«

MS are keeping quite re: whether your MCSD or MCAD certs will require either
a full re-sit, and intermediate re-sit or nothing at all when .Net 2.0 is
released. What I would like to know is if you will still get some sort of
recognition for a .Net 1.1 MCAD + SQL Server 2005? I won't have the time to
start looking at SQL cert until Feb next year, but I'm afraid I'll need to
study an outdated exam (ie SQL server 2000) just to achieve MCSD.....it's not
an easy issue.

My suggestion would be that the cert recognises a level of commitment
towards learning and you should achieve the latest higher level recognition
that existed when you sat the last of your exams in the series. To a certain
pov, I think someone who started MCSD when .Net was first released and
completed it when 2.0 was released *is no less valuable* than an all .Net 1
or .Net 2 certification.
Andrew

PS: Also I'm fearfull that the certification status will be devalued if it's
turned into a disposible product. What is the life-cycle of the MCSD for
this series ( < 3 years). Everyone has known the new releases are comming so
the temptation is to hold off, at the same time it's only usefull to you if
you get vertified early in the release life-cycle so its perceived value is
increased. Not to mention that businesses usually don't adopt technologies
early so getting real world experience usually won't happen until 6 mo after
the initial release......
</fearfull rant>

From the webcast that I recently attended for MCAD preparation, this is the
information I heard from MS people. There will be new MCAD/MCSD cert track
for .Net 2.0 and MS will be offering an upgrade path for existing cert
holders on these track. They also said you can expect the exams in beta
around the end of this year (ofcourse that's assuming MS still releases
VS.Net 2005 in summer !).


"AndrewAussie" wrote:

> MS are keeping quite re: whether your MCSD or MCAD certs will require either
> a full re-sit, and intermediate re-sit or nothing at all when .Net 2.0 is
> released. What I would like to know is if you will still get some sort of
> recognition for a .Net 1.1 MCAD + SQL Server 2005? I won't have the time to
> start looking at SQL cert until Feb next year, but I'm afraid I'll need to
> study an outdated exam (ie SQL server 2000) just to achieve MCSD.....it's not
> an easy issue.
>
> My suggestion would be that the cert recognises a level of commitment
> towards learning and you should achieve the latest higher level recognition
> that existed when you sat the last of your exams in the series. To a certain
> pov, I think someone who started MCSD when .Net was first released and
> completed it when 2.0 was released *is no less valuable* than an all .Net 1
> or .Net 2 certification.
> Andrew
>
> PS: Also I'm fearfull that the certification status will be devalued if it's
> turned into a disposible product. What is the life-cycle of the MCSD for
> this series ( < 3 years). Everyone has known the new releases are comming so
> the temptation is to hold off, at the same time it's only usefull to you if
> you get vertified early in the release life-cycle so its perceived value is
> increased. Not to mention that businesses usually don't adopt technologies
> early so getting real world experience usually won't happen until 6 mo after
> the initial release......
> </fearfull rant>