Tag Archives: Certification

Took one more beta exam (71-445) today

Today, I took one more beta exam and this time it was from Microsoft. The exam I took was 71-445 (Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Business Intelligence – Implementation and Maintenance), one of the two beta exams on SQL Server 2005 provided by Microsoft.

When compared with my other exam that I took early this week, this one was quite easy. Totally there were 70 questions and the time given was 210 minutes. Since it is a beta exam I will be getting my results only after 6-8 weeks.

So is there any one else who is sharing a similar story? 😉

Posted in Certifications | Tagged , | 8 Comments

Two new Beta exams from Microsoft

Good news for those who are planning for Microsoft SQL Server certification. Microsoft is introducing two new beta exams for SQL Server 2005.

  • Exam 71-445: TS: Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Business Intelligence – Implementation and Maintenance
  • Exam 71-446: PRO: Designing a Business Intelligence Infrastructure by Using Microsoft SQL Server 2005

For the first exam 71-445 the last date is December 19, 2006 and for the second exam 71-446 the last date is January 3, 2007.

As always these beta exams are completely free and if you clear them you will get the certificates.

Normally Microsoft beta exams are not available in India, but it seems that these two exams are available in India also. Contact your nearest prometric center and register for them as soon as possible because only a few seats are available.

All the best guys.

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FREE SCBCD 5.0 Beta Certification Exam from Sun

Sun Microsystems is introducing a new beta exam called Sun Certified Business Component Developer (SCBCD) 5.0 exam.

It is a beta exam which means you need not pay anything for it and is totally free. The only requirement to receive the Welcome Kit is that you should have already cleared the Sun Certified Programmer exam (any edition).

SCBCD is for developers who are responsible for designing and implementing applications using Enterprise JavaBeans 3.0. If you are one then don’t hesitate and the registration begins from November 24th. More details about the exam can be got from Sun’s training site. The objectives of SCBCD exam can be found in the Exam Objectives page.

Important dates to remember

Beta Dates: December 8, 2006 – January 2, 2007
Registration Start Date: November 24, 2006

Since I have already completed SCJP, I am going to take this exam. Any one else interested? 😉

Update: If you are looking for some study material then check out the SCBCD study material by Mikalai. Thanks Mikalai.

Posted in Certifications | Tagged , , , | 16 Comments

Al last I became a SCJP

Finally I cleared my SCJP exam after a year of procrastination.

I decided to do SCJP almost a year back and planned to take up the exam for more than two times but thanks to my laziness I kept postponing it until last Tuesday.

I will try to scan the report card and post it here if I connect my scanner to my system again 🙂

Posted in Certifications | Tagged , | 7 Comments

Second Chance to Pass Your Microsoft Certification Exam

Microsoft is offering a free second shot for Microsoft IT Professional, Developer, or Microsoft Dynamics (formerly Microsoft Business Solutions) Certification exam.

You just need to register in the registration page before your first exam, and you’ll get two chances to pass. The last date is June 30, 2006.

More information at the Microsoft second shot offer page.

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Learn J2EE programming with passion

Found this from SitePoint

Ready to get serious about learning Java Web application and enterprise application development? I can’t say I blame you those skills will net a pretty penny in the current job market. That’s why J2EE Programming (with Passion!), a free online class offered by Sun Microsystems employee Sang Shin in his spare time, is such an amazing opportunity.

Offered by means of a Yahoo! Groups discussion list, the class runs for about the length of a university semester. Once you subscribe, you’re responsible for reviewing the weekly pre-class reading material, reading the classroom slides with accompanying notes, and completing the assigned coursework and final project by the assigned dates. It’s just like taking a university class only you don’t have to show up at lectures oh, and did I mention it’s free?

If you’ve been awaiting an opportunity to learn J2EE in a structured way without shelling out a bunch of money on books and classes, this might just be the ticket. Sang Shin also offers a few other online classes, an advanced J2EE class among them.

The next session is starting today (26-Sep-2005) and I have registered for it. How about you?

Posted in Web Programming | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

New MCP exam 70-089 for MCSE

Microsoft is releasing a new MCP exam for Systems Management Server 2003. The exam name is Planning, Deploying, and Managing Microsoft Systems Management Server 2003 and the exam no is (70-089).

