Want to get MCSD, where should I start studying? Please advice.

[JoJoH]

Hi all,

I am currently shooting for MCSD(Microsoft Certified Solution Developer) certifications, and I am wondering where should I start studying. For those of you who have had experience(hopefully good) with the MCSD, could you please point me in the right direction as to where I should start studying, what books, etc.

Anyways, why is MCSD better than MCAD?

Please advice.

Thanks in advance!

JoJoH

http://www.jadeboutique.com

 

[jtb]

http://www.microsoft.com

but seriously, why? if you have a career plan, you know which way to go...

JTB
Senior Infrastructure Specialist
MCSE-NT4, MCP+I, MCP-W2K, CCNA, CCDA,
CTE, MCIWD, i-Net+, Network+
(MCSE-W2K in progress)

 

[dilettante]

The difference between MCSD and MCAD is pretty simple:

MCSD is for "analysts" and MCAD is for "programmers."

Of course in Microsoft-speak an "analyst" (or "Solution Developer&quot has a superset of the skills of a "programmer" ("Application Developer&quot. Contrast this with some employers who view an "analyst" as a soft-skills and project-management skills person, requiring little or no aptitude or skill in writing/testing/maintaining code.

This is covered pretty well at:

http://www.microsoft.com/traincert/mcp/mcad/compare.asp

The basic idea is that the MCAD cert. offers a "junior level" certification. This is because on larger projects you may need a lot of people to code or test or document software but only a few people involved in architecture, planning, and design. That way an employer/customer only needs to pay for a few MCSDs and a larger number of MCADs.

Microsoft also offers more general information, training guidelines, and so on at:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/tce/