Make sure hiring managers and project leads notice you. By earning a Microsoft Certification on Microsoft Visual Studio, you gain an industry-recognized validation of your technical knowledge and ability to perform in critical developer roles.
Certifications are available for Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 (Microsoft .NET Framework 4) and Visual Studio 2008 (.NET Framework 3.5).
The Microsoft Visual Studio family of certifications gives you multiple ways to highlight your particular set of skills and abilities to help you achieve your personal and professional goals. We offer two types of certifications—Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) and Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD). MCTS certifications provide the foundation for Microsoft Certification. These certifications are designed to help validate your skills on the features and functionality of key technologies. MCPD certifications help validate a comprehensive set of skills that are necessary to design, build, and deploy applications successfully by using Microsoft Visual Studio and the Microsoft .NET Framework. You can earn Microsoft Certifications for Visual Studio 2010 and Visual Studio 2008. For each version of Visual Studio, we offer certification paths that help you show your skills on a particular platform, such as the web, Windows, or Windows Azure.
Certification exams specific to Visual Studio 2005 were retired on June 30, 2011. Upgrade exams to transition your skills and certifications from Visual Studio 2005 to Visual Studio 2008 are scheduled to retire on July 31, 2012.
Not sure which certification path to take? View the following certification paths to get started:
View the certification path: Visual Studio 2010
Use the following table to identify the certification that best fits your current role and career goals.
Your profile
Recommendations
You currently work with or plan to work with Visual Studio 2010 (.NET Framework 4).
Learn about Visual Studio 2010 certification options and requirements
You are new to Microsoft Certification and your goal is to earn a certification in Visual Studio 2008 (.NET Framework 3.5).
Start with Exam 70-536: TS: Microsoft .NET Framework – Application Development Foundation
This exam is the foundation prerequisite for all MCTS and MCPD certifications in Visual Studio 2008.
Learn about Visual Studio 2008 certifications
You already hold a certification on Visual Studio 2005 or Visual Studio 2008, and you plan to transition your skills to the next version.
Read about upgrade options for Visual Studio 2008 and Visual Studio 2010.
Learn about how to upgrade to Visual Studio 2008
Learn about how to upgrade to Visual Studio 2010
Consult the following table for training resources available for each exam. Visit the Microsoft Training Catalog to find a list of the skills measured for each exam, a Learning Plan for each exam, and additional training resources for each technology.
Exam
Classroom Training
Microsoft Press Books
Exam 70-511
Course 10262A: Developing Windows Applications with Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 (5 days)
MCTS: Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-511): Microsoft .NET Framework 4 – Windows Applications Development ISBN: 980735627420
Exam 70-513
Course 10263A: Developing Windows Communication Foundation Solutions with Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 (3 days)
Exam 70-515
Course 10264A: Developing Web Applications with Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 (5 days)
MCTS Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-515): Microsoft .NET Framework 4 – Web Applications Development ISBN: 9780735627406
Exam 70-516
Course 10265A: Developing Data Access Solutions with Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 (5 days)
MCTS Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-516): Microsoft .NET Framework 4 – Accessing Data with ADO.NETISBN: 9780735627390
Exams 70-518 & 70-519
None available
Exam 70-583
Course 50466B: Windows Azure Solutions with Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 (3 days)
General
Course 10266A: Programming in C# with Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 (5 days)Course 10267A: Introduction to Web Development with Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 (5 days)Course 10550A: Programming in Visual Basic with Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 (5 days)
Do you want to see if you are ready to develop cloud-based applications for the Windows Azure platform? Do you have what it takes to create web applications by using Microsoft ASP.NET, JavaScript, Ajax, and Microsoft Silverlight? What about desktop applications that use Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) technology? Perhaps you are the services developer using WCF or maybe you are skilled at accessing data with ADO.NET. Getting certified on Visual Studio 2010 helps show employers and potential clients that you have the skills you need to be successful.
With Microsoft Visual Studio 2010, you can create what you can imagine, build on the strengths of your team, and open up new possibilities. New prototyping, modeling, and visual design tools enable you to create innovative applications for Windows and the web. And you can take advantage of new opportunities and capabilities offered by multi-core programming and cloud development tools.
On this page
MCTS certifications provide the foundation for Microsoft Certification. These certifications are designed to help validate your skills on the features and functionality of key technologies. You can show your depth of knowledge in one specific technology, earn multiple MCTS certifications to show breadth across different technologies, or build on the MCTS to earn one of our Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD) certifications.
Your goal
Certification
Requirements
To create rich Internet-based applications by using Microsoft Silverlight.
MCTS: Silverlight 4, Development
Exam 70-506: TS: Silverlight 4, Development
To create Windows-based applications that run on corporate servers or user desktop computers.
