News
Project Management Exam Heads to Beta
Microsoft's exam for project management experts faces scrutiny of beta testers December 19 to January 9.
Microsoft Corp. plans to release Exam 70-281, Planning, Deploying and Managing an Enterprise Project Management Solution, to beta testers this Friday, December 19; the beta period ends three weeks later, on January 9. This, according to the availability of the exam on VUE, one of the official testing centers that will deliver it. While in beta the exam will be numbered 71-281 and will be free to qualified candidates who receive and invitation from the company. Microsoft quietly announced this exam on its Web site on October 8; Microsoft typically doesn't comment on exams in development.
Exam 70-281, according to the exam objectives guide (click here to view), counts as an elective toward the MCSE on Windows Server 2003. The company recommends that candidates who plan to take it have at least three years of experience and be "familiar with basic project management concepts and the Microsoft Enterprise Implementation Framework." Specifically, the objective guide suggests that many items will focus primarily on knowledge of Microsoft Project Server 2003.
Microsoft lists one training course for preparing for this exam: Course 2732: Planning, Deploying, and Managing an Enterprise Project Management Solution, a five-day, instructor-led course that is available at Microsoft CTECs worldwide.
For more details on this exam, also see "Microsoft Exam Targets Project Managers" in the News archive. For details on becoming a beta tester, go to the MCP Beta exam page for details.
About the Author
Michael Domingo has held several positions at 1105 Media, and is currently the editor in chief of Visual Studio Magazine.