6/10/2008 -- Microsoft has finally released some information on a new certification that has been in the works for some time, the Microsoft Certified Master certification.

The information on the new cert was announced by Jim Clark, Microsoft's senior product planner, and Per Farny, Microsoft's director of advanced training and certification, at a session during the Microsoft Tech-Ed Conference in Orlando, Fla.

The Microsoft Certified Master certification track, according to a press release, sits above the Professional series of certifications. In the works for about three years, the track has been at times unofficially called the "Series III," and there were indications that the cert would fill an apparent gap between the two current Technology and Professional tracks and the Microsoft Certified Architect series of certifications.

Much like the Architect series, the Master series will be open to a select group who can show some proof of readiness to create solutions and deploy technologies based on real-world experience. Details remain scant for the moment, but the certification will also offer higher-level training options fine-tuned for the new certification.

The Master series will first be offered for Windows Server 2008, Exchange Server 2007 and SQL Server 2008 starting some time later this year.

Microsoft has more details about the program here. Michael Domingo, courtesy of MCPmag.com