8/10/2005 -- Microsoft has has issued more than 8,000 Microsoft Certified Desktop Technician titles as of June this year -- a significant trend upward in the number of desktop technician titles, according to Al Valvano, lead product manager with Microsoft Learning.

"[MCDST] is the fastest growing credential we have right now," said Valvano. Microsoft first introduced the certification back in February 2004.

Valvano said the credential has been producing some "crazy, crazy numbers," but attributes growth to what's typical for any program in its early stages as IT hirers begin to catch on. "In some ways, it's protypical of a credential, like Visual Studio or SQL Server," he says, "It's a natural alignment of a credential to a job role: It's very clearly defined, the exam path is short, and the objective domain that it's testing on is extremely focused and narrow."

As of late June, when Valvano was interviewed at Tech Ed, the program had topped 8,154. That number is more current than what appears on the "Numbers of Microsoft Certified Professionals Worldwide" page on Microsoft's MCP site, which shows data as of June 14, 2005.

To see the chart of certifications issued per title, go to http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/certified.asp.

Side note: Valvano says that the Microsoft Learning group also experienced its biggest month ever for issuing tests, in May. He believes one contributing factor is "the conclusion of the second-shot promotions at the end of May." Valvano says that the group decided to extend the second-shot offer to August 31, based on popularity of that program. For more on the MCP exam retake, go to http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/offers/2ndshot/. -Michael Domingo, courtesy of MCPmag.com