Microsoft have introduced new professional qualifications for Visual Studio and SQL Server 2005. You can see the details here.
In summary, you will initially sit a core exam and a specialism to get a single Technology Specialist qualification. The core exam can be used for each of the three Technical Specialisms (web, windows and enterprise applications). To become a Technical Specialist, you will need:
- The C# Core Exam
- Either of the three specialism exams (windows, web or distributed applications)
To get the Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD) for web, you will need
- The C# Core Exam
- The Web Technical Specialist exam (TS Web)
- Web Professional Developer Exam (MCPD Web)
By replacing the web exam with the windows exams, you can become a MCPD for Windows.
To get the MCPD for Enterprise Applications, you need:
- The C# Core Exam
- The Web Technical Specialist exam
- The Windows Technical Specialist exam
- The Distributed Applications Technical Specialist exam
- Enterprise Application Professional Developer Exam
In other words, you need to be a Technical Specialist in all three areas before sitting the MCPD Enterprise Applications exam.
You can see the breakdown here:
But, if you are a current MCSD, you can sit one exam to go straight to MCPD web/windows with one exam (e.g. 70-551), and you can go to MCPD for enterprise applications with two exams (70-553 and 70-554)!
Well, that should keep me busy!!