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Testing Centers: Busy Holidays Due to 70-240 Win2K Accelerated Exam Discontinuation
Customers cite problems, but testing centers say they're prepared.
Is the discontinuation of a key exam for the MCSE on Windows 2000 title enough to bring testing centers to their knees? Some customers have complained that availability of the Exam 70-240, Windows 2000 Accelerated, has been scarce. One candidate in upstate New York, who wished to remain anonymous, says he "contacted all the testing centers within a six-hour drive... There are no seats."
"Demand is heavy, but we're able to keep up," says Katy Victor, marketing communications director at VUE. "We anticipated it." Darcel Kimble, executive director of corporate communications at Prometric also says that demand has risen, but said it's an expected phenomena for any exam, even outside the IT arena.
To help 70-240 test candidates in their search for seats, VUE offers a search landing page at http://www.vue.com/ms/increase_alert.html. The page lists possible seat openings and testing centers that will have extended hours over the holidays.
Remember that candidate in upstate New York? He tried it and located a testing center within a three-hour drive that able to accommodate him.
In a related note, one candidate claimed to have been able to schedule the 70-240 exam for a February 2002 date with the assistance of a testing center representative, and asked MCPmag.com to investigate whether this was a sign that Microsoft might actually be extending the exam discontinuation date. A call to the testing center confirmed that the booking should have been impossible and was likely "a mistake."
Nonetheless, in our due diligence, we called the Microsoft Training and Services number at 800-636-7544 to confirm that the exam would meet its original discontinuation date. Looks like Microsoft is keeping its promise on this one.
About the Author
Michael Domingo has held several positions at 1105 Media, and is currently the editor in chief of Visual Studio Magazine.