MCTS: .NET Framework 4, Windows Applications
Exam 70-511: TS: Windows Applications Development with Microsoft .NET Framework 4
To create applications that communicate with servers or other applications in a connected or disconnected state.
MCTS: .NET Framework 4, Service Communication Applications
Exam 70-513: TS: Windows Communication Foundation Development with Microsoft .NET Framework 4
To create web-based applications that run on the ASP.NET platform and are hosted on Internet Information Server.
MCTS: .NET Framework 4, Web Applications
Exam 70-515: TS: Web Applications Development with Microsoft .NET Framework 4
To create data-driven applications that access data from various sources, such as Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, Microsoft Office Access, object data sources, XML, or other flat-file sources.
MCTS: .NET Framework 4, Data Access
Exam 70-516: TS: Accessing Data with Microsoft .NET Framework 4
MCPD certifications help validate a comprehensive set of skills that are necessary to design, build, and deploy applications successfully by using Microsoft Visual Studio and the Microsoft .NET Framework. This certification builds on the MCTS certification and is designed to help provide hiring managers with a strong indicator of your potential job success. Candidates for the MCPD typically have two to three years of relevant experience and a commitment to remaining current in best practices and technologies.
Certification prerequisites
To design, build, and deploy Windows-based applications by using Visual Studio 2010.
MCPD: Windows Developer 4
and
Exam 70-518: PRO: Designing and Developing Windows Applications Using Microsoft .NET Framework 4
To design, build, and deploy web-based applications by using Visual Studio 2010.
MCPD: Web Developer 4
Exam 70-519: PRO: Designing and Developing Web Applications Using Microsoft .NET Framework 4
To design, build, and deploy cloud-based applications that will be hosted on Windows Azure.
MCPD: Windows Azure Developer*
Exam 70-583: PRO: Designing and Developing Windows Azure Applications*
To design and develop applications for the Windows Phone platform.
MCPD: Windows Phone Developer*
MCTS: .NET Framework 4, Data Access2
Exam 70-599: PRO: Designing and Developing Windows Phone Applications*
*Note Candidates who earn the MCPD: Windows Azure Developer certification or the MCPD: Windows Phone Developer certification will be required to show continuing ability to perform in this technology area by completing a recertification exam every two years.
Review frequently asked questions about recertification
If you currently hold an MCPD certification on Visual Studio 2008, you can take advantage of one or more of our streamlined upgrade paths to transition your skills and certifications to Visual Studio 2010.
Current certification
Certification goals
MCPD: Windows Developer 3.5 or MCPD: Enterprise Application Developer 3.5
Exam 70-521: Upgrade: Transition Your MCPD .NET Framework 3.5 Windows Developer Skills to MCPD .NET 4 Windows Applications Developer
MCPD: ASP.NET Developer 3.5 or MCPD Enterprise Application Developer 3.5
Exam 70-523: Upgrade: Transition Your MCPD .NET Framework 3.5 Web Developer Skills to MCPD .NET Framework 4 Web Developer
After you determine which exam you need to achieve your Microsoft Certification, register for and schedule your exam. All exams for Microsoft Technology Specialist and Professional Series certifications are administered by Prometric, an independent testing organization with more than 3,000 locations worldwide.
Microsoft Visual Studio is a complete set of development tools for building ASP.NET web applications, web services, desktop applications, and mobile applications.
MCTS certifications provide the foundation for Microsoft Certification. These certifications are designed to help validate your skills on the features and functionality of key technologies. You can show your depth of knowledge in one specific technology, earn multiple MCTS certifications to show breadth across different technologies, or build on the MCTS to earn one of our Microsoft Certified Professional Developer certifications.
Each MCTS certification on Visual Studio 2008 requires that you pass Exam 70-536: TS: Microsoft .NET Framework, Application Development Foundation in addition to the exam related to the certification that you want to pursue. You only need to pass this exam once.
Note If you currently hold an MCTS or MCPD certification on Visual Studio 2005 (Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0), you have already fulfilled this requirement and do not need to pass Exam 70-536 again; you only have to pass the exam related to the certification that you want to pursue.
