Diploma for Graduates in Banking

Is this programme for me?

The programme is suitable for graduates of any discipline who, for professional or personal reasons, wish to secure a stand-alone qualification in banking. It is also ideal for those who wish to undertake postgraduate work and whose first degree is in an unrelated field.

Programme aims

To provide a thorough grounding in the principles of banking while developing critical skills for a wide range of real world professional situations.

Programme structure

To complete the programme you must pass four full units (or the equivalent).

 Prestige
Developed by academics at The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), regarded as an international centre of academic excellence and innovation in the social sciences.

Flexible study at a reasonable cost

You have between 1-5 years to complete the programme. The total fee payable to the University is £1,233 if you complete in the minimum study period.

Study materials

The study materials that we send you include:

• Strategies for success – an academic advice and study skills handbook containing information about study techniques, planning your studies, making the best use of resources and preparing for examinations.
• Student handbook.
• Subject guides (offering advice on how to use textbooks).
• Past exam papers and Examiners' reports - these resources are updated annually and are available to download.
• Regulations.

Study support and online resources

You can either study independently at a pace that suits you, or enrol for additional classes at a local institution (either full time or part time) and benefit from the more formalized support this provides. For more information see our Directory of Institutions.

• LSE arranges a Study weekend in February each year. This consists of short courses desgined to help you with examination preparation and technique. You will also have the opportunity to discuss your studies with subject specialists.
• LSE also runs a Summer School each year, usually from July to mid-August, to which all students are welcome.
• Online resources including Examiners' reports and past exam papers, the Student handbook, Regulations, unit information sheets, reading lists, a ‘News and notices’ section. It also contains the first four chapters of subject guides for most units. On registering you will also gain access to the Virtual Learning Environment.
• Online Library giving access to Justis.com, JSTOR, ABI/INFORM, Academic Search Premier and Business Source Premier.

Summary of key dates

Application deadline	17 September (non-EU) 17 October (EU) in the year before you intend to sit your first exams
Registration deadline	30 November
Despatch of study materials	Shortly after your registration form is received
Examinations take place	May/June

Apple Certifications: Getting Certified--CA/LA/US

Apple offers the service certification listed below. Click the link for information about the certification.

• Apple Certified Macintosh Technician (ACMT) certification

This article also includes these helpful topics:

• How To Register for Apple Certification Exams
• Frequently Asked Questions
• For More Information about Apple Certification and Training

How To Register for Apple Certification Exams
Anyone may register for the Apple exams, as follows:

• TO REGISTER FOR APPLE SERVICE CERTIFICATION EXAMS in the United States, Canada, or Puerto Rico, call Prometric toll-free at 1-888-APL-EXAM (1-888-275-3926), or, for these and other countries, visit Prometric on the Web. Prometric will help locate the most convenient testing center. Please have the following information available for the registrar:
  • Your Tech ID (to get one, go to the Certifications website)
  • Method of payment: VISA, MasterCard, AMEX, or purchase order*

