MCAD to MCTS migration

Hi,

I am planning to do a MS certification. I found that MCAD is most suitable
for me as I am using Visual Studio 2003. However since it is retiring next
year, I am a bit reluctant to pursue something which is retiring within a
year. Hence now I am planning to do a MCTS certification. In my previous
organization I worked a bit on VS2005. However my current organization uses
VS2003 and I am solely working on Visual Studio 2003. Is there any option
available which allows me to complete MCTS? Thanks in advance.

-MJS

 

VS2005 is covered by 3 MCTS titles:

..NET Framework 2.0 Web Applications
(536: Application Development Foundation
528: Web-Based Client Development)
..NET Framework 2.0 Windows Applications
(536: Application Development Foundation
526: Windows-Based Client Development)
..NET Framework 2.0 Distributed Applications
(536: Application Development Foundation
529: Distributed Application Development)

This is confusing for most people, since the two exams (listed in brackets)
have different titles to the final MCTS title.

MCPD also covers VS2005 with 3 titles, which have the MCTS as pre-requisites:

Web Developer (536+528+547)
Windows Developer (536+526+548)
Enterprise Applications Developer (536+526+528+529+549)

So depending on how you want to progress, there are a few options open to you.

536 is your first stop. Then 526, 528 or 529.

 

Hi Jones,

Thank you very much for you reply. Basically my doubt is: I want to do
certification for VS2005 (MCTS - Windows Applications: 536 and 526) and not
for VS2003 (say MCAD or MCSD). However I don't have VS2005 development
environment available to me.

Currently I am doing development work on VS2003. I can get all the books and
other resources for VS2005 certification, however apart from the bookish
knowledge, to gain actual hands-on experience, I am looking for some options.
So is there any option of subscribing or getting some evaluation version of
VS2005 from Microsoft so that I can get myself acquainted with VS2005
development environment for doing my certification?

Regards,
-MJS

 

Hi,

Specifically, can I use the evaluation version of VS2005 from following
Microsoft provided link to complete my MCTS certification? (Provided I
complete the hands-on practices for the certification within the 90 days
trial time)

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...7f-d875-47d5-b226-e2578a116e12&displaylang=en

Thanks,
-MJS

 

Evaluation version should be just the same as retail, although you may find a
few advanced features disabled. But largely, if you can find your way around
it quick enough in 90 days to be comfortable to do what you do in 2003, then
you should have a good chance to pass the exams.

Best to do the book learning once through first, then start with the
software, to get the full benefit during the trial.

 

Hi Jones, Thank you very much for your valuable inputs.
-MJS