The future of .NET certification

With Windows.NET Server delayed owing to Microsoft's "trustworthy computing" initiative, nobody knows exactly when the next generation of .NET exams will become available. But the shape of this landscape is starting to emerge. In its MCSE and MCSA requirements pages, Microsoft mentions the following .NET-related exams:

While these exams don't constitute the sum total of .NET-specific exams in the Microsoft Certified Professional program (You'll find numerous developer-focused examples already amply described in the MCSD and MCAD requirements pages, for example.), they do represent the core of Microsoft's arguably most important and numerically its most popular certifications.

"What's likely to be new and interesting in these .NET certifications?" seems like a pretty inevitable next question. Officially, no details are available from Microsoft. But it's not unreasonable to look at major new features, functions, and initiatives, and to speculate on likely candidates for inclusion in the upcoming .NET Server MCSE and MCSA exams. Based on a review of recent Microsoft technical publications, training materials, press encounters, and some (hopefully) inspired guessing, here's my list of high-probability topics:

All this said, it's important to ponder the timing of Server .NET in light of what has happened with Windows NT Server and Windows 2000 Server. In each case, it took at least 18-24 months for

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industry to start adopting the new operating system in large numbers. That explains why many companies are still involved in migrating from NT 4.0 to Windows 2000 today, 26 months after Windows 2000 Server shipped in February 2000. Unless your organization develops for Server .NET platforms or is an early adopter, you're unlikely to need to tackle these exams before 2004. In fact, if you're already passed the equivalent Windows 2000 exams (For example, 70-215 corresponds to 70-275, 216 to 276, and so forth.) there may not be any compelling reasons to take these exams for a while. That's because Microsoft is allowing MCPs, MCSAs, and MCSEs to "mix and match" items from the Windows 2000 and Windows .NET tracks without regard to version. Unless Microsoft changes this policy, you won't need to take these new exams until your organization migrates and you need to understand the new OS.

Other relevant Resources:
MCAD Requirements
MCSD Requirements
MCSE Requirements
MCSA Requirements

Ed Tittel is a principal at a small content development company based in Austin, Texas, and the creator of the Exam Cram series, and has worked on over 30 certification-related books on Microsoft, Novell, and Sun related topics.

Want more information on what .NET means for your Microsoft certification? Tune in today (April 25) at noon for Ed's live SearchWin2000 Webcast. Click here to register.

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