5/3/2006 -- Last week, Microsof released two more of its next-generation MCP exams.

The first one, Exam 70-442 PRO: Designing and Optimizing Data Access by Using SQL Server 2005, launched April 27. The exam is one of three exams that count toward the Microsoft Certified IT Professional: Database Developer title. (The other exams, 70-441 PRO: Designing Database Solutions by Using SQL Server 2005 and 70-431 TS: SQL Server 2005-Implementation and Maintenance, were released back in January.)

Microsoft recommends that candidates for this exam have at least "three or more years dedicated to database work, which may include writing Transact-SQL queries, designing and implementing programming objects, optimizing databases, designing databases at both the conceptual and logical levels," according to the exam objective guide located here.

The second exam, 70-526 TS: .NET Framework 2.0 - Windows-based Client Development, debuted on Friday, April 28. Those who pass this exam are halfway to fulfilling the requirements for a Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) credential (the other being 70-536 TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 - Application Development Foundation, which was released March 1), and can be used to count toward the MCPD: Windows Developer title.

According to the exam objective guide, candidates should have at least a year's extensive experience working with Visual Studio .NET in a medium or large development team, primarily doing Windows programming. To view the exam objectives for 70-526, go here

Exams are available worldwide at Prometric and Pearson Vue testing centers for $125 each. -Michael Domingo