When I started at C2 Software a little over a year ago I set myself a personal goal; to pass at least one Microsoft certification before the end of 2008.
Now one year on and I have exceeded this, passing two exams, 70-536 and 70-528. Together these exams combine to qualify me as a Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) in .NET Framework 2.0 Web Applications.
The MCTS credentials are designed to enable I.T. professionals to target specific technologies, in my case Web Development.
The exam format is multiple choice and at the end of the exam you are given the opportunity to review your answers prior to finishing. The results are provided there and then and I can tell you it's a great feeling when you see the “Passed” message.
Along with the processes and services that C2 Software offers, certification also counts towards C2 Software’s membership as a Microsoft partner. This is an accreditation that we are all proud of as it shows that we have proven abilities to provide our clients with the solutions they require. For clients it provides reassurance on the level of capability provided by the organisation and the company’s area of expertise.
For me the next step is to sit more exams. 70-547 is the next one. This course concentrates on designing and developing Web based applications. On completion of this I will achieve the Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD) certification and following on from this I will be looking towards sitting an upgrade exam to move to .NET 3.5. Given that the Activedition CMS has moved to support the .NET 3.5 platform this can’t come soon enough for me.
Being a developer is more than just a job for me, I find it a very rewarding career, giving me the opportunity to push myself further and ultimately provide me with the skills required to continue to offer our clients new and innovative solutions. I suppose this is the main reason for sitting these exams.