* Please see the Frequently Asked Questions below for full explanation regarding when you may register using purchase orders.
You are required to have an Apple Tech ID number before registering for an exam. You can apply for a Tech ID by following the instructions at the Apple Certifications website. Provide this Tech ID when registering at an Apple Authorized Training Center or when registering by phone or online with Prometric.
Once you've taken an Apple certification exam, you can visit the Apple Certifications website to track and manage all of your Apple certifications.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Can the general public take the ACMT service certification exam?
A. Yes, anyone may register for the hardware and software exams required to become an Apple Certified Macintosh Technician (ACMT). Certification for Apple-authorized service provider (AASP) technicians and for public individuals is identical (the certificates are exactly the same). Individuals seeking a job repairing Apple products gain a competitive advantage by demonstrating an ability to support and troubleshoot Apple products by taking these exams. But please note that successful completion of the exams does NOT imply authorization by Apple to perform repairs or to conduct business directly with Apple or on Apple's behalf. Apple certifies (verifies the skills of) technicians, but authorizes (establishes business relationships with) service providers - and these two things are not the same.
Q. How do I prepare for the service certification exams?
A. Apple provides self-paced and instructor-led Service Training courses. Skill Assessment Guides help you to assess the technical skills covered in the courseware. The Service Training curriculum is delivered via the Web for free to Apple-authorized service providers (AASPs) and Self-Servicing Accounts (SSAs), and for a fee to the public by purchasing AppleCare Technician Training. A list of instructor-led Apple Authorized Service Training Centers for Americas and EMEA is available online. Please note that the ACMT hardware exam contains sections on ESD precautions and technician safety that must be passed in order to pass the exam as a whole.
Q. If I pass an Apple certification exam, how long do I stay certified?
A. For service technicians who attain an ACMT certification, your initial service certification is good for one year. To stay certified, you must take the required recertification exam(s) before the certification expiration date. To track your certifications and expiration dates, you will use the Apple Certification website.
Recertifying requires passing a Macintosh service recertification exam, which is open book and ONLY available online. You may also need to pass a qualifying Mac OS exam. Refer to the Apple Certification website to see exactly which exams you must take to recertify. Click the "Exam Sign Up" tab to register for and take one of the online recertification exams.
For details about the Apple Service Certification program, service technicians should refer to the Getting Certified document on the GSX Training & Certification web page.
Q. Will I receive a certificate?
A. Once you pass all exams that fulfill ACMT recertification requirements, you will receive an email inviting you to order your ACMT certificate within three weeks of passing the exam. This email will allow you to use AppleCare Service Training's print-on-demand system to order paper certificates for any certifications you have been granted. Note that passing an exam guarantees a certificate only if that exam is the last requirement needed to attain an Apple certification.
If you pass an exam but do not receive your invitation email within 30 days of fulfilling requirements for the certification, you should contact Apple at fulfillment@apple.com. Please provide the following information:

• Your name and mailing address
• Your Apple Tech ID
• Your Prometric ID
• Exam name and ID (e.g. Mac OS X v10.6 Troubleshooting exam, 9L0-062)
• Date you passed the exam
• A scanned or PDF copy of your score report

Q. I'm a service technician and want to redeem my Promotion Code. How do I do this?
A. You redeem your Promotion Code when registering for the exam. If you are registering at a Prometric test site or contact center, the Prometric customer service representative will prompt you for the Promotion Code; simply convey the code to the CSR. If you are registering online, just follow the online directions; the payment section of the online registration program will ask if you have a Promotion Code.
Q. Do I need to pre-register, or can I just go to a testing center and take an exam?
A. You may register and take an exam on the same day only at those Authorized Prometric Testing Centers that offer this service.
Q. I am interested in becoming an Apple Authorized Service Provider. How do I sign up?
A. Please refer to the Apple Channel Programs website for basic information on becoming an Apple Service Provider and Apple Service Programs for a complete list of requirements. Acceptance into Apple's service program is at Apple's sole discretion. Questions regarding Apple Service Provider Programs can be sent to svc.authorize@apple.com. Responses are provided in 3-5 business days.
Q. Because my business (school) has a large installed base of Apple product, I believe a self-service program would offer the solution I need. How do I sign up for self-servicing?
A. Apple's Self-Servicing program allows authorized accounts to perform service on their own products and to repair products at their site. For business or education accounts interested in becoming authorized to repair product that they own, visit Apple Self-Servicing Account Program or contact your Apple Sales representative.
Q. What method of payment is required for the exams?
A. Payment for certification exams may be made by Visa, MasterCard, or American Express at time of registration.
For More Information about Apple Service Certification and Service Training
Visit these Apple websites:
http://training.apple.com/certification/acmt
http://service.info.apple.com/service_training/en/home.php?page=training

OS X Lion Certifications

Apple's OS X Certifications are designed for IT professionals who: 

• Want to know how to add a Mac to a Windows or other standards-based network
• Support OS X users in a business, education institution or school district
• Manage networks of OS X systems in an organization — for example, a teacher or a technology specialist who manages classroom networks or computer labs
• Manage complex, multi-platform networks that include OS X systems

Exams are offered at Apple Authorized Training Centers worldwide, with select exams also available online as noted below.

