2/16/2005 -- Microsoft recently began offering Exam 70-270, Installing, Configuring, and Administering Windows XP Professional, in a special promotion in which two candidates can take the exam for the price of one exam. The 2-for-1 exam offer is available only at Prometric centers worldwide.

According to information on the MCP Web site, a candidate only needs to register for exam 70-270 at a Prometric center before May 31. Registration then triggers an e-mail with a promotional code that the candidate can pass on a second candidate. When the first candidate actually takes the exam, he gets another e-mail containing an e-voucher for the same exam, which can be forwarded to the second candidate.

The first candidate must take the exam by June 30; the second candidate must use the e-voucher for exam 70-270 only, and must redeem it before Nov. 30.

Exam 70-270 is one of several core exam options for the MCSA and MCSE credentials.

To read more about the offer, go here and click on the "Get 2-for-1 MCP Exams" link. For more information on exam 70-270, go here.

The company is also offering other exam-related promotions for MCSA and MCDST candidates.

IT professionals can receive a year’s access to a Microsoft eReference library of nine reference books when they register for the offer and earn the MCSA for Windows Server System 2003 certification. This offer ends May 31. For more information, go here.

For help desk professionals specializing in troubleshooting Windows desktop operating systems, Microsoft is running three promotional offers to help them get ready to take the MCDST exams, including:

• A free online exam prep clinic (#2263) from Microsoft, which covers the main points of the MCDST exams, #70-271 and #70-272.
• Free practice tests from MeasureUp (available only to those who register for either or both MCDST exams by May 31).
• A free diagnostic tool for testing knowledge and competency level against the objectives of the MCDST exams, also courtesy of MeasureUp.

For more information on these offers, go here. -Mike Domingo, courtesy of MCPMag.com, with additional reporting by Dan Hong