MCAD/MCPD/MCTS - question

I just noticed that the MCAD is for applications using the 1.0 or 1.1 .NET framework. Meaning that applications written using 2.0, or VS 2005, aren't targeted in the MCAD...correct?

Even on the MCAD page, it says that if you're using 2.0 or VS 2005, that you may want to pursue the other certs instead.

Anyone have a suggestion as the path I may want to consider? I own Visual Studio 2003, so unless I buy 2005, I suppose I should consider pursuing the MCAD and then upgrading to the MCPD.

Eh, all of this gives me a headache.

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int80h

Visual Studio 2005 Express Edition is a free download.

/usr

Yeah, I actually downloaded it. It seems a big sluggish. Other than that, what are the limitations when compared to the full version?

JDMurray

Oh geez...I just start to think about getting my MCAD/MCSD and MS comes out with the MCTS and MCPD certs. When did those happen? And why isn't there a special category for software security specialist? More reading and sorting to do...

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/mcad/default.asp

/usr

I don't know man. I was having trouble making sense of all this. Because the MCAD can apparently be upgraded? I'm not sure. If you come up with anything, post it here.

JDMurray

After reading through the FAQs, I'm guessing that MS is phasing-out the MCSD cert by leaving it behind with Visual Studio 2003. It is being replaced by the new MCPD cert starting with Visual Studio 2005.

It looks like the MCAD is still the same, and you can get the MCSD and/or the MCPD after you get the MCAD.

The new MCTS is a specialty cert which you do not need to get before the MCAD. You will end up getting the MCTS cert in your specialty when you upgrade to the MCPD anyway.

If I've misunderstood this I'd certainly like to know. Right now I'm just gonna keep heading towards the MCAD. The "MCSD" moniker never carried much weight in the Windows programming community, so I'm sure that the MS marketing department is trying to phase it out in favor of a shiny new family of MS software development certs.

/usr

That's kind of what I gathered as well. Only it seemed to me like they were saying the MCAD was an "older" cert, but it didn't seem like they really had one to replace it. It looked like all of the newer ones were specialty certs, like you mentioned, consisting of one or two exams each.

I think I'll follow your lead and get my MCAD first, then at that point, begin looking into the others.

JDMurray

You must get the MCAD before you can get the MCPD, so MCAD can't be on the way out. I think only the MCSD is becoming a dead cert.

TeKniques

Here is some more info that I read on this Here

/usr

Hrm, any specific books you could recommend for the MCAD? I was thinking of the MS Self-Paced books to start off. Any other suggestions?

JDMurray

I'm starting out with the MS Press MCAD/MCSD Self-Paced Training Kits series too. I really don't have any other recommendations specifically for studying for these certs.

http://www.microsoft.com/mspress/books/5774.asp
http://www.microsoft.com/MSPress/books/6715.asp
http://www.microsoft.com/MSPress/books/6714.asp
http://www.microsoft.com/MSPress/books/6716.asp

etc.

2lazybutsmart

hmmm... Interesting topic.

Looks like MCSD certainly is on it's way out. If you tell an employer who isn't into developing stuff that you have an MCSD, he'll be like "what?" but if you tell him you have an A+, he'll nod his head. I think that's because MCSD isn't rining enough bells in the industry.

Now my question is: is restructuring the whole program a solution to that problem? Well maybe; maybe not. You guy'll probably find an answer to that quesiton once you get your MCAD's

2lbs

/usr

Since I JUST found a copy of Visual Studio 2003 we had here at work, and since I already have a copy at home, I'll definitely just be going for the MCAD.