and Developing Enterprise Applications by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework	Exam 70-549
UPGRADE: MCAD Skills to MCPD Web Developer by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework	Exam 70-551
UPGRADE: MCAD Skills to MCPD Windows Developer by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework	Exam 70-552
UPGRADE: MCSD Microsoft .NET Skills to MCPD Enterprise Application Developer by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework: Part 1	Exam 70-553
UPGRADE: MCSD Microsoft .NET Skills to MCPD Enterprise Application Developer by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework: Part 2	Exam 70-554
UPGRADE: MCAD Skills to MCTS Windows Applications by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework	Exam 70-558
UPGRADE: MCAD Skills to MCTS Web Applications by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework	Exam 70-559
Connected Home Integrator	Exam 70-625
Consumer Sales Specialist	Exam 70-626

 

Note Certifications you have earned remain valid even if qualifying exams have been retired. When an exam you passed is retired, your transcript retains the record of the exam and identifies the exam as retired.

MOS 2007 Master New Year’s Resolution

Make your new year’s resolution now to finish that coveted Microsoft Office Specialist 2007 Master certification… the Master requirements will be getting tougher next year!

What’s Coming? Starting March 1, 2011, to earn your MOS 2007 Master credential, you will need to pass the new Expert level Word and Excel exams. These exams are set to tentatively launch in English at the end of January, 2011, which means we’ll be giving a grace period before triggering the new requirements.

What’s Going? Prior to March 1, you can still become a MOS 2007 Master by passing these exams: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and your choice of Outlook or Access. Please note that due to a system issue, if you complete the original 2007 Master requirements between November 1, 2010 and February 18, 2011, the Master certification will not immediately appear on your Microsoft transcript. After February 18, your transcript will be automatically updated. You will, however, receive your Master certificate, and your Master status will appear on your online transcript at Certiport.com.

Why? To date all versions of MOS have required an Expert level Word and Excel exam to achieve the Master credential, with the exception of MOS 2007. We’re bringing MOS 2007 back in line with the rest of the certifications in terms of what it takes to gain the coveted MOS Master status.

All of these same details are outlined on the MOS Master Certifications page here. If you have any questions though, please let Microsoft team know.

Register for Lync Server 2010 TS Beta Exam

You are invited to take beta exam 71-664: TS: Microsoft Lync Server 2010, Configuring. If you pass the beta exam, the exam credit will be added to your transcript and you will not need to take the exam in its released form.

By participating in beta exams, you have the opportunity to provide the Microsoft Certification program with feedback about exam content, which is integral to development of exams in their released version. We depend on the contributions of experienced IT professionals and developers as we continually improve exam content and maintain the value of Microsoft certifications.

71-664: TS: Microsoft Lync Server 2010, Configuring counts as credit towards the following certification(s).

• MCTS: Microsoft Lync Server 2010, Configuration
• MCITP: Microsoft Lync Server 2010 Administrator

---

Availability

Registration begins December 13.

Beta exam period runs: December 22, 2010 – January 14, 2010

Receiving this invitation does not guarantee you a seat in the beta. We recommend that you register immediately. Beta exams have limited availability and are operated under a first-come-first-served basis. Once all beta slots are filled, no additional seats will be offered.
Testing is held at Prometric testing centers worldwide, although this exam may not be available in all countries (see Regional Restrictions).  All testing centers will have the capability to offer this exam in its live version.