To create applications with compelling user interfaces with Windows Presentation Foundation that run on the Windows platform
MCTS: .NET Framework 3.5, Windows Presentation Foundation Applications
Exam 70-502: TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5, Windows Presentation Foundation Application Development
To create distributed applications that communicate with servers or other applications in a connected or disconnected state
MCTS: .NET Framework 3.5, Windows Communication Foundation Applications
Exam 70-503: TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5, Windows Communication Foundation Application Development
To create applications that host workflows for your organization
MCTS: .NET Framework 3.5, Windows Workflow Foundation Applications
Exam 70-504: TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5, Windows Workflow Foundation Application Development
To create Windows-based applications that run on corporate servers or user desktop computers
MCTS: .NET Framework 3.5, Windows Forms Applications
Exam 70-505: TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5, Windows Forms Application Development
To create data-driven applications that access data from various sources, such as SQL Server, Oracle, Microsoft Office Access, object data sources, XML, or other flat-file sources
MCTS: .NET Framework 3.5, ADO.NET Applications
Exam 70-561: TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5, ADO.NET Application Development
To create web-based applications that run on the ASP.NET platform and are hosted on Internet Information Server
MCTS: .NET Framework 3.5, ASP.NET Applications
Exam 70-562: TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5, ASP.NET Application Development
To design, build, and deploy Windows-based applications by using Visual Studio 2008.
MCPD: Windows Developer 3.5
Exam 70-563: PRO: Designing and Developing Windows Applications Using the Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5
To design, build, and deploy web-based applications by using Visual Studio 2008.
MCPD: ASP.NET Developer 3.5
Exam 70-564: PRO: Designing and Developing ASP.NET Applications Using the Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5
To design, build, and deploy enterprise-level applications by using Visual Studio 2008.
MCPD: Enterprise Application Developer 3.5
MCTS: .NET Framework 3.5. Windows Forms Applications
Exam 70-565: PRO: Designing and Developing Enterprise Applications Using the Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5
If you currently hold an MCPD certification on Visual Studio 2005, you can take advantage of one or more of our streamlined upgrade paths to transition your skills and certifications to Visual Studio 2008. And after you have earned the MCPD certification on Visual Studio 2008, you can upgrade to an MCPD certification on Visual Studio 2010 by passing a single exam.
MCPD: Windows Developer (Visual Studio 2005)
Exam 70-566: Upgrade: Transition Your MCPD Windows Developer Skills to MCPD Windows Developer 3.5*
MCPD: Web Developer (Visual Studio 2005)
Exam 70-567: Upgrade: Transition Your MCPD Web Developer Skills to MCPD ASP.NET Developer 3.5*
MCPD: Enterprise Applications Developer (Visual Studio 2005)
MCTS: .NET Framework 3.5, Windows Communication Framework Applications
Exam 70-568: Upgrade: Transition Your MCPD Enterprise Application Developer Skills to MCPD Enterprise Application Developer 3.5, Part 1*
Exam 70-569: Upgrade: Transition Your MCPD Enterprise Application Developer Skills to MCPD Enterprise Application Developer 3.5, Part 2*
*Note This exam is scheduled to retire on July 31, 2012.
Each Visual Studio 2005 MCTS certification requires that you pass Exam 70-536: TS: Microsoft .NET Framework, Application Development Foundation, in addition to the exam related to the certification that you want to pursue. You only need to pass this exam once.
Note All exams in this certification track are retired, with the exception of Exam 70-536, which remains available to support requirements for Visual Studio 2008 certifications. If a required exam is retired and you have not yet passed that exam, you cannot complete the certification track. You must fulfill all listed requirements to earn the certification. If you passed a required exam before it retired, it can be applied toward certification.
To develop Windows-based applications that include Windows Forms technology and data access.
MCTS: .NET Framework 2.0, Windows Applications
Exam 70-526*: TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 – Windows-Based Client Development
To develop web-based applications that run on ASP.NET and the .NET Framework 2.0.
MCTS: .NET Framework 2.0, Web Applications
Exam 70–528*: TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 – Web-Based Client Development
To develop distributed applications that demonstrate knowledge of web services, .NET remoting, enterprise services, and message queuing technology.
MCTS: .NET Framework 2.0, Distributed Applications
Exam 70-529*: TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 – Distributed Application Development
*This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification.
To design, build, and deploy Windows-based applications by using Visual Studio 2005.
MCPD: Windows Developer
(Visual Studio 2005)
Exam 70-548*: PRO: Designing and Developing Windows-Based Applications by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework
To design, build, and deploy web-based applications by using Visual Studio 2005.
MCPD: Web Developer
Exam 70-547*: PRO: Designing and Developing Web-Based Applications by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework
To design, build, and deploy enterprise-level applications by using Visual Studio 2005.
MCPD: Enterprise Application Developer
MCTS: .NET Framework 2.0. Windows Applications
Exam 70-549*: PRO: Designing and Developing Enterprise Applications by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework
Upgrade paths from MCAD or MCSD to MCPD on Visual Studio 2005 are no longer available. All exams for these upgrade paths are retired. For information about the paths that were previously available, see the Certification Planner Tool on the MCP Member site, or contact your Regional Service Center.
Visual Studio Certification Path Roadmap
View the certification path: Visual Studio 2008
