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  • Question

  • Dear All,

    I am interested in Web Designing & development using ASP.NET.Now the latest version of that exam is

    • 70-515: TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 4.0, Web Applications Development

    Now the problem is that the exam is being retired on May 31,2013.In this regard I have the following questions:

    1) If the exam gets retired does it mean that the certification it self loses its validity. In other words post May 31,2013 can a person who cleared this exam call himself certified or he can't since the certification itself has lost its validity.

    2) Is there any validity period of certifications in general irrespective of the fact whether the corresponding exam gets retired or not.

    3) If someone passes 70-515 and 70-519 and want to maintain these certifications in the next Framework as well i.e 4.5 how can he do so? Will there be a single upgrade paper or two different papers as usual?

    4) Is it useful to give Beta Exams of any Framework like 4.5? What are the benefits?

    5) What is the amount of change b/w a Beta version and a released version of any Framework like 4.5 in terms of %?

    These are some of the information not clearly mentioned by Microsoft.

    Thanks for your efforts.


    Today's knowledge is too little for tomorrow's job

    Tuesday, November 27, 2012 5:47 PM

Answers

  • Thanks for posting on the MSDN forums.

    1) No, certifications never expire so your certification will always be valid.

    2) As per (1)

    3) There are no upgrade paths from these certifications to 4.5.  You would need to gain the MCPD: Web Developer 4 certification (by also completing exams 70-513 and 70-516) and then upgrade your MCPD: Wed Developer 4 certification to an equivalent 4.5 certification.

    4) Not really (unless you count being one of the first to look at the exam as a benefit).  Beta exams are generally harder than the live exam as they generally contain more questions (some of which may not make it into the live exam due to being technically incorrect).  You also don't find out whether you passed/failed until the live exam is released (usually 8-10 weeks later) 

    5) This information is not disclosed by Microsoft and cannot be disclosed by anyone due to exam NDA.


    When you see answers and helpful posts, please click Vote As Helpful, Propose As Answer, and/or Mark As Answer

    Jeff Wharton
    MSysDev (C.Sturt), MDbDsgnMgt (C.Sturt), MCT, MCPD, MCSD, MCITP, MCDBA
    Blog: Mr. Wharty's Ramblings
    Twitter: @Mr_Wharty
    MC ID: Microsoft Transcript


    • Edited by Mr. Wharty Tuesday, November 27, 2012 9:30 PM Added hyperlinks
    • Proposed as answer by Horizon_NetEditor Thursday, November 29, 2012 10:22 PM
    • Marked as answer by Horizon_NetEditor Thursday, December 6, 2012 7:19 PM
    Tuesday, November 27, 2012 9:28 PM

All replies

  • Thanks for posting on the MSDN forums.

    1) No, certifications never expire so your certification will always be valid.

    2) As per (1)

    3) There are no upgrade paths from these certifications to 4.5.  You would need to gain the MCPD: Web Developer 4 certification (by also completing exams 70-513 and 70-516) and then upgrade your MCPD: Wed Developer 4 certification to an equivalent 4.5 certification.

    4) Not really (unless you count being one of the first to look at the exam as a benefit).  Beta exams are generally harder than the live exam as they generally contain more questions (some of which may not make it into the live exam due to being technically incorrect).  You also don't find out whether you passed/failed until the live exam is released (usually 8-10 weeks later) 

    5) This information is not disclosed by Microsoft and cannot be disclosed by anyone due to exam NDA.


    When you see answers and helpful posts, please click Vote As Helpful, Propose As Answer, and/or Mark As Answer

    Jeff Wharton
    MSysDev (C.Sturt), MDbDsgnMgt (C.Sturt), MCT, MCPD, MCSD, MCITP, MCDBA
    Blog: Mr. Wharty's Ramblings
    Twitter: @Mr_Wharty
    MC ID: Microsoft Transcript


    • Edited by Mr. Wharty Tuesday, November 27, 2012 9:30 PM Added hyperlinks
    • Proposed as answer by Horizon_NetEditor Thursday, November 29, 2012 10:22 PM
    • Marked as answer by Horizon_NetEditor Thursday, December 6, 2012 7:19 PM
    Tuesday, November 27, 2012 9:28 PM
  • I've got one objection about the preceding answers: the bit about "certifications never expire so your certification will always be valid" is only true until version 4.0. It has been announced that the new certifications on version 4.5 will require recertification every two years, and they will expire if you don't take the updated exams.

    Wednesday, November 28, 2012 10:37 PM
  • As far as I'm aware, recertification only applies to the full MCSD certification, not the individual exams which make up the MCSD certification.

    http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/certification/mcsd.aspx#tab2

    A. To ensure that our certifications remain meaningful and valuable indicators of candidates’ skills, Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD) certifications will require recertification every two years.


    When you see answers and helpful posts, please click Vote As Helpful, Propose As Answer, and/or Mark As Answer

    Jeff Wharton
    MSysDev (C.Sturt), MDbDsgnMgt (C.Sturt), MCT, MCPD, MCSD, MCITP, MCDBA
    Blog: Mr. Wharty's Ramblings
    Twitter: @Mr_Wharty
    MC ID: Microsoft Transcript

    Wednesday, November 28, 2012 10:42 PM
  • That's good to know. I was being reluctant to taking more than a minimal number of the new exams thinking that they would expire, but if only the MCSD (and presumably MCSE?) are affected then I feel more comfortable about following several certification paths.

    Wednesday, November 28, 2012 11:49 PM
  • Yes this includes MCSE.

    I was also thinking the same thing about not doing more than the minimal number of new exams until someone pointed me to the link I provided :-)


    When you see answers and helpful posts, please click Vote As Helpful, Propose As Answer, and/or Mark As Answer

    Jeff Wharton
    MSysDev (C.Sturt), MDbDsgnMgt (C.Sturt), MCT, MCPD, MCSD, MCITP, MCDBA
    Blog: Mr. Wharty's Ramblings
    Twitter: @Mr_Wharty
    MC ID: Microsoft Transcript

    Wednesday, November 28, 2012 11:53 PM