Demonstrate your ability to build applications by using Microsoft Visual Studio .NET and Web services on Microsoft .NET Framework 1.0 and 1.1. The Microsoft Certified Applications Developer (MCAD) credential not only helps you gain recognition as a trained application developer, but also shows your current and potential employers that you have the skills and expertise necessary to build the powerful applications they envision.
Level:
One or two years of experience in building, deploying, and maintaining applications
Audience:
IT professional or developer
Type:
Microsoft Certification
The MCAD credential meets a distinct industry demand for a certification that enables developers to show they can successfully implement functional specifications and build, deploy, and maintain Windows and Web applications.
MCAD candidate profileConsider earning an MCAD certification if your current or desired job role includes developing, testing, deploying, and maintaining department-level applications, components, Web or desktop clients, or database and network services that are based on Microsoft tools and technologies. Candidates should have one to two years of experience in building, deploying, and maintaining applications. Related job titles include programmer, programmer/analyst, and software developer.
Are you a developer who uses Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 and Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 or Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 and Microsoft Visual Studio 2008? Consider becoming a Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) or Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD).
Why get certified?Earning a Microsoft Certification validates your proven experience and knowledge in using Microsoft products and solutions. Designed to be relevant in today's rapidly changing IT marketplace, Microsoft Certifications help you utilize evolving technologies, fine-tune your troubleshooting skills, and improve your job satisfaction.
Whether you are new to technology, changing jobs, or a seasoned IT professional, becoming certified demonstrates to customers, peers, and employers that you are committed to advancing your skills and taking on greater challenges. In addition, certification provides you with access to exclusive Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) resources and benefits, including opportunities to connect with a vast, global network of MCPs.
To earn your MCAD credential, you must pass three exams (in any order):
One exam on Web applications development or Windows applications development
One exam on Web services and server components
One elective exam
Note Many of the exams in this certification track are retired. If a required exam is retired and you have not yet passed that exam, you cannot complete the certification track. You must fulfill all listed requirements to earn the certification. If you passed a required exam before it retired, it can be applied toward certification. The credential will not expire.
Exams on Web or Windows applications development: Choose one
Exam number
Developing and Implementing Web Applications with Microsoft Visual Basic .NET and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET
Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification.
Exam 70-305
Developing and Implementing Windows-Based Applications with Microsoft Visual Basic .NET and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET
Exam 70-306
Developing and Implementing Web Applications with Microsoft Visual C# .NET and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET
Exam 70-315
Developing and Implementing Windows-Based Applications with Microsoft Visual C# .NET and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET
Exam 70-316
Exams on Web services and server components: Choose one
Developing XML Web Services and Server Components with Microsoft Visual Basic .NET and the Microsoft .NET Framework
Exam 70-310
Developing XML Web Services and Server Components with Microsoft Visual C# and the Microsoft .NET Framework
Exam 70-320
Elective exams: Choose one
Designing and Implementing Databases with Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition
Exam 70-229
Designing and Implementing Solutions with Microsoft BizTalk Server 2000, Enterprise Edition
Exam 70-230
Designing and Implementing Solutions with Microsoft Commerce Server 2000
Exam 70-234
TS: Developing Business Process and Integration Solutions Using Microsoft BizTalk Server
Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification. If you use Exam 70-306 or 70-316 to satisfy the core exam requirement, you can use either Exam 70-305 or 70-315 as an elective.
Developing and Implementing Windows-based Applications with Microsoft Visual Basic .NET and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET
Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification. If you use Exam 70-305 or 70-315 to satisfy the core exam requirement, you can use either Exam 70-306 or 70-316 as an elective.
Implementing Security for Applications with Microsoft Visual Basic .NET
Exam 70-330
Implementing Security for Applications with Microsoft Visual C# .NET
Exam 70-340
TS: Microsoft SQL Server 2005 – Implementation and Maintenance
Developing E-Business Solutions Using Microsoft BizTalk Server 2004
Exam 74-1351
1This exam retires on October 31, 2010.
As an MCAD, you can upgrade your credential to reflect your expertise in using Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 by earning a Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) certification.
Note You can take the required exams in any order.
Current certification
Certification goal
Required exam(s)
MCAD
MCTS: .NET Framework 2.0 Windows Applications
Exam 70-558: Upgrade: MCAD Skills to MCTS Windows Applications by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework
MCTS: .NET Framework 2.0 Web Applications
Exam 70-559: Upgrade: MCAD Skills to MCTS Web Applications by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework
and
MCPD: Web Developer on Visual Studio 2005
Exam 70-551: Upgrade: MCAD Skills to MCPD Web Developer by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework
MCPD: Windows Developer on Visual Studio 2005
Exam 70-552: Upgrade: MCAD Skills to MCPD Windows Developer by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework
MCTS: .NET Framework 2.0 Distributed Applications
MCPD: Enterprise Applications Developer on Visual Studio 2005
Exam 70-529: TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 – Distributed Application Development
Exam 70-549: PRO: Designing and Developing Enterprise Applications by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework
If you are an MCAD: Windows Developer, you can upgrade to a Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD) certification by selecting one of the following two paths.
MCAD: Windows Developer
MCPD: Windows Developer
Exam 70-551: Upgrade: MCAD Skills to MCPD: Web Developer by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework
Exam 70-526: TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 – Windows-Based Client Development
Exam 70-548: PRO: Designing and Developing Windows-Based Applications by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework
If you are an MCAD: Web Developer, you can upgrade to a Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD) certification by selecting one of the following two paths.
MCAD: Web Developer
MCPD: Web Developer
Exam 70-552: Upgrade: MCAD Skills to MCPD: Web Developer by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework
Exam 70-528: TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 – Web-Based Client Development
Exam 70-547: PRO: Designing and Developing Web-Based Applications by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework
Select one of the following five paths to upgrade from MCAD to MCPD: Enterprise Applications Developer.
Required exams
MCPD: Enterprise Application Developer
Exam 70-558: Upgrade: MCAD Skills to MCTS: Windows Applications by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework
View all answers
Q. How is the MCAD for Microsoft .NET certification different from the Microsoft Certified Solution Developer (MCSD) for Microsoft .NET certification?
A.
An MCAD for Microsoft .NET uses Microsoft technologies to develop and maintain department-level applications, components, Web or desktop clients, or back-end data services, or works in a team that develops enterprise applications. An MCSD for Microsoft .NET is a lead developer who designs and develops cutting-edge enterprise solutions with Microsoft development tools, technologies, platforms, and the Microsoft .NET Framework. The scope of responsibility for an MCSD encompasses and goes beyond that of an MCAD.
Q. How long will my certification be valid?
The MCAD certification will not retire. It will continue to hold its value in the marketplace as long as there is a need for IT professionals with these skills.
Still have questions? Try one of the following frequently asked questions (FAQ) pages:
