MCPD (Long rant and several questions)

[capsulecorpjx]

God I spent an hour trying to untangle the mess that are the new MCPD/MCTS certification tests (replacing the retired MCSD).

Is it worth going straight for Framework 3.5 and Visual Studio 8.0?

I have doubts about Windows Client Apps in Framework 3.5, as most Windows PC's don't have anything above Framework 2.0.

Why hasn't Microsoft pushed out Framework 3.5 yet as a required update for all XP+ OS?

How come Framework 2.0 co-exists with Framework 3.5 as a seperate installation instead of being replaced by it? This seems like a huge mess.

Anyway, I've mapped out what I need for Client side and ASP.net certifications, tell me what you guys think, or if this arduous path is even worth it (or just a money drainer).

(MCTS) Needed for all:
1) Exam 70-536: TS: Microsoft .NET Framework – Application Development Foundation

MCPD: Windows Developer 3.5
(MCTS)
2) Exam 70-505: TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5, Windows Forms Application Development
(PRO)
3) Exam 70-563: PRO: Designing and Developing Windows Applications Using Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5

MCPD: ASP.NET Developer 3.5
(MCTS)
4) Exam 70-562: TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5, ASP.NET Application Development
(PRO)
5) Exam 70-564: PRO: Designing and Developing ASP.NET Applications Using Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5

MCPD: Enterprise Application Developer 3.5
6) Exam 70-561: TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5, ADO.NET Application Development
7) Exam 70-503: TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 – Windows Communication Foundation Application Development
8) (Not available yet) Exam 70-565: PRO: Designing and Developing Enterprise Applications Using Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5

[RobDog888]

Will you get any benefits from work for getting cert'd?

[gep13]

Hey,

I am currently going down the MCPD Route myself, and this is what I have decided to do.

Currently, my work does not develop any applications for .Net 3.5. Why? Mainly because our clients don't have that installed on their servers just now. So I opted to go for the MCPD in .Net 2.0, and my plan is to do the upgrade exam to 3.5 once they are available. At the minute, they are not available.

As for why there is an intermingling of .Net 2.0, 3.0 and 3.5, I really can't say, as I have never had that fully explained to me.

I have completed the first two exams, 70-536 and 70-528, and I will soon be sitting the final exam, 70-547, for the MCPD in ASP.Net.

If you have any other questions, feel free to ask, and I will try my best to answer them.

Good luck with the exams!!!

Gary

[Pino]

Gep, your based in the UK. Where did you do the exams? Also did you use a third party company?

Pino

[gep13]

Hey,

Yeah, I am based in Scotland.

I am taking the exams through a company called QA-IQ, which is a partner with Prometric, who handle all the Microsoft Exams.

I have just been studying from the Microsoft Press books, and general study in order to pass the exams, I haven't been doing any paid for courses.

Gary

[StrangerInBeijing]

Will you get any benefits from work for getting cert'd?

Seems does have it's benefits. Decision makers (the okes deciding if you get the job) do get impressed by it.

Did MCSD many years ago (VB6!) and seems to have been a factor in whether or not we got a project few weeks back. (Helps me boggerall figuring out mvc though)

[gep13]

In my case, my company is aiming to get Microsoft Gold Partner Certification, so Developer Certifications definitely help in this situation.

Gary

[RobDog888]

In my case, my company is aiming to get Microsoft Gold Partner Certification, so Developer Certifications definitely help in this situation.

Gary

Yes they have a minimum required number of MS Certified developers on staff as part of acheiving Gold partner status. Definately helpful in their eyes

[gep13]

Yip, I have been doing a lot of reading up on that just lately, and trying to get some of the other guys here to take it up as well. Actually doing a talk to them in a couple weeks, going to lay down everything in a presentation and hopefully they will get on board with it.

