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Nearly MCSD or MCAD certified? Get them well you can (with 40% off the exams)
Gary Duffield
Gary Duffield, chief learning architect for Xpertise, has over twenty years experience in IT, over the years, he has amassed credentials that include CNI, MCT, MCDST, ITIL and MSF. He was one of the first consultants globally to be awarded Microsoft Certified Learning Consultant status. He sits on the advisory boards of Microsoft MCLC, CLO Magazine and is a regular judge for the Brandon Hall excellence in Learning awards. Gary manages the Microsoft portfolio at Xpertise.
Previous posts
- More computing power than Jodrell Bank
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20 October 2008 - 8 out of 10 server owners who expressed a preference said their network preferred IT
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15 September 2008 - Fancy a virtual certification?
Posted by Gary Duffield
10 September 2008
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Microsoft Learning is retiring a number of developer and SQL examinations on the 31st March 2009. Now, what does that mean for you? If you have an MCAD or MCSD you’ll not lose those certifications, BUT if you have put off taking that last exam for the MCSD et al, you’ll not have the option to take it after March next year. That’s it, game over. There will be no new MCSDs when these retire. To encourage us, Microsoft is reducing the cost of the retiring exams by 40% until the exams finally put their feet up in the home for retired exams. This offer is worldwide.
So is there any impact on existing MCAD and MCSD certified folks? Well, before they all breathe a collective sigh of relief, to encourage you to upgrade your existing “classic” MCAD and MCSD to the new generation of certifications, they are also reducing the price of the upgrade exams below:
- Exam 70-551: Upgrade: MCAD Skills to MCPD Web Developer by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework
- Exam 70-552: Upgrade: MCAD Skills to MCPD Windows Developer by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework
- Exam 70-553: Upgrade: MCSD Microsoft .NET Skills to MCPD Enterprise Application Developer by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework: Part 1
- Exam 70-554: Upgrade: MCSD Microsoft .NET Skills to MCPD Enterprise Application Developer by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework: Part 2
- Exam 70-558: Upgrade: MCAD Skills to MCTS Windows Applications by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework
- Exam 70-559: Upgrade: MCAD Skills to MCTS Web Applications by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework
With all the new stuff, is it really worth getting these done?
Well, that’s up to you. But if you’ve done the work but not taken the exams, 40% off is appealing. With the new generation of certifications from Microsoft continuing to grow, again 40% off the upgrade exams sounds like a good deal. Remember, it is the examinations that are retiring and not the certification. – I’m told you can also register for Microsoft Second Shot and get a free re-sit if you fail. You will find a list of retiring examinations here.
Dun Testin’ – where exams and certifications go when they retire
By the way, the SharePoint Workshop I blogged about earlier this month is coming along really well and the events are filling up. To quote QVC, “get your’s while stocks last” – Take care...
Till Next time
