8/7/2003 -- Matthew Bertolami, Macromedia certification program manager, told CertCities.com today that the company is not developing certifications for Director, Authorware or JRun. He said that processes set up to accept applications for free beta exams relating to these programs (as reported here by CertCities.com yesterday) were done "in error" and without his knowledge.

"There are absolutely no plans currently to create certifications for those products," he said. He also said that the certifications were not even under discussion.

As to why the Donath Group, the company that manages Macromedia's beta exam program, would ask for applicants for beta exams for certifications that aren't even being discussed, he said, "I think the intent was to collect names...in case Macromedia decided it wanted to pursue" the certifications in the future.

Bertolami stressed that the Donath Group was not at fault for the error. "Macromedia has worked with the Donath Group since the inception of the certification program, and it deserves a lot of the credit for the success that the program has experienced thus far," he said. "They have always put 120 percent into their work with Macromedia and consistently go beyond the call of duty."

The application process for the Director, Authorware and JRun "betas" were pulled from the Web site at 11:29 PDT this morning.

Bertolami also shared with CertCities.com some details about the upcoming Flash MX Developer, Dreamweaver MX Developer, Flash MX Designer and Cold Fusion MX betas also listed on the site, all of which are being conducted, he said.

Two of the betas will begin August 25: Flash MX Developer and Dreamweaver MX. Those accepted for the betas will take the tests online and receive a voucher for a 40 percent discount when the exams go live. Passing the betas do not count toward certification.

These two exams will debut at Macromedia Max in November. New objectives for these exams will be published on Macromedia's Web site "in the near future," Bertolami said.

The other two betas the program is currently accepting applications for, Flash MX Designer and Cold Fusion MX, will debut sometime in the next few quarters.

Those interested in participating in the Flash MX Developer, Dreamweaver MX Developer, Flash MX Designer and Cold Fusion MX betas can apply here. More information on Macromedia's certification program can be found here. -Becky Nagel