Path to MCPD Certification Demystified

Update Sept 17, 2007: [See updated Path to MCPD post here]

I don't know about you, but I found it a bit unclear at first glance of what the best route to each MCP certification and what the 'hierarchy' is. I have had to infer as much by the number of exams and which certs were esssentially pre-reqs for others.

Here is the plan I have developed that (AFAIK) is the shortest path to MCPD (measured by number of exams written) while maximizing the number of intermediate certifications. Exams to be written in order:

Exam	Certification Awarded
70-235	MCTS (BizTalk)
70-320
70-315	MCAD
70-316
70-300	MCSD for Microsoft .NET
70-553
70-554	MCPD: Enterprise Applications Developer

I already have the MCTS (BizTalk). As of now I am setting a goal of writing an exam every two months, which if I follow will make me MCPD in one year's time. Wish me luck!

Certification requirements:

• MCTS (BizTalk) Requirements
  http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/mcts/biztalk/default.mspx
  
• MCAD Requirements
  http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/mcad/requirements.mspx
  
• MCSD for Microsoft .NET Requirements
  http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/mcsd/requirementsdotnet.mspx
• MCPD: Enterprise Applications Developer Requirements
  http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/mcpd/entapp/default.mspx
  If you are a Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD) on Microsoft .NET, you can upgrade to the MCPD: Enterprise Applications Developer certification by taking two upgrade exams. By passing these upgrade exams you will also automatically obtain all three of the MCTS prerequisites.

Exams:

• 70-235

  TS: Developing Business Process and Integration Solutions Using Microsoft BizTalk Server
  

  http://www.microsoft.com/learning/exams/70-235.mspx

• 70-320

  Developing XML Web Services and Server Components with Microsoft Visual C# .NET and the Microsoft .NET Framework

  http://www.microsoft.com/learning/exams/70-320.mspx

• 70-315

  Developing and Implementing Web Applications with Microsoft Visual C# .NET and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET

  http://www.microsoft.com/learning/exams/70-315.mspx

• 70-316

  Developing and Implementing Windows-based Applications with Microsoft Visual C# .NET and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET

  http://www.microsoft.com/learning/exams/70-316.mspx

• 70-300

  Analyzing Requirements and Defining Microsoft .NET Solution Architectures

  http://www.microsoft.com/learning/exams/70-300.mspx

• 70-553

  UPGRADE: MCSD Microsoft .NET Skills to MCPD Enterprise Application Developer by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework: Part 1

  http://www.microsoft.com/learning/exams/70-553.mspx

• 70-554

  UPGRADE: MCSD Microsoft .NET Skills to MCPD Enterprise Application Developer by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework: Part 2

  http://www.microsoft.com/learning/exams/70-554.mspx

Of course, feel free to substitute any other MCTS to begin with (most of which require two exams) and the Visual Basic .NET variants if necessary for your own needs :)