Hello

I am looking at routes towards getting the MCPD certification and there appears to be a couple:

The original thought was to go via the MCTS(web) and then the MCPD(web) as this really gave us what we needed...however, I've been recommended by someone to do the MCAD and then upgrade to the MCPD instead of doing the MCTS as this will mean we would get more out of the qualification (ie, we would learn the fundamentals of asp.net in the mcad but not neccessarily in the mcts, and you get Web, Application and Distributed Applications instead of just Web if you went via the MCTS route)

Does anyone else have an opinion on this?  I'm a bit confused about which route to take...

(if it helps - what we're looking to get out of the qualification at the end is, well, a certificate, but also to learn asp.net better than the basic knowledge we've gathered just by watching videos and creating small websites and simple applications, ie, the knowledge is probably the most important part)

Well, thanks for any help!

Paul

MCAD will help with the Windows and Web MCPDs, but not the Enterprise MCPD. The Enterprise MCPD is basically the top level, which requires Windows and Web MCPDs. If you get MCSD, then you can skip the Windows and Web MCPDs and go straight for the Enterprise MCPD.

Here's how it works...

Start with nothing, take 3 tests, get Windows or Web MCPD
    ...or, take 5 tests, get both Windows and Web MCPDs
    ...or, take 7 tests, get Enterprise MCPD
Start with MCAD, take 1 test, get Windows or Web MCPD
    ...or, take 2 tests, get both Windows and Web MCPDs
    ...or, take 4 tests, get Enterprise MCPD
Start with MCSD, take 2 tests, get Enterprise MCPD

Marvellous! Thanks for that, definitely clears up the possible routes.

Which way through would I get the most out of in terms of needing training really on the foundations of asp.net?  I'm assuming the 3 tests from nothing would be via the mcts and the 5 tests via the mcad (maybe wrong). 

We can ignore the enterprise stuff for the mo.

Thanks for your input!

As far as what route would give you the best experience from a tech training point of view, I can't really say. I look at it this way: If you have a strong hold on .NET 1.x, then go for MCAD. If you know Windows and web along with another product (i.e. SQL Server, BizTalk, MSF), then go for MCSD. If you don't have a strong background in .NET 1.x, I'd simply stick with the .NET 2.0 route.

Based on what's required for MCA/SD, let me cover that in my chart, as well...

Start with nothing, take 3 tests, get Windows or Web MCPD
    ...or, take 5 tests, get both Windows and Web MCPDs
    ...or, take 7 tests, get Enterprise MCPD

Start with MCAD (3 tests), take 1 test, get Windows or Web MCPD
    ...or, take 2 tests, get both Windows and Web MCPDs
    ...or, take 4 tests, get Enterprise MCPD

Start with MCSD (5 tests), take 2 tests, get Enterprise MCPD

What does this mean? Well, starting from nothing, here are your routes...

Start with nothing; take 3, 5, or 7 tests; get each MCPD (see above)
   ...or; take 4, 5, or 9 tests; get MCAD and each MCPD (see above)
   ...or; take 7 tests; get MCSD and Enterprise MCPD 

As you can see, if you don't have anything and you go the MCAD route, you're actually signing up for more work. If you get the full MCSD first, then you'll be doing the same amount of work with one caveat: Your two upgrade exams will be all-encompasing, whereas each individual exam will be more specialized. If you've ever prepared for an exam, you can see the problem with this.

Hope this helps! I think I might pull together a chart that shows it a little more visually. I'll keep you updated, if I do.

can any one tell the route for MVP

I want to do it ?

and does not know how to acheieve it

ganesh@nilgris

 

MVP comes from community participation. Someone has to nominate you, I believe. Do some searching around the web. I remember seeing a blog post on the topic a few months back.

Hi, just thought I'd pop in a note here...

 Looks like I'm going the MCAD - MCPDu route to get to where I want.  Will post again when I've been through in a few months!