In-Depth
MCSD
Premier title for application developers, programmers, and system architects who use Microsoft technology.
The Microsoft Certified Solution Developer certification
is aimed at those who need to prove skills in designing and developing
applications with Microsoft tools, technologies, and architectural schemes.
The types of programs that MCSDs are able to develop include desktop applications
and multi-user, Web-based, n-tier, and transaction-based applications.
On Feb. 13, 2002, Microsoft created a new version of the
title, dubbed MCSD for .NET. (At the same time, Microsoft introduced a
similar title for similar title developers of programs, MCAD, was created
for those whose main skill encompass writing specific programs, modules
and code, sometimes for larger systems.)
The primary candidate for the MCSD has a job title such as software developer,
software engineer, software applications engineer, or technical consultant.
Besides specific developer skills, Microsoft suggests that candidates
have at least two years of experience in the following areas:
- Analyzing customer needs and creating requirement specification documents
for client/server solutions in multiple business domains.
- Process modeling, data modeling, component design, and user interface
design.
- Designing, developing, and implementing a client/server solution.
- Integrating new systems and applications into legacy environments.
- Developing Windows-based and Web applications.
Achieving the premier MCSD certification comes with many benefits:
- Industry recognition of your expertise.
- The right to use the MCSD logo on business collateral.
- A certificate, transcript, wallet card, and lapel pin to identify
you as an MCP to colleagues and clients.
- Access to technical and product information direct from Microsoft
through a private MCP Web site.
- Discounts on products and services (such as Microsoft Developer Network).
- Invitations to Microsoft and MCP Magazine conferences, technical training
sessions, and special events.
- You can join the MCP Database, a peer-to-peer database that lets you
locate others in your geographic area with similar interests.
- Potential college credit for your certification through Excelsior
College, a private, independently chartered institution providing means
for working adults to demonstrate college-level competencies and to
earn accredited college degrees.
The MCSD track based on the original 70-100 Analyzing Requirements exam
consists of passing four tests—three core exams and one elective,
as shown in the following table:
| Requirement |
Exam |
| 1 Solution Architecture |
70-100, Analyzing Requirement and
Defining Solutions Architectures |
| 1 Desktop Applications Development |
70-016, Designing Desktop Applications
with Visual C++ 6.0
or
70-156, Designing Desktop Applications with Visual FoxPro 6.0
or
70-176, Designing Desktop Applications with Visual Basic 6.0
|
| 1 Distributed Applications Development |
70-015, Designing Distributed Applications
with Visual C++ 6.0
or
70-155, Designing Distributed Applications with Visual FoxPro
6.0
or
70-175, Designing Distributed Applications with Visual Basic
6.0 |
| 1 Elective |
Choose from the following:
- Any Desktop or Distributed Applications exam above that
you are not using to fulfill the "core" requirement.
- 70-019, SQL Server 7.0 Data Warehouses
- 70-029, SQL Server 7.0 Design
- 70-229, SQL Server 2000 Design
- 70-055, Designing Web Sites with FrontPage 2000, Enterprise
- 70-057, Site Server 3.0, Commerce Edition
- 70-091, Designing Solutions with Office 2000/VBA
- 70-105, Designing Collaborative Solutions with Outlook
2000/Exchange Server 5.5
- 70-152, Designing Web Solutions with Visual InterDev 6.0
|
|
The MCSD for .NET track requires four core and one elective:
| Requirement |
Exam |
| 1 Solution Architecture |
70-300, Analyzing Requirements and
Defining .NET Solution Architectures |
| 1 Web Application Development |
70-305, Developing and Implementing
Web Applications with Visual Basic .NET and Visual Studio .NET
or
70-315, Developing and Implementing Web Applications with Visual
C# .NET and Visual Studio .NET |
| 1 Windows Application Development
|
Exam 70-306—Developing and Implementing
Windows-based Applications with Visual Basic .NET and Visual
Studio .NET
or
Exam 70-316—Developing and Implementing Windows-based Applications
with Visual C# .NET and Visual Studio .NET |
| 1 Web Services and Server Components |
Exam 70-310—Developing XML Web Services and Server Components
with Visual Basic .NET and the Microsoft .NET Framework
or
Exam 70-320—Developing XML Web Services and Server Components
with Visual C# and the Microsoft .NET Framework
|
| 1 Elective |
Choose from the following:
- 70-229, Designing and Implementing Databases with SQL
Server 2000, Enterprise Edition
- 70-230, Designing and Implementing Solutions with BizTalk
Server 2000, Enterprise Edition
- 70-234, Designing and Implementing Solutions with Commerce
Server 2000
|
|
In each core component, Microsoft will provide core credit for only one
exam. That is, if you take 70-305 to satisfy the Web Application Development
section, you won't get credit for 70-315 toward the MCSD.NET; however,
it will still appear on your transcript among exams you passed.
You must take the exams in person at Prometric and VUE testing centers.