Hello everybody!

This is really a nice article, very well written and I am really, really sorry about the info I will bring below:

Microsoft is changing all the SQL Server certifications: the MCTS and MCITP are going to disappear very soon.

The new certification, more or less corresponding to MCITP will be called MCSE (with a new meaning of "Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert"). For those who already earn the MCTIP Business Intelligence 2008 certification, it will take not less than 3 (three!) transition exams to get a MCSE Business Intelligence 2012! The others will have a 3 exams MCSA path, plus two exams to become MCSE. These exams will be available starting from June to August 2012.

Please check these useful links to get more info on this:

Brentozar blog article "Breaking News: Changes to Microsoft SQL Server Certifications[/url]"

Microsoft Business Intelligence MCSE 2012 page

So, again, I apologize for giving news that might be interpreted as if I wanted to say that Mike's article is of no use: sure this is not what I think, I only wanted to warn those that are going to study for a certification that there is more to know and that the path will be different.