MCPD – Enterprise Application Developer

Note: Read also my update about MCPD/EA 3.5…

I just completed my MCPD – Enterprise Application Developer. … Oh tanks, that’s very kind of you… :-).

For those who don’t know yet: Microsoft has reorganized their certification scheme. There is no more MCAD and MCSD. Those are still valid certifactions, yet they only cover the world until .NET 1.1. Starting from .NET 2.0 there is three new (higher level) certifications:

Successor to MCAD:

• (Microsoft Certified) Professional Developer: Web Developer (a.k.a. MCPD – Web Developer)
• (Microsoft Certified) Professional Developer: Windows Developer (a.k.a. MCPD – Windows Developer)

Sucessor to MCSD:

• (Microsoft Certified) Professional Developer: Enterprise Applications Developer (a.k.a. MCPD – Enterprise Applications Developer)

There’s also MCTS (Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist) certifications (below MCPD), but I’m not going into details about that or the specific examns for each certification. You can find that under http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/certifications.asp. But some broader information may still be usefull:

As you can guess, with the change from .NET 1.1 to .NET 2.0 the workload of the respective examns has increased considerably to cover the new features. But there is also a none-obvious fact that further adds to the workload: The security stuff that has been a separate examn or MCSD (and could even be substituted with a SQL Server or other examn) is now part of the common examns. Ever wondered about the security options for ClickOnce? Or the credentials settings of WSE 3.0 (yes, WSE now is part of the distributed development examn)? Well, you better start reading. On the other hand, MS has factored the common stuff (like language questions or how to query a database) into a seperate examn called Application Development Foundation.

For those already owning the MCSD you don’t have to start again and take on 5 new examns, rather there is two upgrade examns available. But beware! The workload is notable:

• Upgrade part1 (http://www.microsoft.com/learning/exams/70-553.asp): Covers development foundation, windows, and web development (and will earn you the Technology Specialist title for the later two topics).
• Upgrade part2 (http://www.microsoft.com/learning/exams/70-554.asp): Covers distributed development, as well as the “Designing and Developing” part (and will earn you the Technology Specialist title for the later topic and finally the MCPD/EAD).

What else as MS changed? Well, most obviously the naming of the certifications – which is something I’m not very satisfied with: MCAD and MCSD where clearly distinguishable, even for non-IT people (e.g. the manager deciding upon you salary). Now we have MCTS and MCPD. MCTS is less than MCAD and MCPD is a mixture of two tin versions (MCAD successors) and a gold plated version (MCSD successor). Actually, given the increased ground to cover I would even rate the MCPD/EAD higher than the MCSD. Consequently I would have prefered a title that clearly states that this is the top certification. Perhaps I’m just being vain, but the certification accounts for something – and it should clearly tell that.

Thats all for now folks,
AJ.NET