SharePoint Config

Update 15 April 2013 – You can register for the SharePoint development beta exams for free using code MCSD488J for 71-488 and MCSD489J for 71-489. I understand these are limited so suggest signing up ASAP.

Update 13 May 2013 – The free beta codes I mentioned previously appear to have been used up and are no longer available.

According to a Microsoft webcast on the Microsoft Certified Solutions Master (MCSM) certification there are two new SharePoint 2013 development focused exams in development. These form part of the requirements for the Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD) certification for SharePoint 2013. The full requirements for achieving MCSD in SharePoint 2013 will include two non-SharePoint specific exams; one of these is 70-480 – Programming in HTML5 with JavaScript and CSS3, the other is 70-486 – Developing ASP.NET MVC 4 Web Applications.

To summarise you will need to pass the following four exams to achieve the MCSD: SharePoint Applications in SharePoint 2013:

• SharePoint focused
  • 70-488 Developing Microsoft SharePoint Server 2013 Core Solutions (currently in beta, release expected in June 2013)
  • 70-489 Developing Microsoft SharePoint Server 2013 Advanced Solutions (currently in beta, release expected in June 2013)
• Web development focused
  • 70-480 Programming in HTML5 with JavaScript and CSS3
  • 70-486 Developing ASP.NET MVC 4 Web Applications

If you are interested in attaining this certification in the future I’d suggest doing the following now:

1. Register for the 70-480 exam now as it is free untilMarch 2013 using code HTMLJMP as mentioned on the Microsoft Virtual Academy blog
2. Submit a Subject Matter Expert (SME) profile on Microsoft connect so that you have a chance of getting an invite to take the beta exams when they are released. See Everything You Wanted to Know about Beta Exams: Part 1 (Beta Invites) from the Born to Learn blog for more details on this.
3. Follow the Born to Learn blog which details new exams that are released

In addition to the developer focused exams you can also currently take the (IT Pro focused) Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert exams. Details of the entire SharePoint 2013 certification process is shown below:

To achieve the MCSE you must also gain the MCSA: Windows Server 2012, although the Windows Server exams are not pre-requisites for sitting 70-331: Core Solutions of Microsoft SharePoint Server 2013 and 70-332: Advanced Solutions of Microsoft SharePoint Server 2013. If you want to achieve master level certification you will need both the MCSE and the MCSD. Note that going forward the master level certification is now referred to as MCSM (previously MCM) and will be available remotely (i.e. not all run at Redmond) starting in March 2013.

Additional resources:

• For more details on the MCSM take a look at MCSM: SharePoint Certification Overview.
• For more details on the MCSE and an overview of the entire SharePoint certifications for 2013 take a look at SharePoint 2013 Certification Overview