The objective guide for this exam shows that Microsoft has designed two courses for this exam. They are

  • 2596: Managing Microsoft Systems Management Server 2003
  • 2597: Planning and Deploying Microsoft Systems Management Server 2003

70-089 will fulfill an elective requirement for the MCSE on Windows 2003 title. It will also count toward Technology Specialist fulfillment under the “new-generation” MCP program.

Currently the exam is in beta and the beta ends on Aug – 22. Exam 70-089 is an update to the older 70-086, Systems Management Server 2.0. Those who passed that exam do not need to recertify, as certifications never retire.

Since I am not into the MCSE track, I am not going to take it and so can guys into MCSE throw some light about this exam and also about Systems Management Server?

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MCP Program takes new path

Microsoft is changing its certification pattern with the release of the next version of Visual Studio. NET and SQL Server. They are introducing a new framework for certification that will pair up a credential with a skill-identifying certification based on a tiered approach consisting of three credentials:

  • Tier 1: Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist
  • Tier 2: Microsoft Certified IT Professional or Professional Developer
  • Tier 3: Microsoft Certified Architect

Out of which the last exam Microsoft Certified Architect is supposed to be very rigorous, board-level certification. Microsoft released information about this exam somewhere in last April.

The following is the update path for the current exams

MCDBA + 2 exams – Microsoft Certified IT Professional

MCSD + 2 exams – Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (Enterprise Application Developer)

MCAD + 1 exam – Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (either Windows or Web Developer)

Microsoft is yet to give information regarding MCSE and MCSA. But those people who have already taken the current titles (MCP/MCSE/MCSA/MCDBA/MCAD/MCSD) will still have their certifications intact.

My current plan is to take that one exam for Web Developer and upgrade my MCAD title to Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (Web Developer). But who knows there is lot of time to decide though 😉

So guys share with me how your upgrade path is going to be.

Posted in Certifications | Tagged , | 6 Comments

Arfa – Youngest MCAD

Till now I was quite proud that I got MCAD and even posted my certificate. But I felt very bad about it when I found that a girl named Arfa Karim Randhawa in Pakisthan has finished her MCAD at the age of 9. Ya even I didn’t believe it at first (I read it twice before believing). Here is the link.

To recognize her talents and encourage her Microsoft has invited her to its Redmond campus and also arranged for an interview with Bill Gates.

What impressed me most was how she was described.

She made an impression through a combination of charm, flattery and boldness uncommon for someone her age. For example, during Arfa’s meeting with Gates, she presented him with a poem she wrote that celebrated his life story. But she also questioned him about what she perceived to be the relatively small proportion of women on the campus.”It should be balanced — an equal amount of men and an equal amount of women,” she explained afterward.

Here are some more excerpts

Later in the afternoon, she sat outside with S. “Soma” Somasegar, a Microsoft corporate vice president, and described her vision for a self-navigating car. He listened to her ideas and told her about some of Microsoft’s existing software for cars.

To be sure, despite her question to Gates about employing people her age, Microsoft wasn’t about to offer a job to someone so young. But Somasegar talked about the possibility of an internship in a few years.

“The thing that’s exciting to me is her passion for technology at this age,” said Somasegar, who decided to invite Arfa to Redmond after reading a story about her in MicroNews, an internal company newsletter.

I think it is a big success for Microsoft and also a real booster for both Microsoft and also the developers who use Microsoft technologies.

It looks strange how Robert Scoble missed it. Come on Scoble stop comparing Technorati and Bloglines and blog about this too. She promises to be a better evangelist than you for Microsoft 😉

Update: Some one in the comments said that this is news is a fraud. Here is the official news from Microsoft site itself.

BTW Scoble I am still waiting for your answer. Take some time to comment on this apart from comparing different blog searching engines. 😉

Posted in Certifications | Tagged , , | 14 Comments

Bought Sun Exam Voucher

Work has become hectic again and believe it or not I came to office even last Sunday too. So no time to update the blog 🙁

Sorry people for keeping you waiting.

Last week I brought the voucher from Sun Microsystem at 25% discount for my SCJP. It’s valid till July 2006. But I have put my preparation on hold due to the work pressure.

Oops my boss is calling me, will get back to you soon.

Posted in Certifications | Tagged , | 6 Comments