MCPD, MCAD and MCSD

I. Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD)

The MCPD is a more specialized certificate, and allows you to concentrate on Web Development, Windows Application Development, or business applications.

It's usually done after you've gained an MCAD. The most well-known is probably the MCSD, so we'll start with that one.

II. Microsoft Certified Solution Developer (MCSD)

This certificate is for those who want to work analyzing, designing and developing Microsoft applications and programming technologies in a business environment.

Before taking an MCSD, you should already have two years experience working as a developer.

MCSD (5 Exams) = we need to pass Four Core Exams (4CE) + One Elective Exam (1EE)

1. Core Exam One - Web Application Development

Either

Code: - Exam 70-305
Title: -Developing and Implementing Web Applications with Microsoft Visual Basic .NET and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET
Description: - This exam is test strong knowledge in development and as well as implementation knowledge in web applications
Language: - Visual Basic
Development Environment: -

Visual Studio.NET

Or

Code: - Exam 70-315
Title: - Developing and Implementing Web Applications with Microsoft Visual C# .NET and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET
Description: - This exam is test strong knowledge in development and as well as implementation knowledge in web applications
Language: - Visual C#
Development Environment: - Visual Studio.NET

2. Core Exam Two - Windows Application Development

Either

Code: - Exam 70-306
Title: - Developing and Implementing Windows-based Applications with Microsoft Visual Basic .NET and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET
Description: - This exam is test strong knowledge in development and as well as implementation knowledge in Windows-based applications
Language: - Visual Basic
Development Environment: - Visual Studio.NET

Or

Code: - Exam 70-316
Title: - Developing and Implementing Windows-based Applications with Microsoft Visual C# .NET and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET
Description: - This exam is test strong knowledge in development and as well as implementation knowledge in Windows-based applications
Language: - Visual C#
Development Environment: - Visual Studio.NET

3. Core Exam Three - Web Services and Server Components Development

Either

Code: - Exam 70-310
Title: - Developing XML Web Services and Server Components with Microsoft Visual Basic .NET and the Microsoft .NET Framework
Description: - This exam is test strong knowledge in developing XML Web Services and Server Components in Microsoft .NET Framework
Language: - Visual Basic
Development Environment: - Microsoft .NET Framework

Or

Code: - Exam 70-320
Title: - Developing XML Web Services and Server Components with Microsoft Visual C# and the Microsoft .NET Framework
Description: - This exam is test strong knowledge in developing XML Web Services and Server Components in Microsoft .NET Framework
Language: - Visual C#
Development Environment: - Microsoft .NET Framework

4. Core Exam Four - Solution Architecture

Code: - Exam 70-300
Title: - Analyzing Requirements and Defining Microsoft .NET Solution Architectures
Description: - This exam is test strong knowledge in Analyzing Requirements and Defining Microsoft .NET Solution Architectures
Development Environment: - Microsoft .NET Framework

5. Elective Exam

For the elective exam, you can choose any one of the following:
1. Designing and Implementing Databases with Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition
2. Designing and Implementing Solutions with Microsoft BizTalk Server 2000 Enterprise Edition
3. Designing and Implementing Solutions with Microsoft Commerce Server 2000
4. TS: Developing Business Process and Integration Solutions Using Microsoft Biztalk Server 2006
5. Managing, Organizing, and Delivering IT Projects by Using Microsoft Solutions Framework 3.0
6. Implementing Security for Applications with Microsoft Visual Basic .NET
7. Implementing Security for Applications with Microsoft Visual C# .NET
8. TS: Microsoft SQL Server 2005 - Implementation and Maintenance
9. Developing E-Business Solutions Using Microsoft BizTalk Server 2004

III. Microsoft Certified Application Developer (MCAD)

A software cycle consists of roughly six steps:
1. Analyze,
2. Design,
3. Develop,
4. Test,
5. Deploy, and
6. Maintain.

Note: - Main difference between MSCD and MCAD
MSCD: - The Solution Developer is expected to do all six.
MCAD: - As an Application Developer, you'll be expected to do the last four, but not the first two.

In short, the MCAD is a programmer, while the MCSD is a developer and programmer.

Microsoft Certified Application Developer (MCAD)


To gain an MCAD qualification, you need to pass three exams, two fewer than for a MCSD. The exams you need are two Core exams, and one Elective one.

MCAD (3 Exams) = we need to pass Two Core Exams (2CE) +One Elective Exam (1EE)

1. Core Exams: Web or Windows Application Development (Pick One)

Either

Code: - Exam 70-305
Title: -Developing and Implementing Web Applications with Microsoft Visual Basic .NET and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET
Description: - This exam is test strong knowledge in development and as well as implementation knowledge in web applications
Language: - Visual Basic
Development Environment: -

Visual Studio.NET

Or

Code: - Exam 70-306
Title: - Developing and Implementing Windows-based Applications with Microsoft Visual Basic .NET and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET
Description: - This exam is test strong knowledge in development and as well as implementation knowledge in Windows-based applications
Language: - Visual Basic
Development Environment: - Visual Studio.NET

Or

Code: - Exam 70-315
Title: - Developing and Implementing Web Applications with Microsoft Visual C# .NET and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET
Description: - This exam is test strong knowledge in development and as well as implementation knowledge in web applications
Language: - Visual C#
Development Environment: - Visual Studio.NET

Or

Code: - Exam 70-316
Title: - Developing and Implementing Windows-based Applications with Microsoft Visual C# .NET and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET
Description: - This exam is test strong knowledge in development and as well as implementation knowledge in Windows-based applications
Language: - Visual C#
Development Environment: - Visual Studio.NET+

2. Core Exams: Web Services and Server Components Development (Pick One)

Either

Code: - Exam 70-310
Title: - Developing XML Web Services and Server Components with Microsoft Visual Basic .NET and the Microsoft .NET Framework
Description: - This exam is test strong knowledge in developing XML Web Services and Server Components in Microsoft .NET Framework
Language: - Visual Basic
Development Environment: - Microsoft .NET Framework

Or

Code: - Exam 70-320
Title: - Developing XML Web Services and Server Components with Microsoft Visual C# and the Microsoft .NET Framework
Description: - This exam is test strong knowledge in developing XML Web Services and Server Components in Microsoft .NET Framework
Language: - Visual C#
Development Environment: - Microsoft .NET Framework

3. Elective exam (one required)

For the elective exam, the choices are more or less the same as for the MCSD
For the elective exam, you can choose any one of the following:
1. Designing and Implementing Databases with Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition
2. Designing and Implementing Solutions with Microsoft BizTalk Server 2000 Enterprise Edition
3. Designing and Implementing Solutions with Microsoft Commerce Server 2000
4. TS: Developing Business Process and Integration Solutions Using Microsoft Biztalk Server 2006
5. Managing, Organizing, and Delivering IT Projects by Using Microsoft Solutions Framework 3.0
6. Implementing Security for Applications with Microsoft Visual Basic .NET
7. Implementing Security for Applications with Microsoft Visual C# .NET
8. TS: Microsoft SQL Server 2005 - Implementation and Maintenance
9. Developing E-Business Solutions Using Microsoft BizTalk Server 2004