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Vista Exams Go Back to Beta Testing

Microsoft delays release of some of its new-generation MCP exams for Vista in favor of retesting; exam 70-624 gets a Valentine's Day debut.

According to the most recently issued MCP Newsflash, Microsoft's Learning Group has decided to put a few of its new-generation MCP exams for Vista back into development phase. Affected are exams for the IT Professional level certifications: 70-621 Pro: Upgrading your MCDST Certification to MCITP Enterprise Support; 70-622 Pro: Microsoft Desktop Support-Enteprise; and 70-623 Pro: Microsoft Desktop Support-Consumer.

"In the interest of maintaining the quality of Microsoft Certifications ... we need to add content" to those exams, said the group in the e-mail.

Exam 70-621 was originally beta tested between Dec. 20, 2006 and Jan. 12. 2007, with availability originally slated for late January. Exam 70-623 originally went under the beta microscope between Jan. 26 and Feb. 8.

According to the exam objective guides, these exams will head back into test development, with betas spanning March and April. The exams are expected to go live in May, according to the MCP Newsflash.

Unaffected by the delay is exam 70-620, which was generally available mid-January (see "First Windows Vista Exam Now Live" in the News archive).

On another note, Exam 70-624 makes its debut on Valentine's Day. The exam isn't for the fainthearted, though, with Microsoft recommending candidates for the exam to have expertise managing desktop deployments and migrations using many of the business deployment tools Microsoft provides in Vista, as well as its Business Desktop Deployment Workbench and Application Compatibility Toolkit. Those who pass the exam immediately earn the MCTS: Deploying and Maintaining Vista Client and Office System 2007 Desktops certification.

About the Author

Michael Domingo has held several positions at 1105 Media, and is currently the editor in chief of Visual Studio Magazine.

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