Lion Certifications	Required Exams	Exam Passing Score	Recommended Preparation
Apple Certified Associate - Mac Integration 10.7	Mac Integration Basics Exam (9L0-407) Available online	85%	Mac Integration Basics Guide
Apple Certified Support Professional (ACSP) 10.7	OS X Support Essentials 10.7 Exam (9L0-410)	73%	Lion 101 course (PDF) Test Yourself App (coming soon) Exam Preparation Guide
Apple Certified Technical Coordinator (ACTC) 10.7	ACTC 10.7 Recertification Exam (9L0-517)	72%	Choose one: -Lion 101 (PDF) and Lion 201 (PDF) courses -Lion 101+201 ACTC Bootcamp course (PDF)
	OR
	OS X Support Essentials 10.7 Exam (9L0-410)	73%	Lion 101 course (PDF) Test Yourself App (coming soon) Exam Preparation Guide
	OS X Server Essentials 10.7 Exam (9L0-515)	72%	Lion 201 course (PDF) Test Yourself App (coming soon) Exam Preparation Guide

NOTE: Mac OS X 10.6 and Xsan 2 exams will continue to be available at Apple Authorized Training Centers through May 31, 2012.

Certification

Strengthen your skills, broaden your expertise

Certification is designed to enhance your skills and help you contribute to the continued success of your company. In today's competitive business world, it is essential to keep pace with rapidly changing technologies. Businesses need to maximize the potential of technology and employees. Professional certification is a powerful option that benefits the employer and employee by helping each grow and come together to forge a stronger whole.
Learn more about certification announcements, promotions, and special offers.

• Visit Certification News and select a specific hardware platform or software brand to get more details.
• For certification information in other subject areas, visit the IBM certification site

Select a certification area to see the training we offer:

 

Software Certifications

• IBM Business Analytics
• IBM Commerce
• IBM Connectivity and Integration
• IBM Enterprise Content Management
• IBM Information Management
• IBM Lotus
• IBM Rational
• IBM Tivoli Software
• IBM WebSphere
• IBM Service Oriented Architecture (SOA)
• XML

Hardware Certifications

• Cisco
• IBM System i
• IBM System p, AIX and UNIX
• IBM System x
• IBM System z (z/OS, z/VM, Linux)
• IBM System Storage and Storage Networking
• Linux
• Networking Protocols and Tech.

HP-UX Certification

The HP Certified Professional Program gives you an opportunity to validate the HP-UX administration skills you have learned in our HP-UX curriculum courses and your time on the job. To receive HP-UX certifications, you must pass the requisite exams and then apply to the HP Certified Professional Program for recognition. To review a preparatory guide and to register for an exam, please visit your regional Certified Professional Program website:

• Americas
• Europe, Middle East and Africa
• Asia Pacific and Japan

 Tier 1: HP-UX Certified System Administration

Candidates must have passed the "HP-UX System Administration" exam HP0-095 (formerly HP0-091).

Recommended courses include:

New UNIX administrators (take in order):

UNIX Fundamentals(51434S) HP-UX System & Network Administration I (H3064S) HP-UX System & Network Administration II (H3065S)

Experienced UNIX or HP-UX administrators:

HP-UX System & Network Administration for Experienced UNIX Administrators (H5875S) or HP-UX 11i v2 for Experienced HP-UX Administrators (U5523S)

Tier 2: HP-UX Certified System Engineer (CSE)

Candidates must meet the following criteria:

Have passed the "HP-UX System Administration" exam HP0-095 (formerly HP0-091) and obtained their HP-UX CSA certification Have passed the "HP-UX Advanced System Administration" exam HP0-096 (formerly HP0-092) Have advanced-level knowledge of and 2-3 years of hands-on experience administrating HP-UX systems Have passed one of the following three exams: "HP-UX CSE - High Availability" exam HP0-914 (formerly HP0-093) "HP-UX CSE - Virtual Server Environment (VSE)" exam HP0-090 "HP-UX CSE - Networking/Security" exam HP0-094

Recommended courses (include):

