If you’re thinking about becoming certified in one of the  Microsoft programs, you may have noticed that there are quite a few to choose from.  Microsoft has redesigned its certification programs and each certification comes with many variations. In addition to the new certs, many of the older certifications are still available, and relevant to IT professionals today. All of this makes your choices a bit confusing.

If you are working with the latest Microsoft technologies, most likely you will want to become certified with the latest generation of certifications, which consist of:

 
MCTS - Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist  - highlights your job role, featuring your specific area of expertise, so you can easily distinguish yourself as an expert in Windows, ASP.NET, ADO.NET, or Windows Communication Foundation application development.

MCITP - Microsoft Certified IT Professional - builds on the MCTS certification and is designed for IT professionals who want to demonstrate their expertise in database administration, database development, or business intelligence.

MCPD -Microsoft Certified Professional Developer  - for application developers who work with Microsoft Visual Studio and Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5.  There are three MCPD paths: Windows Developer, ASP.NET Developer, or Enterprise Application Developer. EAD candidates must first earn the three Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) credentials for Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0.

The MCTS, MCITP, or MCPD certifications will retire when Microsoft discontinues mainstream support for the related technology. Typically, mainstream support is discontinued 7 to 10 years after the initial product release. When support ends, your related certification will retire.