Microsoft MCSD

The Microsoft Certified Solution Developer (MCSD) certification is for individuals who analyze and design enterprise-level applications that utilize the Microsoft .NET framework. Candidates must pass four exams — three core and one elective.

MCSD: Microsoft Certified Solution Developer (.NET Track)

70-305 Developing and Implementing Web Applications with Microsoft Visual Basic .NET and Microsoft Visual Studio

70-315 Developing and Implementing Web Applications with Microsoft Visual C# and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET

70-306 Developing and Implementing Windows-based Applications with Microsoft Visual Basic .NET and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET

70-316 Developing and Implementing Windows-based Applications with Microsoft Visual C# .NET and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET

70-310 Developing XML Web Services and Server Components with Microsoft Visual Basic .NET and the Microsoft .NET Framework

70-320 Developing XML Web Services and Server Components with Microsoft Visual C# and Microsoft and the Microsoft .NET Framework

70-300 Analyzing Requirements and Defining .NET Solution Architectures

70-229 Designing and Implementing Databases with Microsoft SQL Server 2000

About the Exams

Candidates who want to become MCSD certified must take a total of four exams. For more information on the exams and requirements, visit the Microsoft Training and Certification Web Site.

Taking the Exams

Registering for an MCSD Exam

MCSD Certification exams are available through both Prometric and Virtual University Enterprises.

Prometric

(800) 755-EXAM, ext. 3926 (US and Canada only)
Contact your local Prometric Registration Center to register outside the United States and Canada.
Online registration is available for released exams (not beta exams) at Prometric's Web site www.prometric.com.

Virtual University Enterprises

Please call the registration center nearest you. To register online, visit VUE's Web site at www.vue.com/ms.

While registering, please have the following information ready:

• Unique ID number. (At Sylvan, this is usually your Social Security or Social Insurance Number. At VUE, please provide your MCP ID number, if you have one.)
• Mailing address and phone number.
• E-mail address.
• Organization or company name.
• Method of payment (credit card or check). (Payment must be made in advance. Certification exams are priced according to currency values in available countries. Beta exams are $50 U.S. in the United States and most other countries. Live exams are $100 U.S. Certification exam prices are subject to change. In some countries, additional taxes may apply. Please contact your local testing center for exact pricing.)

Exams may be scheduled from one working day before the exam date to six weeks prior to the exam. Same-day registration is available in some locations, if space is available; you must register at least 30 minutes before test time.

Microsoft requires that you accept the terms of a nondisclosure agreement before taking your certification exam. You will also need to complete a brief demographic survey before taking the exam.

Cancellations and Refunds

All cancellations must be made through the testing vendor at least one day in advance of the exam. You must then take the exam within one year of payment.

Full refunds are available any time after registration and before taking the exam. No refunds are given after you have taken the exam.

What to Bring to the Exam

You must bring two forms of identification to the exam, one of which must be a picture ID. You can bring a pencil; however, you are not allowed to bring any notes, books, or other aids to the test.You will be provided with a scratch pad that must be turned in at the end of the exam. You will also have to leave any electronic devices such as phones or pagers with the proctor of the exam.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why get MCSD certified?

There is a severe shortage of software development skills throughout the world. This shortage results in lost opportunity for businesses and limits economic growth for entire nations. Companies are eager to hire, but they cannot waste valuable resources evaluating candidates who are not sufficiently skilled. Having the MCSD certification goes a long way to remove barriers to hiring, and increases potential for promotion within the industry. This is especially true for those with less than five years of relevant experience, but it is recommend to anyone who wants to work in the Microsoft Windows software-development industry. Even if you are a seasoned programmer, preparing for the MCSD exams will help you understand your strengths and weaknesses, and help round out your skills. Additionally, you will gain the satisfaction of knowing and proving your skills to yourself and others. Other benefits include:

• One-year Microsoft Developer Network subscription
• One-year subscription to the Microsoft Beta Evaluation program
• Access to the private MCSD area of the MCP Web site
• MCSD logos and MCSD certificate
• A free subscription to Microsoft Certified Professional Magazine

Why has the certification process been updated?

The new MCSD track has been updated because software-development technologies and job roles are continually changing. If the certification requirements never changed and certifications never expired, the program would eventually become outdated. The new MCSD track certification exams test for up-to-date skills in Desktop, Web-based, distributed, and commerce-oriented application development. The exams also cover skills in using development tools, including Visual Studio, Microsoft Transaction Server, and SQL Server.

Will a passing score for a previous exam count toward the new MCSD track certification?

All current elective options for the original MCSD track are also valid for the new track. However, all exams are eventually retired when they are no longer relevant. For detailed information, click the "Exams to be Retired" link under the "Certification" heading at www.microsoft.com/trainingandservices, or just click here.

Which exams are required core exams, optional core exams, and which are elective exams?

There is one non-optional core exam: 70-100 (Analyzing Requirements and Defining Solution Architectures). Every new MCSD candidate must pass this exam and must also pass two of the four optional core exams. Two of the optional core exams are focused on Desktop application development, and the other two cover distributed application development. The Desktop exams are 70-016 (Designing and Implementing Desktop Applications with Microsoft Visual C++® 6.0) and 70-176 (Designing and Implementing Desktop Applications with Microsoft Visual Basic® 6.0). The Distributed exams are 70-015 (Designing and Implementing Distributed Applications with Microsoft Visual C++ 6.0) and 70-175 (Designing and Implementing Distributed Applications with Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0).

In the future, it is expected that Visual FoxPro and perhaps Visual J++ exams will also be offered as optional core exams. You must take two of these optional core exams, choosing one from the Desktop exams (currently 70-016 or 70-176) and one from the Distributed exams (currently 70-015 or 70-175). Finally, you must also choose one of the many elective exams. Some of these electives are also listed as optional core exams, but any exam can only be counted once toward a certification. You should always check www.microsoft.com/train_certfor the latest requirement changes and exam retirement notices.

Can I take a test as an elective and a core exam?

No. Some exams are in both categories, but if you pass such an exam, you may only apply it once toward certification. This means that the exam must be used as either an elective exam or an optional core, but not both. Note that you may use the same exam for certification in the old track and reuse it in the new track.

If I am already MCSD certified from the old track, should I do so again?

In the long run, the answer is almost certainly yes (unless you are retiring soon). Certification should be seen as an ongoing process. Eventually, your certification will expire if you do not continue to take new exams, and if you have found your current certification useful, there is no good reason not to maintain your certification. The program is designed to allow enough time for preparation so that most MCSDs will not have a problem maintaining their certification. When an old exam is retired and new exams become available, you are given a generous grace period, which can be used for exam preparation.

When will the original track core exams expire?

The core exams in the original MCSD expired on July 1, 2000. These exams were 70-160 (Microsoft Windows Architecture I) and 70-161 (Microsoft Windows Architecture II). On that date, your MCSD certification lapsed if you had not passed the current requirements for the new track.

If my certification lapses, do I have to retake any exams?

No. If your certification lapses, you do not have to retake any exams that you have already passed. At any time, you may take any exams necessary to regain your certification according to current certification requirements.

For detailed information, see the Discontinuation of Microsoft's Certified Professional Exams page.

Notes

Certification requirements and exam objectives are subject to change at any time without prior notice from the sponsoring organization. Sybex recommends that you visit the web site of the sponsoring organization for the latest information prior to signing up for any exams.

The information provided on this Web site is not sponsored by, endorsed by, or affiliated with Microsoft. Sybex is an independent entity from Microsoft Corporation, and not affiliated with Microsoft Corporation in any manner. Microsoft is either a registered trademark or trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. All trademarks are trademarks of their respective owners.