"HP-UX Advanced System Administration" exam HP0-096 (take in any order):

HP-UX 11iv2 for Experienced HP-UX Administrators (U5523S) HP-UX Logical Volume Manager (H6285S) HP-UX VERITAS Volume Manager (HB505S) HP Partition Management (U5075S) Ignite-UX (H1978S)

"HP-UX CSE- High Availability" exam HP0-093:

HP Serviceguard I (H6487S) HP Serviceguard II: Continentalclusters, CFS, & Oracle RAC (U8601S) POSIX shell programming (H4322S)

"HP-UX CSE- Virtual Server Environment (VSE)" exam HP0-090:

Refer to the VSE curriculum

"HP-UX CSE - Networking/Security" exam HP0-094:

HP-UX Security (H3541S)

Unix Certification Resources

Find all of the information you need to prepare for and take your Unix certification exams.

Unix Certifications
Unix certification links and information from your About.com Guide to Unix. Includes certification information on SCO, AIX, Solaris and more.

Solaris Practice Exams
This site provides free exams and resources for those looking to get a Solaris certification. No registration is required.

Training Materials
ComputerPREP's UNIX training materials provide practice exercises, a syllabus and exercise answers for a fee. Prices run from $100 to $200 for instructor-led training materials.

Free Demo Exam
Boston offers a free 12-question demo of thier practice exams for Solaris Sys Admin, TCP/IP, and Java 2 Professional exams. Upgrade to a full version for only $39.95.

Free Unix Tests
This site offers free assesment tests for learning Unix. There are no answers or other resources provided so use this as a basic learning tool.

Microsoft .Net Certification Courses

Information Technology is a rapidly changing industry with constant changes in software technology. The IT industry is very volatile and demands very high quality of professionals. Preferably those who are internationally certified by I.T. Giants like, Microsoft Corp, Cisco Systems, Sun Microsystems, Oracle Corporation etc.

The adoptation and use of new technology by the industry has led to continous change in manpower requirements. As a result, a professional needs to update regularly, to keep their skill sets industry-relevant. To keep up with the changing requirements of the Software Development Industry, Sierra Infotech conducts ASP.Net Training, VB.Net Training, C#.Net Training for Microsoft .Net Certification Courses designed and recommended by Microsoft Corp.

Some employers require or prefer certain MCP, MCTS, MCPD, MCITP certifications for specific jobs that involve Microsoft products and technologies. Other vendors have their own certification programs.

Microsoft Certified Professional- MCP refers to the broad certification program for Microsoft, although in previous generations it also referred to an individual candidate who had completed any one exam within the program (subject to some exclusions).

The MCP program offers multiple certifications, based on different areas of technical expertise. To attain these certifications, a candidate must pass a series of exams within the program. The current certifications are Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist - MCTS (.Net 2.0), Microsoft Certified Professional Developer- MCPD (.Net 2.0), Microsoft Certified I T Professional - MCITP (MS SQL 2005).
The Benefits of Microsoft Certification Courses

1. Industry recognition of your knowledge and proficiency

2. Logos and certificates to identify your MCP, MCTS, MCPD, MCITP status

3. Access to an exclusive MCP , MCTS, MCPD, MCITP member Web site

4. Exclusive discounts on products and services

5. Access to career-related tools

6. Invitations to conferences, training sessions, and special events

Cisco Certification Exams

About career certification exams
The main requirement for obtaining Cisco Career Certifications such as CCENT, CCNA, CCDP and CCIE is to take and pass one or more certification exams and sign the Cisco Career Certifications and Confidentiality Agreement. Passing exams give network professionals the chance to prove their networking knowledge and expertise.

