What goes into becomming Microsoft Certified?

[Denaes]

I'm new to programming. Only 3 years, starting with vb6 in my first semister at college. About a year and a half or so into .Net - mostly vb.net. Like a week into C#.

 

I've been out of school now for a year and do plan on returning sometime after my wife finishes school.

 

I figure I could chase after becomming MS Certified as something of a goal and to prove my skills that despite only having a 2yr, I know how to program

[PlausiblyDamp]

Depends on what level of certification you are after, from a developer point of view the 2 qualifications are the MCAD and the MCSD this link @ MS gives a good comparison of the two, and you will also find the requirements in terms of exams needed amongst the information.

[Denaes]

Thank you. I did a search earlier and found the MCSD and took a practice test... scored a 30%!! 10/30 :D

 

Wow, I never realized they put such a high priority/push on ASP.Net... I don't even know the differences between SOAP and XML Web Services ( I know what XML is!) nor the difference between A Web Service and Web Application.

 

Looks like I need to pick up that ASP.Net book off the shelf and start hammering away at that.

 

I guess if I took the MCAD I'd have a better starting place... that and MS suggests doing MCAD first unless you really know your stuff.

 

Thanks for the link... I was feeling dejected, but now less so. After I get a 10/30 on the easy version, then I can feel dejected :)

[PlausiblyDamp]

If you go for the MCAD first then most of the exam credits count towards the MCSE as well - you just need to be a bit careful in choosing the exams. As a rule with MS exams they do tend to focus on whats a) new and b) stuff they are really proud of - hence the emphesis on Web Services in the current exams.

[Derek Stone]

To be honest Denaes, if you don't know the difference between a Web service and a Web application you are probably not going to pass any of the Web exams (70-305, 70-315, 70-310, 70-320). I'm not saying this to discourage you however. I'm simply saying you definately need more experience in those areas.

[Robby]

I finished the MCSD a few months ago, they are not easy, my suggestion is to do them in this order...

 

ASP.NET (305 or 315)

WebService (310 or 320)

WinForms (306 or 316)

---------------MCAD Complete

Elective (I did SQL Server 2000 (229))

Architecture (300)

---------------MCSD Complete

 

the lower numbers are VB.NET, the higher ones are C#)

[Denaes]

To be honest Denaes' date=' if you don't know the difference between a Web service and a Web application you are probably not going to pass any of the Web exams (70-305, 70-315, 70-310, 70-320). I'm not saying this to discourage you however. I'm simply saying you definately need more experience in those areas.[/quote']

 

I already said I just know windows development, no Web Development.

 

Most of the reason for my exploration into becomming certified wasn't to jump out and pass the tests, but to find out what I needed to learn/know to do so.

 

It's not that I don't know these web services/applications because I can't/don't understand it, I just have no exposure to it.

 

I have a book on ASP.Net and I plan on studying that a bit to learn some web skills.

[PlausiblyDamp]

I personally found the Architecture exam (300) the hardest as although the scenarios suggested were okay they seemed to lack detail and as such often I was choosing an answer as a best guess based on what information they had provided were in real life I would have probably gone back to the customer for clarification or a more complete outline faced with the same problem.... Edited July 31, 2004 by PlausiblyDamp

[Robby]

Yeah, I found many of the questions had many possible correct answers, if only they would've mentioned that there were n correct as apposed to whichever are correct. (As they did in all the other exams)

 

Denaes, This 4 book set is a very good place to start... http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0735619255/qid%3D1091133355/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/104-7849757-4366362

 

It goes beyond the scope of the exams (that's a good thing)

[bri189a]

I got a 90% on the practice exam and I've never taken a class...think I should take the real thing?

[Joe Mamma]

Yeah, I found many of the questions had many possible correct answers, if only they would've mentioned that there were n correct as apposed to whichever are correct. (As they did in all the other exams)

 

Denaes, This 4 book set is a very good place to start... http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0735619255/qid%3D1091133355/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/104-7849757-4366362

 

It goes beyond the scope of the exams (that's a good thing)

Are the practice tests in these books typical of the exams?

I was browsing these books in B&N the other day and thepractice tests appeard to be essay. Is that the format?

[Denaes]

Yeah, I found many of the questions had many possible correct answers, if only they would've mentioned that there were n correct as apposed to whichever are correct. (As they did in all the other exams)

 

Denaes, This 4 book set is a very good place to start... http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0735619255/qid%3D1091133355/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/104-7849757-4366362

 

It goes beyond the scope of the exams (that's a good thing)

 

I'll probobly pick that up.

 

The main problem I have is that I've spent like 1.5 years on VB.Net, but just started C#. Actually I don't feel like doing VB.Net right now.

 

It seems like most of my .Net experience from vb.net has carried over to C#. Just a week into C# and I'm already creating class heirarchies, custom components with custom events and adding delegates to procedures. Then I get stuck up on the structure of the syntax for a While Loop :D, or annoyed that I can't figure out how to do the With... EndWith commands in C#.

 

I think I'll pick up the books and go through them in C#.

[samsmithnz]

I've done a couple of these exams over the years too, VB6 Distributed, VB6 Desktop, and SQL 2000 Design (70-229 which I can use for my MSCD.NET :)).

 

These exams can be very difficult though, I recommend using more than one reference/book for each exam, as some of the books are very **** or were released when the exams were in beta and are now slightly wrong.

 

Also some of the practice exams are badly written and have wrong answers.

 

I;m just warning you to be careful what you use.

 

Personally I found the exams very useful at giving you a good overview of the technology.

 

Also some employers (my current one included), don't value the certifications as much as they probably should (especially the newer ones), mostly because in the past MSDE bootcamps have devalued the MS certifications all around.

