Event Title: 5W/50 Series – New Generation Certifications: Program Overview & Certification Resources Available for the SBSC Community
Date: Monday April 20, 2009
Time: 12:00 PM Eastern (GMT –5)
Duration: 1 hour
Presenters: Deborah Vosler (Microsoft) & Mark Crall (Tech Care Team, Inc.)
Cost: Free
Registration: Click here (Microsoft Partners Only)

Description:
Learn why Microsoft developed the New Generation of Certification, as well as what certification exams and resources are currently available for Microsoft partners, including the SBSC community. Find out more about the value of certification, including how it can benefit your business.

(Personal Note: I’m interested to hear the fate of the 70-282 and the SBSC program.)

Source: Mark Crall’s blog

I got this information from Tina Parkhouse on the TS2 team today and I’m passing it along to everyone.  You are invited to participate in the Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist promotion to become a Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS). The first 250 partners that are ready to take a Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) exam will receive a free Exam voucher good for one free exam and a retake.  Exam vouchers expire on June 29, 2007.  

Next steps to follow if you are ready to take the MCTS exam:  

• Send a mail to uspr@asentus.net with your Partner ID and along with this code TS2LOU to receive your Exam Promotion code.  

• Discounted instructor-led training is also available for partners that need training prior to taking a certification exam through www.msreadiness.com/partnerskillsplus.  

• Exams and classes are available everywhere in the U.S and must be taken by June 30^th  

• Once you pass your exam, send a copy of the exam to uspr@asentus.net and you will receive a polo shirt (one shirt per partner org)

If you are not quite ready to take the exam and need additional training, follow these steps:  

• Go to: www.msreadiness.com/partnerskillsplus for a list of  discounted classes available and enter promo code TS2MKT when you register for the class.   

• Once you are ready to take the exam, just follow the steps above.    

What are the current certifications available?
The Technology Specialist certifications enable professionals to target specific technologies and to distinguish themselves by demonstrating in-depth knowledge and expertise in their specialized technologies. Microsoft Technology Specialists are consistently capable of implementing, building, troubleshooting, and debugging a particular Microsoft technology.
There are currently 17 Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) certifications. More will become available as new technologies are introduced.  The 17 MCTS certifications are as follows:

• Technology Specialist: .NET Framework 2.0 Web Applications   

• Technology Specialist: .NET Framework 2.0 Windows Applications   

• Technology Specialist: .NET Framework 2.0 Distributed Applications   

• Technology Specialist: SQL Server 2005   

• Technology Specialist: SQL Server 2005 Business Intelligence   

• Technology Specialist: BizTalk Server 2006  

• Technology Specialist: Microsoft Office Live Communications Server 2005   

• Technology Specialist: Microsoft Exchange Server 2007, Configuration   

• Technology Specialist: Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007, Configuration  

• Technology Specialist: Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007, Application Development  

• Technology Specialist: Windows Mobile 5.0, Applications  

• Technology Specialist: Windows Mobile 5.0, Implementing and Managing  

• Technology Specialist: Windows Server 2003 Hosted Environments, Configuration, and Management  

• Technology Specialist: Windows SharePoint Services 3.0, Application Development  

• Technology Specialist: Windows SharePoint Services 3.0, Configuration  

• Technology Specialist: Windows Vista and 2007 Microsoft Office System Desktops, Deploying and Maintaining  

• Technology Specialist: Windows Vista, Configuration  

I hope you are able to take advantage of this promotion!