Certification

[cypher_key]

I've currently started my MCAD certification. I'm wondering, however,
if it would be a better idea to take the MCTS for the 2.0 framework
instead. I realize I can upgrade from a MCAD to a MCPD, but I'm
wondering which route would be best.

I should be noted that I'm not looking to become a developer. I simply
want to compliment my existing knowledge, which involves a lot of
scripting, with some additional programming knowledge. I'm mostly
looking to learn the language.

thanks,

Aaron

[Thorsten Dittmar]

Hi,

a) what's the point in becoming MCAD (Microsoft Certified Application
DEVELOPER) when you don't want to become a developer? If you just want
to learn the language, it's probably cheaper to just buy book...

b) MCAD covers .net 1.1, there are MCTS certifications for .net 2.0.
Depends on what you want. As I understand it, MCTS certification does
NOT automatically include MCAD.

c) MCAD != MCPD. MCSD = MCPD

Thorsten

[Alberto Poblacion]

"cypher_key" <cy********@hotmail.comwrote in message
news:11**********************@22g2000hsm.googlegro ups.com...

I've currently started my MCAD certification. I'm wondering, however,
if it would be a better idea to take the MCTS for the 2.0 framework
instead. I realize I can upgrade from a MCAD to a MCPD, but I'm
wondering which route would be best.

I should be noted that I'm not looking to become a developer. I simply
want to compliment my existing knowledge, which involves a lot of
scripting, with some additional programming knowledge. I'm mostly
looking to learn the language.

If you are mostly looking to learn the language, forget about
certification. The certification exams ask mainly about the Framework
Libraries and development environment in general. They contain virtually
nothing about the language itself.

[Doug Semler]

"Thorsten Dittmar" <th******@dithosoft.dewrote in message
news:eb**************@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

>
Hi,

a) what's the point in becoming MCAD (Microsoft Certified Application
DEVELOPER) when you don't want to become a developer? If you just want
to learn the language, it's probably cheaper to just buy book...

Hell yeah, especially since the tests are $125 each and you need (IIRC) to
PASS three of them to get the cert (or was it 4?).

Besides, you'll have a tough time passing the tests if you don't already
know the language (hell, the preface of the study books even states that it
is assumed that the language is known.)

b) MCAD covers .net 1.1, there are MCTS certifications for .net 2.0.
Depends on what you want. As I understand it, MCTS certification does
NOT automatically include MCAD.

Correct. the MCTS certifications are the "base" certs for the MCPD
series...And there are 3 MCTS Certs: Windows apps, Web Apps, and Distributed
Apps.

>
c) MCAD != MCPD. MCSD = MCPD

Not quite true...MCAD = MCPD (Windows Apps) or MCPD (Web Apps) with one
upgrade test
MCSD = MCPD (Enterprise Apps) with a couple upgrade tests
MCAD = MCPD (Enterprise Apps) with 1 upgrade test and 2(id think) additional
tests

My MCAD was upgraded to MCPD (Windows Apps) by taking 1 test.

--
Doug Semler, MCAD, MCPD
a.a. #705, BAAWA. EAC Guardisan of the Horn of the IPU (pbuhh).
The answer is 42; DNRC o-
Gur Hfrarg unf orpbzr fb shyy bs penc gurfr qnlf, abbar rira
erpbtavmrf fvzcyr guvatf yvxr ebg13 nalzber. Fnq, vfa'g vg?

[Thorsten Dittmar]

Hi,

>c) MCAD != MCPD. MCSD = MCPD

Not quite true...MCAD = MCPD (Windows Apps) or MCPD (Web Apps) with one
upgrade test
MCSD = MCPD (Enterprise Apps) with a couple upgrade tests
MCAD = MCPD (Enterprise Apps) with 1 upgrade test and 2(id think)
additional tests

My MCAD was upgraded to MCPD (Windows Apps) by taking 1 test.

Well, I'm on the MCPD path currently, leaving out the MCAD. A collegue
of mine is MCAD and the upgrade test for MCAD to MCPD covers a section
that contains the same topics as the MCAD to MCSD exam. I don't know the
upgrade path for MCSD to MCPD but I'd assume that only new .net 2.0
stuff is covered, while MCAD to MCPD also covers a completely new topic.

However, that's not really the question here ;-)

The point is: I wouldn't have EVER passed the tests if I hadn't had a
very solid knowledge of the .net Framework - so just to LEARN about the
..net Framework, taking the tests is not a very good option...

Doug Semler schrieb:

"Thorsten Dittmar" <th******@dithosoft.dewrote in message
news:eb**************@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

>>
Hi,

a) what's the point in becoming MCAD (Microsoft Certified Application
DEVELOPER) when you don't want to become a developer? If you just want
to learn the language, it's probably cheaper to just buy book...

Hell yeah, especially since the tests are $125 each and you need (IIRC)
to PASS three of them to get the cert (or was it 4?).

Besides, you'll have a tough time passing the tests if you don't already
know the language (hell, the preface of the study books even states that
it is assumed that the language is known.)

>b) MCAD covers .net 1.1, there are MCTS certifications for .net 2.0.
Depends on what you want. As I understand it, MCTS certification does
NOT automatically include MCAD.

Correct. the MCTS certifications are the "base" certs for the MCPD
series...And there are 3 MCTS Certs: Windows apps, Web Apps, and
Distributed Apps.

>>
c) MCAD != MCPD. MCSD = MCPD

Not quite true...MCAD = MCPD (Windows Apps) or MCPD (Web Apps) with one
upgrade test
MCSD = MCPD (Enterprise Apps) with a couple upgrade tests
MCAD = MCPD (Enterprise Apps) with 1 upgrade test and 2(id think)
additional tests

My MCAD was upgraded to MCPD (Windows Apps) by taking 1 test.

[cypher_key]

Thank you all for your responses. One of the reason that I'm looking
at certification is that I might as well get something out of learning
the language. Adding it to my resume definitely won't hurt. I am not
interested in taking the exam crams and all of that. I do really want
to learn the language. What might be better is to learn the language
by some other means and then seek certification at a later point in
time.

So in the groups opinion, what are good sources of information for
simply learning the language?