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Hi

Does the MCAD exams evolve along with releases of Visual Studio?

In that case, I suppose it would be smarter to wait with MCAD cert until
VS.2005 is released and exams are updated. Now that 2005 right around
the corner and all.

How off am I here?

Thanks,
Finn J Johnsen

Hi Finn,

There's no telling whether Microsoft will make any changes to existing exams
or develop new exams for VS.Next. Exams aren't released until software goes
live, so you've got a long wait for new exams if there are new exams at all.

Furthermore, I've seen exams for various versions of SQL Server and Visual
Studio all running concurrently, so the older exams won't necessarily be
retired as soon as new exams are developed.

What are your goals for certification? How does waiting for something that
may not happen, or not waiting help you achieve your goals?

--
Cindy Winegarden MCSD, Microsoft Visual FoxPro MVP
www.cindywinegarden.com


"Finn J Johnsen" <> wrote in message
news:...
> Does the MCAD exams evolve along with releases of Visual Studio?
>
> In that case, I suppose it would be smarter to wait with MCAD cert until
> VS.2005 is released and exams are updated. Now that 2005 right around the
> corner and all.

Cindy Winegarden wrote:

> What are your goals for certification? How does waiting for something that
> may not happen, or not waiting help you achieve your goals?

I'm just trying to get a hold of how often these exams (e.g 70-314,
70-315) and titles (such as MCAD) are renewed, and "old" ones are
regarded out-of-date.

I've not priorly taken any kinds of certifictions, so this new to me. My
goals are to prove/document my programming skills within C#/.NET.

Studying for this exam would force me to learn features which my job not
neccesarily would make me go into. That is another (not less important)
"carrot" for me.

Enough about me, what are your goals then?

Regards,
Finn Johnsen

Hi Finn,

Here's Microsoft's front page to the Discontinued exams section:
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mc...us/retired.asp .

This may help you see how fast exams are retired, although I wish it showed
when they were originally launched:
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mc...amsretired.asp

Learning features that I wouldn't use in my job was one of my goals also. I
am a lone developer working for a bunch of managers/accountants who have no
real idea if I'm good at what I do. Becoming certified gives them a better
idea of my skill level.


--
Cindy Winegarden MCSD, Microsoft Visual FoxPro MVP
www.cindywinegarden.com


"Finn J Johnsen" <> wrote in message
news:...
> Cindy Winegarden wrote:
>
>> What are your goals for certification? How does waiting for something
>> that may not happen, or not waiting help you achieve your goals?
>
> I'm just trying to get a hold of how often these exams (e.g 70-314,
> 70-315) and titles (such as MCAD) are renewed, and "old" ones are regarded
> out-of-date.
>
> I've not priorly taken any kinds of certifictions, so this new to me. My
> goals are to prove/document my programming skills within C#/.NET.
>
> Studying for this exam would force me to learn features which my job not
> neccesarily would make me go into. That is another (not less important)
> "carrot" for me.
>
> Enough about me, what are your goals then?
>
> Regards,
> Finn Johnsen

plus the learning is not in vane. Granted .NET is a major overhaul but now
that I have been learning the point of .NET I get a good feeling that we will
not be seeing a major overhaul for a long time. So at this point, I think its
good to study it now and if it changes, the new learning curve will not be
that large.
In short, .NET in of itself is very good to know regardless if they are
planning a new upgrade tomorrow, the basic .NET platform is going to stay for
a long time I think

"Cindy Winegarden" wrote:

> Hi Finn,
>
> There's no telling whether Microsoft will make any changes to existing exams
> or develop new exams for VS.Next. Exams aren't released until software goes
> live, so you've got a long wait for new exams if there are new exams at all.
>
> Furthermore, I've seen exams for various versions of SQL Server and Visual
> Studio all running concurrently, so the older exams won't necessarily be
> retired as soon as new exams are developed.
>
> What are your goals for certification? How does waiting for something that
> may not happen, or not waiting help you achieve your goals?
>
> --
> Cindy Winegarden MCSD, Microsoft Visual FoxPro MVP
> www.cindywinegarden.com
>
>
> "Finn J Johnsen" <> wrote in message
> news:...
> > Does the MCAD exams evolve along with releases of Visual Studio?
> >
> > In that case, I suppose it would be smarter to wait with MCAD cert until
> > VS.2005 is released and exams are updated. Now that 2005 right around the
> > corner and all.
>
>
>

Sean wrote:

> In short, .NET in of itself is very good to know regardless if they are
> planning a new upgrade tomorrow, the basic .NET platform is going to stay for
> a long time I think

Sounds resonable.

Got myself the books from QUE last week. Merely got myself a hernia
carrying them from the post office. *off to the gym*

Anyway. Attemting 70-316 before christmas, but don't tell anyone. Given
the exams aren't that expensive, failing would let me in on how the
exams are organized and how off I am. Giving it a good go though, not
giving up in advance - of course!

Thanks for your views,
Finn Johnsen