What are the exams like?
	Exams are proctored, timed, and delivered in a secure environment. Most exams last approximately one to two hours. Lab exams typically last eight hours.
	Candidates must acknowledge the Cisco Career Certifications and Confidentiality Agreement online at the authorized testing center prior to taking any Cisco Career Certification exam. Candidates will not be able to proceed with the exam and a refund will not be provided. Signing this legal agreement is required to be officially certified.
	Exams can be very challenging, going beyond simple recall and requiring candidates to engage in on the job types of problem solving. Questions include multiple-choice single answer, multiple-choice multiple answers, drag and drop, fill in the blank and simulations.
	Exams other than CCIE lab exams are delivered online, with questions in sequence, and do not allow a candidate to "mark" and return to an exam question.
	Candidates will be provided with an erasable note board and marker for notes and calculations to assist them as they answer the questions.
	Exams may contain non-scored items to collect performance data on new items. Non-scored items are not used in determining the passing score nor are reported in a subsection of the score report. All non-scored items are randomly placed in the exam with sufficient time calculated and given to complete the entire exam.
	At the completion of computer-based exams, candidates receive a score report along with a score breakout by exam section and the passing score for the given exam. Lab exams are Pass/Fail and results are available online (using login) within 48 hours.
	Cisco does not publish exam passing scores because exam questions and passing scores are subject to change without notice.

What do they cost?
	Computer-based certification exam prices range from $80 to $325 US dollars or equivalent worldwide. The ICND1 and ICND2 exams are $125 USD, the CCNA exam is $250 USD and the professional level CCNP and CCDP Composite exam is $300.00 USD, and CCIE written exams are $350 USD. Payment is made directly to the authorized test delivery partner Pearson Vue.
	CCIE lab exams are $1,400 USD. Payment is made online via credit card or wire transfer
	Refund policies vary by testing delivery partner.

What are the exams like?
	Visit the CCIE website for more information on how to schedule CCIE lab exams.
	For all other exams, contact an authorized test delivery partner in your area to register for an exam.
	In the U.S. and Canada, exams usually can be scheduled up to six weeks in advance, and as late as the same day. Scheduling policies vary at international locations.
	Candidates who fail an exam must wait for a period of five calendar days, before they may retest for the same exam.

What do I get when I pass my exams?
	After a candidate passes all exams required for a certification and signs the required agreements, Cisco will send a Cisco Career Certifications certificate identifying the candidate's Cisco Career Certification ID and valid certification dates. Allow 3-5 business days for electronic certificates and 6-8 weeks from the date the certificate was mailed for printed certificates.
	Certified candidates are authorized to use the appropriate Cisco Career Certifications logos indicating certification status. Prior to use, they must read and acknowledge the Cisco Career Certifications Logo Agreement. Logos can be ordered through the Cisco Career Certifications Tracking System.
	The Cisco Career Certifications Tracking System provides a record of both exam and certification status. Candidates and certification holders are expected to keep contact information up to date for receiving notifications from Cisco.

Do certification exams expire?
	CCENT, Associate and Professional level 642 exams are valid for three years from the date the exam was passed. Specialist focused certification exams are valid for two years from the date the exam was passed.
	Placing expiration dates on exams ensures that candidates starting a multi-exam certification such as CCENT, CCNP, CCDP, CCVP, CCSP and CCIP, complete the program within a specified time-frame. By passing all of the required exams within the specified time period as noted above, candidates demonstrate that they are tested on current content. In situations where the period exceeds three years, candidates will need to re-take those exams that expire.
	For CCIE written exam expiration information, visit the CCIE Exam Information page.

Which areas are covered in 70-564?

Exam 70-564 Designing and Developing ASP.NET Applications Using the Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5. This exam is part of the MCPD certification path and covers the topics listed below. Make sure you have understood all the areas and are capable of answers questions on any of the topics.

The following topics are covered by 70-564

Designing and Implementing Controls

User Controls

Server Controls 

Custom Controls 

Web Parts

Reusability

Control Inheritance

Control States

View State

Data Bound Controls

GridViews

Sorting

Paging

Callbacks

Use of AJAX

Mobile Device Markup

Screen Readers and Accessibility

Script Services

Designing the Presentation and Layout of an Application

Designs Using Master Pages.

