1/31/2001 -- In March, Microsoft plans to beta test its "transition techie" exam (see "New NT Exam"), a new exam that tests NT 4.0 installation, administration and management, and Win2K client upgrade skills.

The Supporting and Maintaing a Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Network exam counts as an elective credit toward the Windows 2000 MCSE.

Microsoft says the exam is intended for those maintaining existing NT 4.0 networks and that this exam's content will differ from the 70-073 NT 4.0 Workstation, 70-067 NT 4.0 Server, and 70-068 NT 4.0 Server in the Enterprise exams. "The objectives have changed," said Anne Marie McSweeney, acting director for Microsoft's Certification and Skill Assessment group. "When we wrote [those exams], it was four years ago. We learned a lot about how NT is used, and we've learned how to write different [exam] items."

McSweeney said that candidates should expect 70-244 to have a good number of scenario-based questions.

For details and exam objectives, click here.

Also note that beta exams are offered only to select candidates; for more information about this, see the Microsoft Training and Services Web site or click here -MCPMag.com