Prove your mastery of Microsoft development technologies by becoming a Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD). MCPD certifications are available for several developer tools and technologies.
Level:
Two to three years of experience developing solutions by using Visual Studio, the Microsoft .NET Framework, and other Microsoft development technologies
Audience:
Developer
Type:
Microsoft Certification
The MCPD certification provides you, your peers, and employers with unbiased proof of your developer skills using Microsoft Visual Studio, the Microsoft .NET Framework, and other development technologies. In addition, MCPD certification provides you with access to exclusive resources and benefits, including opportunities to connect with a global network of certified developers. MCPD certification requires two to three years of relevant experience and a commitment to remaining current in best practices and technologies.
AnnouncementsMCPD certifications will not be updated for future versions of Visual Studio. As an MCPD on Visual Studio 2010, you will be eligible for special upgrade paths to new Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD) certifications. Your MCPD certification will remain valuable as long as companies are using the relevant technology.
Upgrade exams to transition your skills and certifications from Visual Studio 2005 to Visual Studio 2008 are scheduled to retire on July 31, 2012.
On This Page
If you plan to develop applications by using Visual Studio 2010 and the Microsoft .NET Framework 4.0, the Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD) on Visual Studio 2010 certifications can help you validate your skills and abilities. You should have two to three years of experience using the technologies covered in the exam. The available certification paths include the following:
Windows Developer 4 on Visual Studio 2010
Exam number
MCTS prerequisite: TS: Windows Applications Development with Microsoft .NET Framework 4
MCTS prerequisite: TS: Windows Communication Foundation Development with Microsoft .NET Framework 4
MCTS prerequisite: TS: Accessing Data with Microsoft .NET Framework 4
MCPD requirement: PRO: Designing and Developing Windows Applications Using Microsoft .NET Framework 4
Web Developer 4 on Visual Studio 2010
MCTS prerequisite: TS: Web Applications Development with Microsoft .NET Framework 4
MCPD requirement: PRO: Designing and Developing Web Applications Using Microsoft .NET Framework 4
Azure Developer on Visual Studio 2010
MCPD requirement: PRO: Designing and Developing Windows Azure Applications
If you plan to develop applications by using Visual Studio 2008 and the Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5, the Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD) on Visual Studio 2008 certifications can help you validate your skills and abilities. You should have two to three years of experience using the technologies covered in the exam. The available certification paths include the following:
Windows Developer 3.5 on Visual Studio 2008
MCTS prerequisite: TS: Microsoft .NET Framework – Application Development Foundation
MCTS prerequisite: TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5,—Windows Forms Application Development
MCPD requirement: PRO: Designing and Developing Windows Applications Using the Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5
ASP.NET Developer 3.5 on Visual Studio 2008
MCTS prerequisite: TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5, ASP.NET Application Development
MCPD requirement: PRO: Designing and Developing ASP.NET Applications Using the Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5
Enterprise Application Developer 3.5 on Visual Studio 2008
MCTS prerequisite: TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 – Windows Forms Application Development
MCTS prerequisite: TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5, ADO.NET Application Development
MCTS prerequisite: TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 – Windows Communication Foundation Application Development
MCPD requirement: PRO: Designing and Developing Enterprise Applications Using the Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5
Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD) certifications on Visual Studio 2005 are considered legacy certifications, because at least two newer versions of the technology on which they certify are available. While one exam that is required to earn these certifications is still available, all other required exams are retired.
Windows Developer on Visual Studio 2005
MCTS prerequisite: TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 – Windows-Based Client Development
Exam 70-526*
MCPD requirement: PRO: Designing and Developing Windows Applications by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework
Exam 70-548*
*This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification.
Web Developer on Visual Studio 2005
MCTS prerequisite: TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 – Web-Based Client Development
Exam 70-528*
MCPD requirement: PRO: Designing and Developing Web-Based Applications by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework
Exam 70-547*
Enterprise Application Developer on Visual Studio 2005
MCTS prerequisite: TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 – Distributed Application Development
Exam 70-529*
MCPD requirement: PRO: Designing and Developing Enterprise Applications by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework
Exam 70-549*
If you develop applications for Windows Phone, the Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD) on Windows Phone certification can help you validate your skills and abilities. You should have two to three years of experience using the technologies covered in the exam.
Windows Phone
MCTS prerequisite: TS: Silverlight 4, Development
MCPD requirement: PRO: Designing and Developing Windows Phone Applications
If you design and develop applications on the Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 platform, consider earning the MCPD: SharePoint Developer 2010 certification.
SharePoint Developer 2010
MCTS prerequisite: TS: Microsoft SharePoint 2010, Application Development
MCPD requirement: PRO: Designing and Developing Microsoft SharePoint 2010 Applications
If you plan to develop applications by using Microsoft Silverlight, the Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD) on Silverlight 4 certification can help you validate your skills and abilities. You should have two to three years of experience using the technologies covered in the exam. The available certification paths include the following:
Microsoft Silverlight Developer 4
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
Requirements
MCPD: Windows Developer 3.5 or MCPD: Enterprise ApplicationDeveloper 3.5
MCPD: Windows Developer 4
MCTS: .NET Framework 4, Windows Applications
MCTS: .NET Framework 4, Service Communication Applications
MCTS: .NET Framework 4, Data Access
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 ApplicationDeveloper 3.5
MCPD: Web Developer 4
Exam 70-523: Upgrade: Transition Your MCPD .NET Framework 3.5 Web Developer Skills to MCPD .NET Framework 4 Web Developer
If you hold a Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD) on Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 certification, you can use the following upgrade path to earn your MCPD on Visual Studio 2008.
Certification goal
Required exam(s)
MCPD: Windows Developer(Visual Studio 2005)
MCPD: Windows Developer 3.5(Visual Studio 2008)
Exam 70-566: Upgrade: Transition Your MCPD Windows Developer Skills to MCPD Windows Developer 3.5*
MCPD: Web Developer(Visual Studio 2005)
MCPD: ASP.NET Developer 3.5(Visual Studio 2008)
Exam 70-567: Upgrade: Transition your MCPD Web Developer Skills to MCPD ASP.NET Developer 3.5*
MCPD: Enterprise Application Developer(Visual Studio 2005)
MCPD: Enterprise Application Development 3.5(Visual Studio 2008)
Exam 70-568: Upgrade: Transition Your MCPD Enterprise Application Developer Skills to MCPD Enterprise Applications Developer 3.5, Part 1*
Exam 70-569: Upgrade: Transition Your MCPD Enterprise Application Developer Skills to MCPD Enterprise Applications Developer 3.5, Part 2*
*This exam is scheduled to retire on July 31, 2012.
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.