 

Currently working at VB.NET Windows Apps, but I've been reading it for a year now..

[Denaes]

Thanks for the concern/advice.

 

Right now I ordered the MCAD set. I at least intend to get the MCAD's in C# or vb. (probobly winForms over ASP.Net, but I want to learn that as well).

 

One other thing I find usefull would be the SQL Server certification.

 

They may not value them very much... but right now I'm trying to break into the industry and most jobs at the 50,000 w/benifits software programmer level are out of my range unless I professionally program for 2-5 more years and/or get a 4-8yr degree in college.

 

The one thing I'm really torn about is my timing. By the time I'm ready for this test (by my thinking) 2005 and the Framework 2.0 will be commercially out.

 

will this further devalue my 2003/1.1 certification? Also it just says .Net certification, not which version. I'm afraid of studying 1.1 and getting in there and they're like "Here's 2.0!"

[samsmithnz]

You'll be fine for the next 3 or 4 years at least with the current certifications. People don't usually jump into the next technology until its calmed down a little, staying off the bleeding edge so to say...

[irasmith]

I finished the MCSD a few months ago, they are not easy, my suggestion is to do them in this order...

 

ASP.NET (305 or 315)

WebService (310 or 320)

WinForms (306 or 316)

---------------MCAD Complete

Elective (I did SQL Server 2000 (229))

Architecture (300)

---------------MCSD Complete

 

the lower numbers are VB.NET, the higher ones are C#)

 

Do you think this set of tests would also work for the MCAD:

70-315

70-320

70-229 (as the elective)

 

Then use this set of tests for the MCSD:

70-316

70-300

 

Just starting to work on the 70-315 as my first exam in the process.

[Denaes]

Wow. I ordered the set on Thursday night (about midnite) and got them on monday morning. Shipping estimate was 3-7 days. Sweet :)

[irasmith]

Great on the fast shipping. You order them from Amazon? That is the big heavy set of books right? (some of my friends have ribbed me a bit when I talk about wanting to get them, they refer to the set as a boat anchor due to it being so heavy :) )

[Denaes]

Great on the fast shipping. You order them from Amazon? That is the big heavy set of books right? (some of my friends have ribbed me a bit when I talk about wanting to get them' date=' they refer to the set as a boat anchor due to it being so heavy :) )[/quote']

 

The entire set weighs about as much as 2 sybex/big books, but there are 4 books in there, so each one doesn't weight too much.

 

In fact, individually each one is very managable. "Developing Web Applications" is the largest (about twice the size of Windows Applications).

 

I think I'm going to breeze through "Windows Applications", take a while to chew trough "Web Applications" and then wade through "Web Services and Server Components" a bit slower.

 

Looks like fun though :)

 

Edit: Oh yeah, it was Amazon.

Edited August 2, 2004 by Denaes

[irasmith]

Thanks for the update on about how much it weighs. Some friends of mine were just giving me grief I think, but I can handle that. :cool:

 

The set has been on my amazon wish list for a bit of time now. I haven't had the pleasure of having any one of the volumes in hand to go through with my own eyes, but I am going on the belief that it is a very good reference set. I'm actually thinking about acquiring it as a secondary source to the material I already have, and the material I am planning to get, for preparing for the exam(s).

 

Good luck to you in your efforts and I am sure we'll be running into each other here ont he forums more as we both prepare for our tests.

[Robby]

Sorry I haven't replied since last week....

 

Joe, the practice exams on the CD (shipped with the 4 book set) are very typical of the real exams, the answers are correct but they should only be used as a guideline of what's in store for the real exam. However, there are many questions in the real exam that are not cover verbatim in the books, they require either common sense/experience or sometimes they may even be subjective especially the 70-300 Architecture exam.

IraSmith, No, you need to do the core exams for the MCAD, you can however do - let's say - WinForms VB then WinForms C# but then you'll be missing an exam for the MCSD.

[irasmith]

Robby,

 

I am using this link to see what exams to take.

 

The way I am reading the chart, the Core Exams: Web or Windows Application Development (1 Exam Required) I would take the 70-315 which is what I am presently studying for.

 

The Core Exams: XML Web Services and Server Components Development (1 Exam Required) I would take the 70-320.

 

The Elective Exams (1 Exam Required) I would take 70-229 for the database design knowledge.

 

I do see the note in the Elective Exams area that reads

Exam 70-305*, 70-306*, 70-315*, or 70-316*

 

If you use Exam 70-305 or 70-315 to satisfy the core exam requirement, you may use either Exam 70-306 or 70-316 as an elective.

 

If you use Exam 70-306 or 70-316 to satisfy the core exam requirement, you may use either Exam 70-305 or 70-315 as an elective.

 

Is this note in the electives area where you indicate taking the 70-316 C# Windows-based exam?

 

I see how it could be done that way, but I would like to initially emphasize the web area, tacking on the database portion to help learn and show that I do know the back end side of a web application.

 

I think this should fulfill the requirements, but if you see something wrong with my plans please let me know.

[PlausiblyDamp]

Doing the 315, 320 and 229 would get you the MCAD certification just fine, also if you are then looking at doing the MCSD certification they will all count towards that - leaving you with probaly the 316 (windows development with C#) and the 300 (solution Architecture) remaining.

[irasmith]

Doing the 315' date=' 320 and 229 would get you the MCAD certification just fine, also if you are then looking at doing the MCSD certification they will all count towards that - leaving you with probaly the 316 (windows development with C#) and the 300 (solution Architecture) remaining.[/quote']

 

Thank you for confirming my strategy regarding the two certifications as that is exactly what I was planning on attempting to do. Guess I should now scoot on off and start studying ;)

[Robby]

Sorry Ira I forgot that MCAD needs only 2 core and 1 elective, PD is correct.