10/25/2006 -- You knew it was coming: A new exam for Windows Vista has appeared on the Pearson Vue site. The information seems preliminary for now, as there is no listed date for beta availability, which is a good indication that the exam still percolates in development at the Redmond campus. (Microsoft makes no comments on exams in development.)

Here's what information we can glean so far: The exam will be entitled "70-620 TS: Windows Vista Configuring." Confirmation of the name can be found elsewhere, in the form of a book already in the works at Sybex, MCTS: Windows Vista Client Configuration Study Guide: Exam 70-620, by James Chellis (ISBN, 0470108819, MSRP $49.99). (Availability of the book is expected in February 2007, but it's already listed on several retail sites, including Amazon.com and Bookpool.com.) Based on earlier interviews with Microsoft's Learning Group, the exam price will likely remain at $125 here in the U.S.

It's expected that Microsoft will make any formal announcements regarding Windows Vista-based MCTS and MCITP certifications when Windows Vista makes its official debut. Vista is expected to be released to manufacturing in several weeks.

For more on Windows Vista, see the News links on Redmond magazine's Windows Client portal page.

To view the listing for Exam 70-620, you'll need to log in to the Pearson Vue testing site.