Nested Master Pages

Using Themes for User Interface Design

Site Navigation Design Considerations

Treeview Menus and Site Map Paths

Control Adapters

Custom Resources and Localized Applications

Accessing Data and Services

Plan Database Interactions

IDBConnection

IDBAdaptor

IReader

SQLDataSource

XMLDataSource

LINQ for Data Access

WCF, ASMX, REST 

ASP.NET Solution Structure

Web Site model vs. Web Application Project

Global.asax

Web.config

Try, Catch Blocks

Error Logging

Managing Application Pools and Web Deployment

Precompile Web Projects and Updatable Projects

Leveraging and Extending ASP.NET Architecture

Design a State Management Strategy.

Understand Cache, ViewState, Application object, Session object, cookies, cookieless session 

Name and identify all the Page Life Cycle events.

Write HttpModules and HttpHandlers.

URL rewriting, SSO application, dynamically retrieve data 

Debug ASP.NET Web Applications.

Develop using Asynchronous Pages.

May include but is not limited to: AddonPreRenderCompleteAsync, RegisterAsyncTask 

Applying security principles

Identify appropriate security providers such as membership, role, profile, extending custom providers 

Decide which user-related information to store in a profile.

May include but is not limited to: create user profile properties, extend membership objects, custom types 

Establish security settings in Web.config. 

Identify vulnerable elements in applications.

May include but is not limited to: SQL injection, cross-site scripting, protecting against bots 

Ensure that sensitive information in applications is protected.

May include but is not limited to: hash and salt passwords, encrypting information 

When will MCSA and MCSE be discontinued?

With the introduction of new certification paths such as MCTS and MCITP, many of you will be wondering whether your current MCSA and MCSE certifications will be discontinued. Microsoft has a very sound policy with regards to certifications expiring and being discontinued.

As a general rule of thumb, certifications are usually discontinued after the third generation of new certifications come out. So, for example, when the MCPD certification path for .NET 3.5 was released, the certification path for .NET 1.0 was discontinued. Although certifications are discontinued, don't worry because your certification will still be valid for the future. Microsoft usually post a message on their learning website telling you of the date the exam will be discontinued.

As new certifications come out, Microsoft do create upgrade exams, which allow you to jump from an older certification to the newer one with just a single exam (or two for high level certifications). Therese exams only let you jump up a single level. So if you have the MCAD for .NET 1.0, you cant jump straight to the .NET 3.5 path. In this case, you'll have to jump to 2.0 and then to 3.5. When it becomes clear that several jumps are needed, it is usually better just to start the latest certification from scratch.

What is the duration of 70-536?

The 70-536 exam is the core exam for both the MCTS and MCPD certification paths. The exam is specifically targeted towards the .NET framework and can be applied to the .NET 2.0 and .NET 3.5. The exam targets the .NET development foundation.

The 70-536 exam consists of between 50 and 60 questions and you have just over 2 hours to complete the exam. If English is your second language you will be granted more time but this is must be declared when you book the exam. Before the test starts you around 15 mins to read the terms and conditions, and also complete a questionnaire about your chosen testing centre.

Most testing centres prefer that you arrive at least 15 minutes before the start of your exam so that you have time to register.

What is my Microsoft Transcript

The Microsoft transcript is your official record of your exam and certification achievements which you can use for your personal tracking and validation. If you want to show others your certification achievements, then you should use the Transcript Sharing tool.

The Transcript shows: 

• The certifications you have achieved are shown in the first table of the transcript.
• The exams you have passed are shown in the second table of the transcript.

Note: The order of the certification is not the order they were achieved. 

Your Transcript does not show the exams you didn't pass, only the ones you have passed. The time it takes for your exam results to appear on the Transcript depends. Microsoft state that it can take up to two weeks for them to receive and process your exam results. If it is taking longer than this, then there is a problem with your account and you should contact Microsoft directly at their Regional Service Center.

What is MCPD?

MCPD stands for Microsoft Certified Professional Developer and is regarded as a high level and highly accredited certification. MCPD allows developers to demonstrate their ability to use Microsoft Visual Studio and the Microsoft .NET Framework to excel in a real-world job role. The MCPD cert, validates a comprehensive set of skills required to be successful on the job, and gives hiring managers and potential customers a reliable indicator of your job performance. 

