Frequently Asked Questions About the MCSD Certification

MCSDs for Microsoft .NET are lead developers who design and develop leading-edge enterprise solutions with Microsoft development tools, technologies, platforms, and the Microsoft .NET Framework. MCADs for Microsoft .NET use Microsoft technologies to develop and maintain department-level applications, components, Web or desktop clients, or back-end data services or work in teams developing enterprise applications. The scope of responsibility of MCSDs encompasses that of MCADs and also goes beyond it. See the Compare MCAD with MCSD page for more details.

The MCSD for Microsoft .NET credential is appropriate for professionals who design and develop leading-edge enterprise solutions with Microsoft development tools, technologies, platforms, and the Microsoft .NET Framework. The MCSD job role includes analyzing business and technical requirements, and defining the solution architecture, as well as the tasks typically conducted by MCADs—implementing the requirements and building, deploying, and maintaining the solution. We expect candidates to have at least two years of experience in a lead-developer job function. Typical job titles include software engineer, application analyst, software application developer, and technical consultant.

The Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) program continually monitors current industry trends and makes appropriate changes. Microsoft develops new exams and discontinues others to ensure that all exams reflect current job roles. To help you manage your certification and training plan, all certification exams will be available for at least two years from the release date of the exam. (Please see the preparation guide of the exam you are interested in, which includes the date the exam was released.) Announcements of exams scheduled for discontinuation will be made once a year in June on this Web site.

Yes, that is correct. The exams required to earn the MCAD for Microsoft .NET credential are a direct subset of the exams required to earn the MCSD for Microsoft .NET credential. You will earn the MCAD for Microsoft .NET credential on your way to earning the MCSD for Microsoft .NET credential.

The core exams for both the MCSD for Microsoft .NET and MCAD for Microsoft .NET certifications are based on using Microsoft Visual Studio .NET as the development environment. Because the Microsoft .NET Framework is an integral part of Visual Studio .NET, the core exams will cover the framework as it relates to the specific exam objectives.

Earning a Microsoft certification acknowledges your expertise in working with Microsoft products and technologies. The information technology (IT) industry, your employer, clients, and peers will recognize your MCSD credential as a symbol of the skills and knowledge you have gained. Microsoft certification demonstrates that you have the ability to successfully implement Microsoft business solutions for your organization or client. Candidates who earn the MCSD for Microsoft .NET certification receive a Welcome Kit containing a wallet card, certificate, and MCSD logo that enable you to identify your MCSD status to colleagues or clients.

In addition, individuals earning the MCSD for Microsoft .NET credential for the first time receive the following benefits:

Current MCSDs who upgrade to the MCSD for Microsoft .NET credential will receive a new Welcome Kit with a wallet card that displays the redesigned MCSD logo and a certificate that indicates the MCSD for Microsoft .NET certification.

To ensure that developers have quick and easy access to technical training resources specific to their needs, Microsoft offers a detailed list of Microsoft .NET Framework content offerings that correlate to specific skills on our Skills Resources for Developers page.

First, we recommend that you gain experience with the Visual Studio .NET product and become familiar with developing applications and services in this environment. We recommend the following four steps:

Microsoft offers training courses and books that map to each of these steps.

Although Microsoft Official Courses help certification candidates acquire the skill set tested by certification exams; that is only part of the goal. It is equally important that Microsoft courseware is able to help students develop the skills they need to do their jobs. Taking certification exams is one way to measure whether students have acquired those essential skills through experience as well as study. Ultimately, the real test in applying these skills comes on the job. From the employer's perspective, that is the only test that counts.

MCP exams test skills and problem resolution at the highest level. However, to reach that level, a candidate may have to acquire several tiers of enabling skills. It may take more than one course to deliver those skills. Training takes you on a journey, and the exams tell you whether you have arrived.

All exams are available now. See MCSD for Microsoft .NET requirements.

In the MCSD track, Exam 70-100: Analyzing Requirements and Defining Solution Architectures is a required core exam for all candidates. Candidates must then choose two exams from among the desktop applications development exams and the distributed applications development exams to satisfy the other core requirements. The desktop applications development exams and the distributed applications development exams are also available as electives. Please note that some elective exams are scheduled to be discontinued or have been discontinued; see Discontinuation of Exams for more information.

Candidates may fulfill the MCSD core and elective requirements by passing the following exams:

Example 1

Core Exams

Elective Exam

Example 2

Core Exams

Elective Exam

No. You receive credit for an exam only once—either as a core or as an elective—within one certification track.

See the MCSD Certification Benefits page for more information.

If you are currently certified with the MCSD credential, you remain certified indefinitely and are not required to upgrade to the MCSD for Microsoft .NET credential.

You may want to consider pursuing the MCSD for Microsoft .NET certification if you design and build Microsoft .NET solutions and want to promote your leading-edge skills with your clients or employer. Earning the credential is also a good way to demonstrate to yourself that you have these skills.

The Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) program continually monitors current industry trends and makes appropriate changes. Microsoft develops new exams and discontinues others to ensure that all exams reflect current job roles. To help you manage your certification and training plan, all certification exams will be available for at least two years from the release date of the exam. (Please see the preparation guide of the exam you are interested in, which includes the date the exam was released.) Announcements of exams scheduled for discontinuation will be made once a year in June on this Web site.