I am now Zend Certified Engineer :)

Hi all,

It is been long since i wrote blog last. I was busy dealing with company projects, and also do some preparation for zend PHP5 exam. I looked for testing center in our city, Ulaanbaatar/Mongolia, and luckily found active 1 pearson vue center in Science and Technology school. First try and pass :) The guys in the testing center were very happy that i was the first engineer passed Zend PHP5 Exam from Mongolia. Here i now going to share my experience with you, on how i prepared, what i read, where i went. etc...

1. I worked for 7 years on web based project using different languages such as PHP/Java/.NET
2. and them i managed web based project for last 2 years
3. and then i visited Zend website to buy practice test package
4. and i went to amazon to buy few books including PHP Objects, Patterns and Practice, High Performance MySQL (actually i didn't order them for Zend exam, but for daily use ;)
5. and find nearest testing center and register for exam using Pearson vue website
6. and finally take a good sleep before exam night, no practice test, not reading
7. passed it. My certificate verification is here.
   

Actually i am not fan of certification, but the zend certification was the something that we really need, espacially for offshore web project outsourcing In the near futures, we plan our employees to be certified by Zend.

Thanks,
Bayar

MCAD or MCTS, MCSD or MCPD

I have been studying for Microsoft certificate for recent days, and I have made some research on which certificate is right for me. There are many programs for Microsoft developers and specialists such as MCAD - Application Developer, MCSD - Solution Developer, MCTS - Technology specialist, and MCPD - Professional Developer.
MCTS and MCPD are newer certificate programs which are more focused on latest technologies and products from Microsoft. MCTS enables professionals to target specific technologies and to distinguish themselves by demonstrating in-depth knowledge and expertise in their specialized technologies.
So for programmers and developers, MCTS: .NET Framework 2.0 is most suitable choice. To get MCTS certicate, you only need to pass two core exams related to .NET Framework Foundation and Client development for web, windows or distributed. For me, i plan to become MCTS on .NET 2.0 Web Application, firstly.

MCAD seems more difficult to get, having to pass 3 exams and also it is focused on older and wide technology: As you know, .NET Framework 1.0 and 1.1 which are now less used, about to lose its popularity. Furthermore, to become MCAD, one should be familiar with all of three platforms, i.e, Web, Windows and Distributed.

After becoming MCTS, you can upgrade to MCPD - Professional developer, by giving only one more exam. Lets say that you have MCTS: .NET 2.0 Web Application certificate, you will have one more exam and then you will become MCPD: Web Developer which is similar level to the MCSD. MCSD is more difficult to get, having to pass total 5 exams and focused on old technologies.

If you plan to certify you knowledge by Microsoft, i suggest you to study for MCTS and MCPD not MCAD and MCSD. I will post my experience, resources and links related to preparation, practice and exam for MCTS after i got my certificate.