Building on top of the existing MCTS certification path, MCPD takes the candidates skills one step further and focuses on high level design and implementation to build .NET solutions. The MCPD certification exists for both .NET 2.0 and .NET 3.5. Candidates choose the specific version of MCPD based on whether they use Visual Studio 2005 or Visual Studio 2008.

Candidates must first complete the MCTS certification path before they can achieve the MCPD. Depending on the MCPD chosen, you will have to pass a single exam or 2 for the Enterprise level.

Using MCPD ASP .NET Developer 3.5 as an example, candidates must pass the following exams:

• Exam 70-564: PRO: Designing and Developing ASP.NET Applications Using Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5

If you already hold the MCPD for .NET 2.0, you can take any of the following upgrade exams to move to the .NET 3.5 version of the MCPD:

• Windows Developer: Exam 70-566: Upgrade: Transition your MCPD Windows Developer Skills to MCPD Windows Developer 3
• Web Developer: Exam 70-567: Upgrade: Transition your MCPD Web Developer Skills to MCPD ASP.NET Developer 3.5
• Enterprise: Exam 70-568: Upgrade: Transition your MCPD Enterprise Application Developer Skills to MCPD Enterprise Applications Developer 3.5, Part 1 AND Exam 70-569: Upgrade: Transition your MCPD Enterprise Application Developer Skills to MCPD Enterprise Applications Developer 3.5, Part 2

All Microsoft exams are conducted through the Prometric testing provider. You must book your exam online using the Prometric website, you'll also have to pay the fees online. Fess vary per country, but are usually close to the US fee of $125. Your actual exam will be based at one of the many testing centres around the world, where you must attend in person. You can choose the testing centre and time of the exam through the Prometric site. All professional Microsoft exams such as MCPD are computer based and consist of a variety of testing methods.

Once you have achieved your Microsoft certification, you'll receive the Welcome Pack through the post (make sure you login to the MCP Member Site and confirm your address so Microsoft will send the pack). You'll receive a badge, certification and even a letter from Mr Gates himself!

Technet promo code - discount off subscription

Use this Technet promotion code and get 28% discount off your Technet subscription. Technet is the best subscription resource for Microsoft software including technical resources, beta software, elearning courses and much more.

Those of you taking a Microsoft certification exam may have already heard of Technet subscriptions, but for those of you that haven't, you are really missing out! Technet is arguably the best way to get Microsoft software at a discounted price. You'll also be able to get new Beta versions of the latest software such as Windows 8, SharePoint, Office and Visual Studio. With access to all the latest software you can really learn the exam material much better.

What do you get with a Technet subscription?

• Access full-version software for 12 months with no time or feature limits
• E-Learning courses (6 courses with standard subscription, 12 with professional)
• 24/7 Online Concierge Chat
• Managed Forums: Get technical answers within 2 business days
• Access to Microsoft infrastructure products
• Two complimentary Professional Support Calls

If you subscribe to the Standard edition you will not get the Professional Support calls - these are only included with the Professional subscription. You can optionally include the DVD media with your Technet subscription.

How much does a Technet subscription cost?

Microsoft TechNet Subscription Standard £134, approx $200 (£100 for renewal)

Microsoft TechNet Subscription Professional £234, approx $350 (£167 for renewal)

Technet promotion code original release date: early 2010

Technet promo code for 28% discount is TNITE06

Technet promo code - discount off subscription

Use this Technet promotion code and get 28% discount off your Technet subscription. Technet is the best subscription resource for Microsoft software including technical resources, beta software, elearning courses and much more.

Those of you taking a Microsoft certification exam may have already heard of Technet subscriptions, but for those of you that haven't, you are really missing out! Technet is arguably the best way to get Microsoft software at a discounted price. You'll also be able to get new Beta versions of the latest software such as Windows 8, SharePoint, Office and Visual Studio. With access to all the latest software you can really learn the exam material much better.

What do you get with a Technet subscription?

• Access full-version software for 12 months with no time or feature limits
• E-Learning courses (6 courses with standard subscription, 12 with professional)
• 24/7 Online Concierge Chat
• Managed Forums: Get technical answers within 2 business days
• Access to Microsoft infrastructure products
• Two complimentary Professional Support Calls

If you subscribe to the Standard edition you will not get the Professional Support calls - these are only included with the Professional subscription. You can optionally include the DVD media with your Technet subscription.

