Microsoft Certification Ebook

1.       Which Microsoft certification to choose?

MCSD certification exams will be abolished on March 31, 2009. That means MCSD will gradually disappeared, and the new MCPD will take its place. So, make the decision of MCPD first.

 

Required exams for MCPD: Windows Developer (one exam plus MCTS prerequisite)	Classroom training	Microsoft E-Learning	Microsoft Press books
Exam 70–548: PRO: Designing and Developing Windows Applications by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework	There is no classroom training currently available.	There is no Microsoft E-Learning training currently available.	MCPD Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-548): Designing and Developing Windows-Based Applications Using the Microsoft .NET Framework CLR via C#, second edition Debugging Microsoft .NET 2.0 Applications

MCTS

The Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS)

MCTS certification focuses on the identification of a particular Microsoft product or technology. One MCTS certification needs at least one exam. It tests the basic application of computer. Microsoft suggests that the candidates have relevant experience of software using and application.

 

MCPD

MCPD（Microsoft Certified Professional Developer）can be divided into 2005 and 2008 two series, separately testing VS2005&.NET Framework 2.0 and VS2008&.NET Framework 3.5. Each series has three different directions:

•	MCPD: Windows Developer
•	MCPD: Web Developer
•	MCPD: Enterprise Applications Developer

 Now I’m mainly doing Windows Developer. If MCPD: web Developer is not suitable, you can choose MCPD: Windows Developer or MCPD: Enterprise Applications Developer.

The Microsoft Certified Professional Developer: Windows Developer (MCPD: Windows Developer) certification demonstrates that you have the comprehensive skills required to build rich client applications that target the Windows Forms platform, using the Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0.

 

MSPD needs three exams, two of which are especial exams for MCTS, and the rest is PRO exam. Illustrated as the following table:

 

Examination Course Information for MCPD: Windows Developer:

(http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/mcpd/windev/default.mspx)

 

Required exams for MCTS: .NET Framework 2.0 Windows Applications (two exams required)	Classroom training	Microsoft E-Learning	Microsoft Press books
Exam 70–536: TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 – Application Development Foundation	There is no classroom training currently available.	Collection 2956 is offered as two collections: Collection 5160: Core Development with the Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 Foundation (16-hour series) Collection 5161: Advanced Development with the Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 Foundation (16-hour series)	MCTS Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-536): Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 – Application Development Foundation Programming Microsoft Visual C# 2005: The Language Programming Microsoft Visual Basic 2005: The Language
Exam 70–526: TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 – Windows-Based Client Development	Workshop 2546: Core Windows Forms Technologies with Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 (three days) Workshop 2547: Advanced Windows Forms Technologies with Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 (two days) Workshop 2541: Core Data Access with Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 (three days) Workshop 2542: Advanced Data Access with Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 (two days)	Collection 2546: Core Windows Client Development with Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 (18-hour series) Collection 2547: Advanced Windows Client Development with Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 (12-hour series) Collection 2541: Core Data Access Development with Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 (18-hour series) Collection 2542: Advanced Data Access Development with Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 (12-hour series)	MCTS Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-526): Microsoft .Net Framework 2.0 Windows-Based Client Development Programming Microsoft Visual C# 2005: The Language Programming Microsoft Visual Basic 2005: The Language Programming Microsoft ADO.NET 2.0 Core Reference

The Microsoft Certified Professional Developer: Enterprise Applications Developer (MCPD: Enterprise Applications Developer) certification demonstrates that you have the comprehensive skills required to build n-tier solutions that target both Web and client user experiences.

 

This direction is the highest lever of MCPD. After taking MCPD: Windows Developer, you can upgrade it into MCPD: Enterprise Applications Developer.

 

Exam courses and information lists:

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/mcpd/entapp/default.mspx

 

MCA：

MCA is the most senior Microsoft Certified, Certified Architect. The MCA program has two certification tracks：

MCA Technology certification (platform-based)

The Technology Architect tracks are for architects who specialize in using Microsoft technology to provide expert solutions. Microsoft offers MCA Technology certification for Microsoft Exchange Server 2007, Microsoft SQL Server 2008, and Windows Server 2008: Directory. MCA Technology certifications for Microsoft Office Communication Server 2007 and Office SharePoint Server 2007 are coming soon.

You must have a current Microsoft Certified Master credential in order to be a candidate for MCA Technology certification.

Learn about the Microsoft Certified Master credential

Learn more about the MCA Technology track offerings

Meet Technology Architects

 MCA programs for broad architecture skills (technology agnostic)

Microsoft offers architect certifications that recognize infrastructure and solutions excellence. Certifications for broad architecture skills include MCA: Infrastructure and MCA: Solutions. These certifications are for industry experts who have broad technology and architecture skills that utilize a variety of Microsoft and third-party technologies to deliver customer solutions. To earn certification, you must pass a rigorous Review Board interview conducted by a panel of Microsoft experts and MCAs.

Learn more about MCA: Infrastructure certifications

Learn more about MCA: Solutions certifications

Meet MCAs in infrastructure and solutions

 The most suitable certification for me is MCA programs for broad architecture skills. This exam doesn’t need any exam, but a series of interviewing from Microsoft experts and MCASs.

 

1.       What Preparation You Should Take for This Certification?

1)      Money: each for $50, three for $150.

2)      Time: anytime. You can follow your own schedule, preparing the exam for one year.

3)      Others: materials, all the reference books appointed by Microsoft mentioned above, materials in the internet, and the accumulation of your programming before.

4)      Certificate is valid: the period for the products’ mainstream service. VS2005 MCPD certification is available until about April, 2011. At that time, you can upgrade into VS2008 MCPD by taking relevant exams.

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