Microsoft Visual Studio certifications

Earn a Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD) certification and prove your skills in building Windows 8 apps using your choice of programming approaches, including C# and HTML5 with JavaScript.

Choose a certification below:

Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD)

Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD)

Expert level

The globally recognized standard for developers

MCSD:
Windows Store Apps
MCSD:
Web Applications
MCSD:
Application Lifecycle Management

Specializations

Exam 480 and Exam 483 validate programming skills in a specific language. By passing one of these exams you will earn a Microsoft Specialist certification. In addition, you will complete one of the exam requirements for an MCSD.

Certification title

Required exam

Programming in HTML5 with JavaScript and CSS3 Specialist

480

Programming in C# Specialist

483

Other certifications

The lifespan of a certification varies, based on the certification track and certification technology. See a list of retired certifications.

MCTS certifications validate your in-depth technical knowledge of and skill in using the features and functionality of key technology areas in Visual Studio. The MCTS is a prerequisite to earning one of our Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD) certifications.

MCTS: Visual Studio 2010

Certification title

Required exam

MCTS: Silverlight 4, Development

506*

MCTS: .NET Framework 4, Windows Applications

511

MCTS: .NET Framework 4, Service Communication Applications

513

MCTS: .NET Framework 4, Web Applications

515

MCTS: .NET Framework 4, Data Access

516

*This exam retires on July 31, 2013.

MCTS: Visual Studio 2008

Certification title

Required exam

MCTS: .NET Framework 3.5, Windows Presentation Foundation Applications

502*

and

536*

MCTS: .NET Framework 3.5, Windows Communication Foundation Applications

503*

and

536*

MCTS: .NET Framework 3.5, Windows Workflow Foundation Applications

504*

and

536*

MCTS: .NET Framework 3.5, Windows Forms Applications

505*

and

536*

MCTS: .NET Framework 3.5, ADO.NET Applications

561*

and

536*

MCTS: .NET Framework 3.5, ASP.NET Applications

562*

and

536*

*This exam retires on July 31, 2013.

If you currently hold an MCTS or MCPD certification on Visual Studio 2005 (Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0), you 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.

MCPD certifications 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.

MCPD: Visual Studio 2010

To earn the MCPD: Windows Developer 4, you must have the following certifications:

  • MCTS: .NET Framework 4, Windows Applications

  • MCTS: .NET Framework 4, Service Communication Applications

  • MCTS: .NET Framework 4, Data Access

and then take this exam.

Title

Required exam

PRO: Designing and Developing Windows Applications Using Microsoft .NET Framework 4

518

To earn the MCPD: Web Developer 4, you must have the following certifications:

  • MCTS: .NET Framework 4, Web Applications

  • MCTS: .NET Framework 4, Service Communication Applications

  • MCTS: .NET Framework 4, Data Access

and then take this exam.

Title

Required exam

PRO: Designing and Developing Web Applications Using Microsoft .NET Framework 4

519

To earn the MCPD: Windows Azure Developer, you must have the following certifications:

  • MCTS: .NET Framework 4, Service Communication Applications

  • MCTS: .NET Framework 4, Data Access

and then take this exam.

Title

Required exam

PRO: Designing and Developing Windows Azure Applications

583*

* 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.

To earn the MCPD: Windows Phone Developer, you must have the following certifications:

  • MCTS: Silverlight 4, Development

  • MCTS: .NET Framework 4, Data Access

and then take this exam.

Title

Required exam

PRO: Designing and Developing Windows Phone Applications

599*

* 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.

MCPD: Visual Studio 2008

To earn the MCPD: Windows Developer 3.5, you must have the MCTS: .NET Framework 3.5, Windows Forms Applications certification and then take this exam.

Title

Required exam

PRO: Designing and Developing Windows Applications Using the Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5

563*

* This exam retires on July 31, 2013.

To earn the MCPD: ASP.NET Developer 3.5, you must have the MCTS: .NET Framework 3.5, ASP.NET Applications certification and then take this exam.

Title

Required exam

PRO: Designing and Developing ASP.NET Applications Using the Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5

564*

* This exam retires on July 31, 2013.

To earn the MCPD: Enterprise Application Developer 3.5, you must have the following certifications:

  • MCTS: .NET Framework 3.5. Windows Forms Applications

  • MCTS: .NET Framework 3.5, ASP.NET Applications

  • MCTS: .NET Framework 3.5, Windows Communication Foundation Applications

  • MCTS: .NET Framework 3.5, ADO.NET Applications

and then take this exam.

Title

Required exam

PRO: Designing and Developing Enterprise Applications Using the Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5

565*

* This exam retires on July 31, 2013.

Upgrade paths

If you have already earned an MCPD on Visual Studio 2010, you may be eligible to take advantage of a shorter upgrade path to achieve an MCSD certification.

If you have this current certification:

  • MCPD: Windows Developer 4

Upgrade to the MCSD: Windows Store Apps Using C# by taking these exams.

Step

Title

Required exam

Certification earned

1

Essentials of Developing Windows Store Apps Using C#

484
MCSD: Windows Store Apps

2

Advanced Windows Store App Development Using C#

485

There is no upgrade path to earn MCSD: Windows Store Apps Using HTML5.

Upgrade to the MCSD: Web Applications by taking these exams.

Step

Title

Required exam

Certification earned

1

Programming in HTML5 with JavaScript and CSS3

480
MCSD: Windows Store Apps

2

Upgrade your MCPD: Web Developer 4 to MCSD: Web Applications

492 (not yet available)

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.

If you have this current certification:

  • MCPD: Windows Developer 3.5

  • MCPD: Enterprise Application Developer 3.5

Upgrade to the MCPD: Windows Developer 4, MCTS: .NET Framework 4, Windows Applications MCTS: .NET Framework 4, Service Communication Applications, and MCTS: .NET Framework 4, Data Access by taking this exam.

Step

Title

Required exam

1

Upgrade: Transition Your MCPD .NET Framework 3.5 Windows Developer Skills to MCPD .NET 4 Windows Applications Developer

521*

* This exam retires on July 31, 2013.

If you have this current certification:

  • MCPD: ASP.NET Developer 3.5

  • MCPD: Enterprise Application Developer 3.5

Upgrade to the MCPD: Windows Developer 4, MCTS: .NET Framework 4, Windows Applications MCTS: .NET Framework 4, Service Communication Applications, and MCTS: .NET Framework 4, Data Access by taking this exam.

Step

Title

Required exam

1

Upgrade: Transition Your MCPD .NET Framework 3.5 Web Developer Skills to MCPD .NET Framework 4 Web Developer

523*

* This exam retires on July 31, 2013.