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How to Become an MCAD

By eHow Education Editor

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Microsoft Certified Application Developer (MCAD) is an industry standard certification. It will take time, energy and money to get the certificate but the economic and knowledge benefits can be priceless in the long run. Professional software developers will become proficient in Microsoft Visual Studio .NET and Web services on the .Net Framework 1.0 and 1.1 by the time they pass the certification tests. To be awarded the certification, you must pass 2 core exams and 1 elective exam. Read on to learn more.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Step1

Start by building .NET applications using Microsoft Visual Studio.Net to become familiar with its concepts, processes and applications, if you are or have not already used it.

Step2

Enroll in classes at your work, local college, or technical school for MCAD preparation. These classes can help a great deal with what material gets covered on each test. The classes are usually taught by other computer professionals that have at least their MCAD's already.

Step3

Choose your first core exam to fulfill one of the core requirements. You may choose from one of the four tests from the Web or Windows Application Development section. Test 305 and 306 are based on application development and implementation using Visual Basic to implement Web and Windows applications respectively. Tests 315 and 316 are more of the same; but using Visual C+ .NET and Microsoft Visual Studio.NET.

Step4

Select the second and last MCAD core exam from the 2 Web Services and Server Components Development choices. Test 310 is Developing XML Web Services and Server Components with Microsoft VB .NET and .NET Framework. Test 320 is the same except instead of VB. NET it is based on Visual C+.

Step5

Choose your elective by your application familiarity. Your choices are test 229, Designing and Implementing Databases with Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition, test 230, Designing and Implementing Solutions with Microsoft BizTalk Server 2000 Enterprise Edition, test 234 is the same as 230 but using Microsoft Commerce Server 2000, and test 235 is Developing Business Process and Integration Solutions Using Microsoft Biztalk Server 2006, which is a new option.

Step6

Select MCAD test 315 or 316 for your elective test, if you took core test 305 or 306 respectively.

Step7

Buy or share with a coworker the MCAD study guides, previous tests, and any software tutorials that may help you pass your tests. Study the wording on the tests as well as the answers. The questions are familiar from test to test but their meaning can be quite different.

Tips & Warnings

Discuss your plans with your employer, or human resources department. Several companies will reimburse you your testing fees when you pass all the tests.
Your MCAD study guides and test fees can be tax deductible, so check with your tax advisor.