Certifications

I'm that EHLO World guy in the September 2007 MCP Flash, with a full question and answer section in the Microsoft Learning Peers section here, once the cache propagates.

Thumbnail image of the newsletter:


To view the full size version, click here.

Sidenote:

Our oldest daughter, Sabrina, turned 6 today. I'll will always be able to remember the day the newsletter came out due to this.

I've also lost 15 to 20 pounds since that picture was taken in February 2007. During that time, unknown to me, four wisdom teeth were becoming impacted and very infected. They were taken out last month and my whole face feels 100% better. No more 'chipmunk' look.

As noted in a new Trika posting, soon you will be able to take an exam over in case you didn't pass the first time. You can get the details on how to get into this program here.

In the crazy days of June 2007, I took this exam while it was in beta. I like taking exams early to give me an edge and as a personal challenge.

In my never ending quest to find out if I actually passed 70-238 (the last Exchange 2007 exam), I found out by accident that I had passed 70-557, the Forefront Client and Server certification exam.

I am not sure if 70-557 is live yet, but I suspect it will be shortly if the results are posting. I still have no idea if I passed 70-238 or not. I'm getting pretty ticked off at Prometric about this.

After reviewing some of the trackbacks I have had from my 70-649 posts, I found another great blog site that documents Stan Seger's day to day study preparation for 70-649. He includes a lot of items I haven't posted about here.

His 70-649 specific posts are from Wednesday, Thursday 1, Thursday 2, Friday, and Saturday.

It is probably easiest just to go to the main site here and see if there are newer updates.

I had a scheduled meeting get rescheduled so I decided to go for it while I had an opportunity.

80+ questions in the beta.

It seemed not too hard, but not too easy. I don't know how much more I can say without potentially breaking the NDA, but it was pretty much what I was expecting. Hopefully I will know if I passed in a few weeks or so. I have a feeling I did, but I don't want to get overconfident. It was free due to the promo code from yesterday, so I can't complain.

Jump on this while you can – go to Prometric's site and register for 71-648 for MCSA 2008 or 71-649 for MCSE 2008.

If you are a MCSA 2003 and not MCSE 2003 yet, use TIG648 for the promo code and only take 71-648 to go to MCSA 2008.

If you are a MCSE 2003 already, use TIG649 for the promo code and only take 71-649 to go to MCSE 2008.

Do not take 71-648 if you are already an MCSE 2003. You technically can, but it won't count for anything 'extra'.

Beta exam period runs: July 9, 2007– August 3, 2007

Originally spotted here!

As for study material? Dig into Technet articles on changes from Windows 2003 to Windows 2008 and get comfy with Windows 2008 Beta 3. Real world experience is always the best way to prepare for a certification exam. Don't be a 'paper' MCSE and devalue the certification!

I'm not sure how you would abbreviate that one properly, but it is a TS certification. I'd almost call it the "MCTS: BDD/SMS" test.
Never had a perfect score on a MS test before so that is a new one to me. I'm just happy I passed.

Trika has a nice blog entry that directs us to the tentative Longhorn certification path.

I am still working on wrapping my head around the differences between MCSA, MCSE, MSTS and MCITP.

The most interesting info I found:

There will be three Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) credentials for Windows Server "Longhorn," each earned with one exam, to demonstrate your configuration skills in specific areas:

MCTS: Windows Server "Longhorn" Active Directory Configuration
MCTS: Windows Server "Longhorn" Networking Infrastructure Configuration
MCTS: Windows Server "Longhorn" Application Platform Configuration

There will be two Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) credentials, which will require two or three MCTS pre-requisites:

MCITP: Server Administrator (three or four exams total)
MCITP: Enterprise Administrator (five exams total)

Thanks to a coworker that has been watching his MCP transcripts like a hawk, I decided to check mine tonight.
Good news!

237 Pro: Designing Messaging Solutions with Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 Mar 14, 2007

I passed!
He passed too!

In January, I took 70-236 and passed.
In March, I took 70-237 and passed.
In April, I took 70-238 and do not know the results yet.

I will probably come back and edit this entry when I know the results, so this is pretty much a placeholder.

I am however going to call Prometric about 70-238 because the computer I took the test on lagged so much that it hampered my ability to get through the whole exam. At one point, it crashed for 5 minutes and the clock was ticking. Unfair. As a result, I didn't get a chance to review any of the questions I had marked and the last 4 questions went unanswered. Those 4 might be the difference between passing and failing.

One final note: Even though the websites for 70-237 and 70-238 say, as of 04-26-07, that passing either 70-237 or 70-238 will award you the MCITP: Exchange 2007 certification, this is false. You need to pass all three exams to earn MCITP: Exchange 2007.

Windows Server 2003-certified professionals will have the most efficient path to the Microsoft Windows Server Code Name "Longhorn" operating system when certifications become available.

Complete your Windows Server 2003 credential by June 30, 2007, and get a head start with a 40 percent exam savings voucher.

If you are already MCSE 2003 certified or if you plan on completing by June 30th, you still have to visit the website and sign up for the voucher before June 30th.

A lot of the MS certification tests lately have seemed to 'ignore' MCSE and MCSA tracks. Trust me, the new certification tests are coming.

Read more about it here.

I spent last week in Redmond on a very cool project that I'll talk about later when I can, if I can, at some point.

Keep checking here from time to time.

You might see a familiar face on there sometime soon, assuming you know what I look like.

Read more here about the deal.

Basically, buy and use exam insurance, get a year subscription to TechNet Plus Direct, which retails for about $349. It is a steal if you are taking a Microsoft certification test soon.

I took the beta exam for Exchange 2007 (70-236) back in January in the middle of a very hectic schedule. I had to mainly rely on my experience of running the earlier builds at home and hoping for the best because my study time mainly consisted of small pockets of time to go over the RTM code and documentation.

I can now add this to my roster:
Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: TS: Exchange 2007, Configuring



I'm very excited about Exchange 2007, but not as excited as I am about the upcoming Office Communications Server.