MCAD and MCSD Certification
If you currently hold the MCAD or MCSD certification, your credentials continue to be recognized by Microsoft (*), and you do not need to do anything to maintain them. However, Microsoft recommends that developers who use the Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 and Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 and are currently either MCAD or MCSD consider upgrading to the new Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD) credentials.
Plan to Upgrade?
If you plan to upgrade from an MCAD or MCSD on .NET certification to a Microsoft Certified Professional Developer certification, you do not need to first obtain an MCTS certification. You will earn the applicable MCTS certifications when you pass the upgrade exam(s) for MCPD.
Microsoft Certified Application Developers (MCAD) can upgrade to MCPD: Web Developer
Microsoft Certified Application Developers (MCAD) can upgrade to MCPD: Windows Developer
Microsoft Certified Solutions Developers (MCSD) can upgrade to MCPD: Enterprise Developer
Important Note (*)!
If you are considering a Microsoft Certified Application Developer (MCAD) or Microsoft Certified Solution Developers (MCSD) certification you should do so within the next 12 months. Effective March 31, 2009, Microsoft Learning will retire 12 exams—core requirements for the MCAD and MCSD certifications—that focus on developer and Microsoft SQL Server technologies no longer covered by Microsoft mainstream support. You will not lose your certification status when the exams are retired, but you must pass the core exams before March 31, 2009, to earn the certification.