How much does a Technet subscription cost?

Microsoft TechNet Subscription Standard £134, approx $200 (£100 for renewal)

Microsoft TechNet Subscription Professional £234, approx $350 (£167 for renewal)

Technet promotion code original release date: early 2010

Technet promo code for 28% discount is TNITE06

Salary with MCSA?

Many people often ask what the average salary is for a person qualified as an MCSA. Well, this question does depend on your other experience as well as your certification so it isn't a hard and fast rule. However, a general rule of thumb is that a person qualified as an MCSA can expect around $56,000 per year.

This figure is based on average market trends, but is always steadily increasing. The average UK salary for MCSA is around the £26,000 mark but does vary between £24,000 and £31,000 depending on experience and the company in question.

Higher salary expectations have been reported in the US, where the certification paths are well known and Microsoft technologies are abundant. An IT Server technician with MCSA qualifications can expect a salary between $46,000 and $60,000 per year. This again, depends on other experience and the company in question.

In all counties and all cases, having a qualification such as an MCSA will increase your expected salary by around 15% or more.

Recommended books and resources for 70-564

The 70-564 exam, designer and developing ASP.NET application in 3.5 is part of the MCPD certification path. There are various types of resources to help you study. The following list shows the best of the available material to help you pass the 70-564 exam:

Books

There are now lots of books out there for ASP .NET 3.5, however these usually only cover the minimum for the data side of things. A good data access book that covers LINQ is also a very good buy.

Pro C# 2008 and the .NET 3.5 Platform, Fourth Edition by Andrew Troelsen

Professional ASP.NET 3.5: in C# and VB (Programmer to Programmer) by Bill Evjen

Pro ASP.NET 3.5 in C# 2008, 2nd Edition (Expert's Voice in .Net) by M MacDonald

Programming Microsoft® ASP.NET 3.5 (PRO-Developer) by Dino Esposito (Paperback

Pro LINQ: Language Integrated Query in C# 2008 by Joseph Rattz Jr

e-Learning

Check out the Microsoft learning site for the latest e-learning material.

MSDN

The MSDN site is the number one resource for exam preparation. The documentation on there is always way ahead of any book and e-learning material. As soon as a product ships, you can be sure that the MSDN documentation is ready. This is especially true for development languages, as a beta MSDN site is usually set up in tune with a beta software release. Do a Google search for msdn and .NET 3.5.

The MSDN site also has the advantage in that it shows examples for almost all classes, properties and methods. Some of these are downloadable, so get your hands on those at the earliest stage.

Finally

Make sure you cover the following areas to be ready for the exam:

• Designing and Implementing Controls
• Designing the Presentation and Layout of an Application
• Accessing Data and Services
• Establishing ASP.NET Solution Structure
• Leveraging and Extending ASP.NET Architecture
• Applying security principles

Number of questions 70-528

The 70-528 exam is the Web Based Client Development exam for both the MCTS and MCPD certification paths. The exam is specifically targeted towards the .NET framework 2.0. The official title is Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 Web-Based Client Development.

The 70-525 exam consists of between 55 and 60 questions and the exam duration is around 2 hours. If English is your second language you will be ask for more time but this must be declared when you book the exam. Before the test starts you have around 10 mins to read the terms and conditions, and also complete a Microsoft questionnaire about your chosen testing site.

Questions are taken from the following sections:

• Creating and programming a Web application
• Integrating data in a Web application by using ADO.NET, XML, and data-bound controls
• Creating custom Web controls
• Tracing, configuring, and deploying applications
• Customizing and personalizing a Web application
• Implementing authentication and authorization
• Creating ASP.NET mobile Web applications

The questions are not split evenly between the sections so expect to answer more questions on any of the sections. Each exam is random so intensity and types of questions do vary.

Most testing centres prefer that you arrive at least 15 minutes before the start of your exam so that you have time to register and provide identity documents.