MCPD: Enterprise Application Developer

I am currently an MCSD .NET and am confused with the upgrade path to MCPD
Enterprise Developer. It looks like their are 4 different upgrade tests that
can bve taken in many combinations. Can anyone clarify?
Thanks,

 

Sorry, can't help you.

Figure it out is part of the new Microsoft cert test schema. In fact, after
that, you need to be sucessfully explaining it to your boss as well

Anyway,

2 exams (553,554) to MCPD (ent)
1 exam (552) to MCPD (Windows)
1 exam (551) to MCPD (Web)

Unlike MCAD and MCSD, MCPD (win, web) is not consist in MCPD(win, web).

cheers,
Egghead

 

It looked to me like if you took 551 and\or 552 you needed to take additional
exams. If I understand you then 553 and 554 would do the trick for MCPD Ent.

 

ya, all you need are 553 and 554.

Oh, I mean "MCPD (win, web) is not consist in MCPD(ent)".


cheers,
Egghead

 

All you need to take are exams 70-553 and 70-554 to obtain the MCPD: EAD
certification. You don't need to take 70-551 and 70-552 as those will only
earn you the lower tier certifications (MCPD: Win and Web). The MCAD has
been replaced by the MCPD: Win and MCPD: Web while the MCSD.NET has been
replaced by the MCPD: EAD.


Death from Above
MCPD: EAD, MCSD.NET, MCDBA

 

If you pass 70-553 and 70-554 and you'll be an MCPD:Enterprise.

That's how I upgraded my MCSD.NET to MCPD:Enterprise.

 

I will not said MCPD (win and web) are lower tier cert.
Egghead

 

It's tough to tell on that one.

The way Microsoft has structured it is that MCPD:Enterprise, Win, Web are
all equal. They are all "the higest level" of certification available.

Frankely though, this doesn't make much sense to me. I expect the Enterprise
one to be superior to the Win & Web certifications for a variety of reasons
that (to me) seem self-evident. The fact that it's not stuctured this way
continues to baffel me.

I keep debating taking 2 more exams and getting the MCPD: Win/Web certs just
for the fun of it. I'm pretty sure I could take both exams cold and pass
them both without any trouble, so it's just a question of paying for the
tests and finding the time....

 

I will not said MCPD (win and web) are lower tier cert.

That's okay, I'll say it for you. Think about it. How many tests do you
need to pass (assuming you have no certifications) to obtain the MCAD? 3.
How about the MCSD.NET? 5. How about MCPD: Web? 3. And MCPD: Win? 3. Now
how about MCPD: EAD? 5.

Less exams required to pass means it's easier to obtain and therefore at a
lower level.

Think about it from MS' perspective. What were they going to do for all
those developers who only develop web apps or only develop windows apps?
They couldn't just leave them with an MCTS level cert. There had to be an
MCPD level cert that people who only use one technology (web or win) could
attain.

You'll see the same thing happen when the MCITP certs come out for Vista.
There will be a higher tier cert (equivalent to the MCSE) and a lower tier
cert (equivalent to the MCSA) but they will both be MCITP certs.


Death from Above

 

How long are 553 and 554, are they significantly longer than the normal
non-upgrade tests? What format? Are they a similar format that the .Net MCSD
tests where?

 

You make a very good point on the exams #.
However, you need to prove that 549 covers 547 and 548.
We sort of know it does, but it is hard to explain it to the boss and they
use the same book

BTW, if M$ wants that, MCPD (ent) should req the 547 and 548 as well, and
same as MCAD and MCSD path. But, it is not the case now.

cheers,
Egghead

 

Looks like you got good advice from EH, DFA, and Chris, but if you have more
questions we're actually having a Live Meeting (led by the developer cert
planner) tomorrow (Wednesday, Oct 25) to answer questions on this.... you're
definitely not the only one who has questions on it!
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/upgrade/default.mspx (see step 3 for
live meeting registration links)

 

Hi, Chris. Again. If you do decide to take the other two (and if they are
551, 552, 553, or 554--not sure which two you're missing?) there is 25% off
discount code on this page, which might save you a few $.
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/upgrade/default.mspx

 

If you look at the skills measured by exams 70-547 (PRO: Web), 70-548 (PRO:
Win) and 70-549 (PRO: Ent) both 70-547 and 70-548 are actually supersets of
70-549. Although, the only difference is the "Designing and Developing a User
Interface" category. 70-549 does not measure this skill category at all. From
this prospective, MCPD Win and MCPD Web are "deeper" then MCPD Ent in their
specialization areas.

However, "Designing and Developing a User Interface" category is only about
10% of the skills measured by 70-547 and 70-548 exams. I don't understand why
the new certification has three separate exams for this instead of just one
(like the 70-300 for .NET 1.1 solution architecture).

Personally, I find the new certification structure confusing and
frustrating. One one hand, I don't think hiring managers will understand the
distinction between the different MCPD certifications. On the other hand,
developers who are upgrading MCSD, will not think it is fair having to take
two exams (70-553 and 70-554) just to get a single MCPD credential whereas
MCADs can upgrade to MCPD with just one.

In fact, why should an MCSD take the two recommended exams (70-553 and
70-554) to upgrade to MCPD Ent if he or she could earn both MCPD Win and MCPD
Web by taking exams 70-547 and 70-548? Will the industry reward MCPD Ent
achievers with salaries higher then achievers of MCPD Win or MCPD Web? Will
the hiring managers prefer candidates with MCPD Ent over candidates with MCPD
Web or MCPD Win? I seriously doubt it.

I would say go for either MCPD Web or MCPD Win. If you have extra time, you
can get two MCPD credentials (Web and Win), by taking the same number of
exams as required for single MCPD Ent credential. Yes, you will not take the
70-549 (Distributed Apps) exam, but most of the skills it measures become
obsolete with the release of WCF/Indigo anyway. I.e. MCPD Ent is a waste of
time and money.

 

Well, there you go. The new structure of certifications is so confusing that
I made several typos even though I thought I had a good grip on it by now.
See the corrections below...

The line above should refer to exams 70-551 (MCAD->MCPD Web upgrade) and
70-552 (MCAD->MCPD Win upgrade).

The line above should refer to exam 70-529 (MCTS Distributed Apps).

 

google says: take MCITP of some sort and you will soon be MCA.
Well, I have a longer road to walk myself.
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