5/21/2003 -- Microsoft's certification group has announced simultaneous beta test dates for two new core exams on the MCSA/MCSE for Windows Server 2003 tracks.

Exams 70-290: Managing and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Environment and 70-291: Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure will both be beta tested June 4 through 15. The exams will be numbered 71-290 and 71-290, respectively.

Passing both 70-290 and 70-291 exams satisfies the Core: Network Systems portion of the MCSA on Windows Server 2003 track, and two of the four required for the Core: Network Systems portion of the MCSE on Windows Server 2003.

Microsoft Beta exams are free but typically only offered to qualified subscribers of Microsoft's MCP Newsflash; to find out how to become a beta tester, go here.

For more information on Microsoft certificaitons and exams, click here. - Michael Domingo (MCPMag.com)