SQL Server 2008... free shot at certification! by Gus Collazo

Hi everyone, with SQL Server 2008's launch just around the corner, Microsoft has announced 2 new certification exams:

Beta Exam 71-452: Designing a Business Intelligence Infrastructure Using Microsoft SQL Server 2008
Beta Exam 71-450: PRO: Microsoft SQL Server 2008, Designing, Optimizing, and Maintaining a Database Administrative Solution

The exams are currently in beta so Microsoft is offering them for free at the moment (while seats are available). Just visit http://www.register.prometric.com/ClientInformation.asp and sign up for one of these above tests. On the final screen where you are prompted to pay for the test, simply enter one of the promo codes below to take the test for free:

Beta Exam 71-452: Promo Code is 3568C
Beta Exam 71-450: Promo Code is 239F4

To get ready for these exams, read the study guides below

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/exams/70-450.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/exams/70-452.mspx

If you need some motivation and want to find out why you should get certified (besides the fact that it's free!), read this:

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcpexams/faq/benefits.mspx

Finally, you might be asking yourself "how the heck am I supposed to take a certification test for SQL Server 2008 when I've never even used SQL Server 2008?". Well, you're covered there too. Read my earlier blog on signing up for a free account that allows you to access a virtual machine with SQL Server 2008 installed:

http://blogs.officezealot.com/speaktech-bi/archive/2008/04/15/try-out-sql-server-2008-the-easy-way-by-gus-collazo.aspx

Happy testing everyone! :)