Microsoft Vista Certification News:

Microsoft Announces Vista Exam Titles

By Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933

Microsoft recently announced the first two exams in the upcoming Vista certification series. Just as CompTIA recently revamped the A+ certification track to reflect specific job roles, Microsoft appears to be doing the same. Microsoft has announced these exams will come out in "early 2007", but no more specific dates have been given.

The two announced certifications are MCIPT (Microsoft Certified IT Professional) and MCTS (Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist). The MCIPT will offer two choices, "Enterprise Support Technician" and "Consumer Support Technician". The names of those certifications indicate a WAN emphasis on the former and a LAN emphasis on the latter, but we'll have to wait and see!

When Microsoft made the move from NT 4.0 to Server 2000, some in the certification community thought Microsoft eliminated the NT MCSE too soon. In an attempt to avoid that uproar this time around, Microsoft's website says "although progressive organizations will adopt Windows Vista immediately, Windows XP will continue to be a driving force in IT for years to come".

That may be true, but none of us can stick out heads in the sand in this business. You've got to plan for the future today, and that future should definitely include Microsoft Vista certification!

To your success,

Chris Bryant

CCIE #12933

chris@thebryantadvantage.com