5/15/2002 --

The Windows.NET exams for the MCSA and MCSE titles are slated to be released sometime in spring 2003, according to Judith Morel, Strategic Certifications Programs, Training and Certification group at Microsoft.

Morel said the Spring release will give exam item writers time to test Windows.NET Server in a real-world environment. "We absolutely rely on real-world experience for our [exam question] item writers," says Morel. "It's critical that they have their hands on a released version of the product."

Unlike typical exam launches of years past, which typically followed a software's release by about 45 days, the delay could be more than two months. The latest estimated release date for Windows.NET Server is fourth quarter 2002 (see "Windows .NET Server Delays Complicate Longhorn Schedule," by Scott Bekker, ENTMag.com). - M.D. and B.N.