Microsoft have announced that mainstream product support ends for Visual Studio 2005 in April 2011 and SQL Server 2005 in July 2011. This means that both of these Microsoft exams will be retiring in June 2011.
What does it mean when an exam is retired?Put simply, you won't be able to take these exams after they retire on June 30th 2011. If you hold any of these exams, they remain valid but you might want to think about upgrading to later versions to stay current. These would be SQL Server 2008 or Visual Studio 2008 (or 2010).
If you are in the middle of studying for these exams, you have until the middle of 2011 to take the exams and pass them. You will not be able to register after the deadline so give yourself enough time in case you need to retake.
What exam numbers are retiring in June 2011?List of SQL Server 2005 exams to retire in 2011:- 70-431 TS: Microsoft SQL Server 2005, Implementation and Maintenance
- 70-441 PRO: Designing Database Solutions by Using Microsoft SQL Server 2005
- 70-442 PRO: Designing and Optimizing Data Access by Using Microsoft SQL Server 2005
- 70-443 PRO: Designing a Database Server Infrastructure by Using Microsoft SQL Server 2005
- 70-444 PRO: Optimizing and Maintaining a Database Administration Solution by Using Microsoft SQL Server 2005
- 70-445 TS: Microsoft SQL Server 2005, Business Intelligence Development and Maintenance
- 70-446 PRO: Designing a Business Intelligence Solution by Using Microsoft SQL Server 2005
- 70-447 UPGRADE: MCDBA Skills to MCITP Database Administrator by Using Microsoft SQL Server 2005
List of Visual Studio 2005 exams to retire in 2011- 70-526 TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 – Windows-Based Client Development
- 70-528 TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 – Web-Based Client Development
- 70-529 TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 – Distributed Application Development
- 70-547 PRO: Designing and Developing Web-Based Applications by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework
- 70-548 PRO: Designing and Developing Windows-Based Applications by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework
- 70-549 PRO: Designing and Developing Enterprise Applications by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework
- 70-551 Upgrade: MCAD Skills to MCPD Web Developer by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework
- 70-552 Upgrade: MCAD Skills to MCPD Windows Developer by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework
- 70-553 Upgrade: MCSD Microsoft .NET Skills to MCPD Enterprise Application Developer by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework: Part 1
- 70-554 Upgrade: MCSD Microsoft .NET Skills to MCPD Enterprise Application Developer by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework: Part 2
- 70-558 Upgrade: MCAD Skills to MCTS Windows Applications by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework
- 70-559 Upgrade: MCAD Skills to MCTS Web Applications by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework
Upgrading from SQL 2005If you already have an MCITP certification on SQL Server 2005 you only need to pass a single exam to upgrade to MCITP SQL Server 2008.
SQL Server 2008 Upgrade exams:- Exam 70-453: Upgrade: Transition Your MCITP SQL Server 2005 DBA to MCITP SQL Server 2008 DBA
- Exam 70-454: Upgrade: Transition Your MCITP SQL Server 2005 Database Developer to MCITP SQL Server 2008 Database Developer
- Exam 70-455: Upgrade: Transition Your MCITP SQL Server 2005 Business Intelligence Developer to MCITP SQL Server 2008 Business Intelligence Developer
Upgrading from Visual Studio 2005Depending on your current certification level (Windows, Web or Enterprise Applications Developer), you will need to pass either 1 or 2 exams.
Visual Studio 2008 Upgrade exams- Exam 70-566: Upgrade: Transition Your MCPD Windows Developer Skills to MCPD Windows Developer 3.5
- Exam 70-567: Upgrade: Transition Your MCPD Web Developer Skills to MCPD ASP.NET Developer 3.5
- Exam 70-568: Upgrade: Transition Your MCPD Enterprise Application Developer Skills to MCPD Enterprise Application Developer 3.5, Part 1
- Exam 70-569: Upgrade: Transition Your MCPD Enterprise Application Developer Skills to MCPD Enterprise Application Developer 3.5, Part 2