SharePoint 2010 Certifications

I recently attended the SharePoint Conference 2009 in Las Vegas. There I picked up a flyer with information on certification opportunities on the next generation of SharePoint; SharePoint 2010.

While still waiting for Beta 2 (public beta) to be released, I would like to share with you what information I have gathered so far on these new certifications:

IT Professional track

There are now two brand new certifications for IT Professionals. These are:Before taking the 70-668, you need to pass the 70-667.

• 70-667 TS: Microsoft SharePoint 2010, Configuring
  Microsoft Official Curriculum: Will cover configuration of SharePoint 2010 including deployment, upgrade, management, and operation on a server farm.
  

• 70-668 PRO: SharePoint 2010, Administrator
  Microsoft Official Curriculum: Will cover advanced SharePoint 2010 topics including capacity planning, topology designing, and performance tuning.
  

When these two exams are passed, you are given the title SharePoint 2010 MCITP (Microsoft Certified IT Professional).

Developer track

As for IT Professionals, there are two new certifications for Developers as well. These are:

• 70-573 TS: Microsoft SharePoint 2010, Application Development
  Microsoft Official Curriculum: Five-day instructor-led course designed for developers with six months or more of .NET development experience. Course covers what you need to know to be an effective member of a SharePoint development team using Visual Studio 2010.
  
• 70-576 PRO: Designing and Developing Microsoft SharePoint 2010 Applications
  Microsoft Official Curriculum: Five-day instructor-led training course designed for development team leads who have already passed the Developing on SharePoint 2010 technical specialist exam. The course covers choosing technologies for and scoping a SharePoint project, best practices for SharePoint development, configuring a SharePoint development
  

Before taking the 70-576, you need to pass the 70-573. When these two exams are passed, you are given the title SharePoint 2010 MCPD (Microsoft Certified Professional Developer).

Master track

As today, the Master (MCM) track will be available. To go for the SharePoint MCM title, you can proceed in one of the two following paths:

1. Pass all four SharePoint 2007 exams (70-541, 70-542, 70-630 and 70-631), and also fulfill the experience requirements mentioned here.
2. Complete both the tracks mentioned above, passing the SharePoint 2010 MCITP and SharePoint 2010 MCPD.

In both cases, you will the be invited to apply, attend and successfully complete a three week training program, pass three computer-based tests during the training, and successfully complete the final qualification lab exam (taken from MS Master program description).

All SharePoint 2010 exams and certifications will be available in June 2010.
For more information on SharePoint 2010 exams and certifications, and how you can get ready for SharePoint 2010, please visit this page on the MS Partner site.