With the release of Hyper-V Server, Microsoft is seeing an upcoming demand for proven skills in virtualization technologies. To that end, they have announced four MCTS exams relating to the administration of Hyper-V, Hyper-V Server, and System Center Virtual Machine Manager. These four exams are:

• Windows Server 2008 Virtualization (Hyper-V) (Exam 70-652, available now)
• System Center Virtual Machine Manager (Exam 70-403, available mid-December, 2008)
• Windows Server 2008 Application Infrastructure (Exam 70-643, available now)
• Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP) (Exam 70-656, available now)

Two classroom courses and four e-learning clinics are available to assist IT pros with getting up to speed on the new technologies and preparing for these exams.

Its also worth mentioning for any admin who is focusing their career on virtualization that Microsoft anticipates the creation of an MCITP-level certification that focuses specifically on Hyper-V and its role in the environment. I'll post more information on that cred once it is announced publicly.

If you're interested in learning more about these credentails and the path to your own certification, consider attending a Live Meeting on October 15th. Register here for that presentation.