Microsoft Certified Application Developer - Microsoft Certification Resources

Microsoft Certification Resources

There are several courses, boot camps and practice tests from different vendors offering preparation material for Microsoft certification exams. Bootcamps normally provide residential program that includes food and lodging. These courses are meant for busy professionals who do not have enough time for self-preparation or wish to get trained by professional trainers. Microsoft Press provides several books towards Microsoft certification exams preparation. Books are normally the first place to explore Microsoft certification options, and preparation. Apart from Microsoft Press books, there are other reputed publishers like Sybex, and others. In addition to books, Microsoft Learning also offers courses for each of the exams.

Many vendors, usually Microsoft Gold Certified Partners, such as Avantus, NetAssist have instructor-led, formal classroom courses using Microsoft IT Academy source materials including Microsoft Official Courseware (MOC). For instance: MCSE Windows 2000 Server used MOC Courses: 2151, 2152, 2153, & 2154; and MOC 2072 Administering a Microsoft SQL 2000 Server Database.

Apart from books, there are several practice tests vendors that offer pre-certification exams. These mock exams almost mimic actual exams, and normally priced much less than the actual exam. Several user forums are available for certification preparation where most questions are answered by other forum users.

Experts and past candidates recommend not only reading more than one book, but spending a good amount of time practicing the concepts on computers on a test environment. After practicing and reading, it's also recommended to take sample exams before taking the Microsoft exam.