Should I start MCPD training now or wait for new exams? [closed]

Question

i apologize if this question has been asked before, or if this is the wrong place to put it.

I'm beginning my study track for the MCPD certification in Web Development. However, Microsoft plans to retire this certification on July 31st of 2013, along with two of the necessary tests to receive the certification. On MS's site, I can't find a newer certification path to take - I imagine that Microsoft will release new certification paths and new tests for their new software, but I don't know when that will happen.

I don't really know anything about Microsoft's process, as this is the first Microsoft certification I'll be studying for.

The bottom line is this - I don't want to lose six months waiting for a new test to appear that won't expire, but I don't want to rush to get a certification that will be invalid in six months (or have to reset any progress due to new study material). To those with experience in affairs like this - what is the best course to take, and can I maximize the time I have now (not wait for new testing material)? Is there any way to find material for the new tests that Microsoft will be rolling out?

Thank you for your patience. If this is the wrong place to put this question, I would like to request that it be moved to the correct StackExchange site instead of being closed.

Thanks for your help!

Answer 1

I found the answer to my question - I didn't realize that Microsoft had (again) renamed the tests, so I wasn't able to find the new certification path because I was searching for MCPD (and the new certifications aren't linked from the old certification pages).

For anyone else who may happen to stumble across the same problem, the MCPD is being replaced by the new MCSD (Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer) and the web programming portion can be found here.

There's an article about the whole thing on Crisp360.

Answer 2

Microsoft regularly retires exams with each new version of the operating system, development tool, server product and so on. The certification itself does not expire but the product or technology the certification covers does not change unlike other certifications where there is an ongoing certification requirement such as the CISSP's CPEs.

What is the best course to take, and can I maximize the time I have now (not wait for new testing material)?

What do you want from the certification? If you want a good working knowledge of an area, such as web development, take whatever courses/pass the exams available today. If your potential employer is looking for someone with a certification, having one is better than not having one (all other things considered).

If you want to target a specific technology where no exam is available, wait but study and play in the meantime. Work on websites, learn ASP.NET MVC, ASP.NET MVC Web API, jQuery and so on. Knowing more now will likely help you in the future as the knowledge gap will be smaller. Maybe write some blog posts about your experiences or work on open source software that you can point a potential employer to.

Remember that if you wait for a new certification or exam to become available, that will eventually be outdated and retired, too. I have a Windows NT 4.0 MCSE. I do not regret getting it - it was very useful at the time and served as a great foundation to move onto other things - but it has not been relevant for a long time

Is there any way to find material for the new tests that Microsoft will be rolling out?

Generally speaking, no (ignoring the specific case given in the other answer). The best way to prepare for potential new exams is to play with the new versions as they become available, read Microsoft blogs and keep an eye on http://channel9.msdn.com (for the development side).

Lastly, remember that certifications are not everything. A certification will get you an interview but experience, knowledge and confidence working with the products or tools is best. By all means get a certification but remember it is a means to an end rather than an end.