Gary

[StrangerInBeijing]

Another benefit is your certification is a license to use pirated ms software.
Anyone wanna sue me for my 4 dollar vista, just pull out the certificate, and "look..copied signature of mr.gates himself" (they still got that scanned signature of his on the newer certificates right?)

[gep13]

Another benefit is your certification is a license to use pirated ms software.

I can't decide if you are having a joke or not?!?

But yes, his signature still appears on the Certificates.

Gary

[StrangerInBeijing]

I can't decide if you are having a joke or not?!?

Joke... heck (btw..i got a legal vista now...seriously. .. )

[gep13]

Just checking

[StrangerInBeijing]

Question (Gary): I know I'm lazy and should check for myself (really sprinting to start with this project mate)
70-536 : No matter what MCTS you are aiming for, you got to take this one right?
Would I be correct to say it's a good starting point?

(for incase you wonder why I ask is that I've been "away" from .net a while and as following few projects over the next year or so will be all asp.net, I might just as well study for the exams...dunno, just think about it...more interested moving up from Open Water 1 to be honest)

[gep13]

Hey,

That is correct, whether you are doing ASP.Net, Windows Form or Enterprise Application, in either .Net 2.0 or 3.5, 70-536 is the base exam that has to be done.

Definitely a good starting point. It covers the fundamentals of the .Net Framework.

You don't actually get anything for passing that exam, you just get MCP status, it isn't until you do another exam that you will get an MCTS.

Gary

[StrangerInBeijing]

Thanks. Started taking a liking to you, till I noticed this :

VB Forums A useful forum for all things programming, just limited to just VB

...hmmm

[gep13]

Hey,

That was a typo on my part

Should be fixed now. Sorry about that!! Was basically trying to say that vbforums covered multiple languages, not just VB.

Gary

[StrangerInBeijing]

ok. you back on my "can i sleep with your brains" mailing list.

[dilettante]

I see Spring is in the air.

[Christopher_Arm]

A follow up question to what was asked in this thread is I am studying for the MCP pre-requisite for this exam exactly which one would be recommended to take first ?

[gep13]

Hey,

I am not sure that I fully understand the question?!?

If you are going for the MCPD, regardless of which route you take, you have to do exam 70-536 to start with.

Gary

[Christopher_Arm]

Really ? That's interesting.

Ok. I was thinking more along the lines of the MCAD - MCSD route where you had a little more of a choice in which of the prerequiste exams and elective exams you could take..it didn't have to be in any specific order necessarily except you had to complete prerequisites first and that was about it.

[gep13]

Hey,

I believe that MCAD and MCSD are now being phased out, and to be honest, I don't really know anything about them, as I have never looked into them.

All I know is, if you want to do an MCPD in either VB.Net or C# for:

1) ASP.Net
2) Windows Forms
3) Enterprise Applications

You need to start with exam 70-536.

There are options for upgrading existing exams, but again, I haven't looked into that, as I don't have any existing exams.

Gary

[capsulecorpjx]

I'm gonna start with the 70-536.

The book already got shipped to me.

Anyway, the thing is it seems that the exam and book assumes you already know Visual Basic or C# 2005.

So if you are really new, I guess I wouldn't suggest starting with this exam.

I might be able to swing it, however I'm only slightly familiar with VB.NET.

[gep13]

Hey,

Yes, there is an assumption with 70-536 that you already have some .Net experience, I seem to remember that it recommends 2 years experience. I wouldn't worry too much about that though. There are plenty of examples in the book, and there are numerous articles, walkthroughs, and labs that you can do on the Microsoft Web site, and you can always come back here and ask any questions that you have as well.

70-536 concentrates on the fundamentals of the .Net Framework, so although the examples are given in both C# and VB.Net, they are applicable to both languages, so try not to worry too much about the language and what the code is, but rather what the code is doing, the classes that are being used, the methods that are being called etc. That is what is important!!

I am actually away to go and sit my 70-547 exam today, fingers crossed I am going to do ok!!

Gary