Microsoft MCBDA, MCAD and MCSD Exams Retiring in 2009

If you were considering it, now is the time to get your MCAD , MCDBA, or MCSD certifications. Microsoft announced on March 31,2008 that the following exams will be retiring on March 31,2009.

• Exam 70-300: Analyzing Requirements and Defining Microsoft .NET Solution Architectures
• Exam 70-301: Managing, Organizing, and Delivering IT Projects by Using Microsoft Solutions Framework 3.0
• Exam 70-305: Developing and Implementing Web Applications with Microsoft Visual Basic .NET and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET
• Exam 70-306: Developing and Implementing Windows-based Applications with Microsoft Visual Basic .NET and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET
• Exam 70-310: Developing XML Web Services and Server Components with Microsoft Visual Basic .NET and the Microsoft .NET Framework
• Exam 70-315: Developing and Implementing Web Applications with Microsoft Visual C# .NET and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET
• Exam 70-316: Developing and Implementing Windows-based Applications with Microsoft Visual C# .NET and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET
• Exam 70-320: Developing XML Web Services and Server Components with Microsoft Visual C# and the Microsoft .NET Framework
• Exam 70-330: Implementing Security for Applications with Microsoft Visual Basic .NET
• Exam 70-340: Implementing Security for Applications with Microsoft Visual C# .NET
• Exam 70-228: Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition
• Exam 70-229: Designing and Implementing Databases with Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition

The MCAD , MCDBA, or MCSD certifications will not retire or be removed from your transcript when these exams do, but you will no longer be able to earn them if one of your required exams retires. This means you have one year to study and complete the exams for your certification.

For those deciding between your MCAD/MCSD or the next gen MCPD certification, keep in mind that upgrading to MCPD for .NET 2.0. only takes 1-2 exams, depending on the certification you hold and the track you decide to take. As many companies are slow to adopt the newest technologies and the older certifications are more currently more widely recognized by HR departments and hiring managers, this may be your best option.