Everything you need to know about Microsoft beta exams: invites, pricing, and availability

Curious to know how the beta exam process works behind the scenes at Microsoft? Eager to get your hands on a free invite code to a pre-released exam? Liberty Munson has posted a two-part series over in Born To Learn that’s titled Everything You Wanted to Know about Beta Exams: Part 1 (Beta Invites) and Everything You Wanted to Know about Beta Exams: Part 2 (Beta Availability).

Although I recommend you read both posts, the take-away points are:

Free seats are still available, but very limited.
Your best shot at a free seat is to keep your SME (subject matter expert) profile current with Microsoft.
Paid (not free) beta exams are available to anyone.
Paid (not free) beta exams will now stay in the market until the final exam is live.

This last point is a substantial policy change on the beta front, as these exams were typically only available for a few weeks before vanishing in a puff of psychometric smoke. With the extended availability of beta tests, anyone who needs to prove competency in a brand-new technology will be able to do so without having to wait for the final exam to come to market.