Regional Restrictions: India, Pakistan, China

---

Registration Information

You must register at least 24 hours prior to taking the exam.
Please use the following promotional codes when registering for the exam: UCTSJ

Receiving this invitation does not guarantee you a seat in the beta. We recommend that you register immediately.
To register in North America, please call:

•	Prometric: (800) 755-EXAM (800-755-3926)

Outside the U.S./Canada, please contact:

•	Prometric: http://www.register.prometric.com/ClientInformation.asp

---

Test Information and Support

You are invited to take this beta exam at no charge.
You will be given four hours to complete the beta exam. Please plan accordingly.
Find exam preparation information: http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/exam.aspx?ID=70-664

---

Frequently Asked Questions

You can find answers to Frequently Asked Questions about beta exams here:

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/certification/exam-dev-release.aspx#tab2

For Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) help and information, you may log in to the MCP Web site at http://mcp.microsoft.com/ or contact your Regional Service Center: http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/help/assisted-support.aspx

Watch Now: What Can SharePoint Do For You?

What Can SharePoint Do For You? Improve Productivity, Efficiency, Agility
Microsoft SharePoint can help your company quickly respond to changing business needs. For IT managers, SharePoint 2010 helps you cut training and maintenance costs, save time and effort, and focus on higher business priorities. Learn about best practices for implementing Microsoft SharePoint 2010 and what you need to do in order to plan, deploy, manage, and support this product.

Watch Now.

Microsoft is calling all Windows Phone 7 experts! Update your SME profile now!

Do you have work experience with developing applications for Windows Phone 7? Want to help Microsoft create the first Windows Phone 7 exam? Here’s your chance! Microsoft is looking for Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) for the following exam:

• 70-599   Pro: Designing and Developing Windows Phone 7 Applications

Microsoft will be using the MSL SME database to find participants for blueprinting as well as other phases of development for this exam. For your best chance of participating, create a SME profile by filling out the survey on the MSL SME site on Microsoft Connect. (See this post for complete instructions.)

Please note that if you already filled out your SME profile, you’ll need to go back and update it. Microsoft has changed the answer options for “Which technologies do you have work experience with?” to include Window Phone 7. Microsoft will be looking for folks who select Windows Phone 7 on this question to help develop these exams. If you filled out your SME profile awhile ago, this option was not available for you to select.

Book Review: Microsoft Enterprise Library 5.0 – by Sachin Joshi

Microsoft Enterprise Library is a collection of application blocks designed to assist developers with common enterprise development challenges. Application blocks are a type of guidance, provided as source code that can be used “as is,” extended, or modified by developers for use in enterprise development projects.

This is a step-by-step tutorial (book) in which a chapter is dedicated to each Application Block of the Microsoft Enterprise Library 5.0. You will develop small applications to implement the functions in each Application Block all through the book.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Getting Started with Enterprise Library
Chapter 2: Data Access Application Block
Chapter 3: Logging Application Block
Chapter 4: Exception Handling Application Block
Chapter 5: Caching Application Block
Chapter 6: Validation Application Block
Chapter 7: Security Application Block
Chapter 8: Cryptography Application Block

The design of application blocks encapsulates the Microsoft recommended and proven practices for .NET application development. These good practices are demonstrated in the overall design of the Enterprise Library. This book exhibits these proven practices by designing application throughout the book.

Software developers can add application blocks to .NET applications quickly and easily. For example, the Data Access Application Block provides access to the most frequently used features of ADO.NET, exposing them through easily used classes. In some cases, application blocks also add related functionality not directly supported by the underlying class libraries. Author, Sachin Joshi, demonstrated this in this book (Chapter 2).

Enterprise Library is used when building applications that are typically to be deployed widely and to interoperate with other applications and systems. In addition, they generally have strict security, reliability, and performance requirements. This book can be used by developers to feature consistent design patterns and implementation approaches. Enterprise Library application blocks are designed to work well together or individually.

This book also demonstrates Enterprise Library features such as numerous usability improvements, including a graphical configuration tool, a simpler installation procedure, and clearer and more complete documentation and samples.

If you are a Programmer, Consultant, or an Associate Architect, who is interested in developing Enterprise applications, this book is for you. This is a technical book, so author assumes that you already have a good knowledge of Microsoft .NET framework and the C# programming language.

More information about this book, author and Enterprise Library can be found on the PACKT Publishing website