SQL Server 2012 Certifications

I just saw where the SQL Server 2012 certification tracks are announced (listed at the bottom of the page). I was having trouble making the seven exams line up to three tracks before and now I understand why. There are only two tracks. They are: 

Data Platform (this is related to an administrator)

• 70-461 Querying Microsoft SQL Server 2012
• 70-462 Administering Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Databases
• 70-463 Implementing a Data Warehouse with Microsoft SQL Server 2012
• 70-464 Developing Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Databases
• 70-465 Designing Database Solutions for SQL Server 2012

Business Intelligence (this is related to a developer)

• 70-461 Querying Microsoft SQL Server 2012
• 70-462 Administering Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Databases
• 70-463 Implementing a Data Warehouse with Microsoft SQL Server 2012
• 70-466 Implementing Data Models and Reports with Microsoft SQL Server 2012
• 70-467 Designing Business Intelligence Solutions with Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Platform

Each track requires a candidate to take and pass a total of five exams. The first three exams are the same for both tracks, but the last two are different. Also, it looks like they are abandoning the MCITP name for the SQL 2012 certifications and just calling them Professional-level certifications.

I'm really wondering how popular these tracks will be. Five exams for either of the certifications sounds quite challenging, and in my experience, the database certifications aren't valued as highly as the network certifications (such as the server MCITP certifications).

On the administration side, an administrator pursues and completes a server track, and then may also specialize with database servers. In contrast, SQL Server 2008 has these three tracks:

MCITP: Database Administrator 2008

• Exam 70-432: TS: Microsoft SQL Server 2008, Installation and Maintenance
• Exam 70-450: PRO: Designing, Optimizing and Maintaining a Database Server Infrastructure using Microsoft SQL Server 2008

MCITP: Database Developer 2008

• Exam 70-433: TS: Microsoft SQL Server 2008, Database Development
• Exam 70-451: PRO: Designing Database Solutions and Data Access Using Microsoft SQL Server 2008

MCITP: Business Intelligence Developer 2008

• Exam 70-448: TS: Microsoft SQL Server 2008, Business Intelligence Development and Maintenance
• Exam 70-452: PRO: Designing a Business Intelligence Infrastructure Using Microsoft SQL Server 2008