Along side the Ignite 2016 conference, Microsoft announced some changes to the Microsoft Certified Professional program. These changes outlined 5 new MCSE and MCSD certifications, along with MCSA certifications to go along with them. One of these new MCSD certifications is the new MCSD: App Builder certification. This certification requires 3 exam to be passed to earn, and it also will get you an MCSA certification on your way to earning the full MCSD: App Builder certification. This post gives a brief explanation on the exam that are required and / or qualify for the MCSD: App Builder, as well as the MCSA certifications you can earn on your way to obtaining the full MCSD! Happy studying!
EXAM IS RETIRED: This exam is retired June 30, 2019.
MCSA Foundation
On the path to earning the MCSD: App Builder certification an MCSA (Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate) certification will first be earned. It’s really good to have a milestone along the way, instead of having to pass a ton of exams before claiming any single certification title / credential. Additionally, instead of just a single MCSA to earn on the path to MCSD: App Builder, there are 2 tracks to choose from based on your unique combination of expertise and interests.
On the path to earning the MCSD: App Builder certification an MCSA certification will first be earned.
The list of both MCSA certifications and their required exams are as follows:
- MCSA: Web Applications – pass both of the following exams:
- 70-480: Programming in HTML5 with JavaScript and CSS3
- 70-486: Developing ASP.NET MVC Web Applications
- MCSA: Universal Windows Platform – pass both of the following exams:
- 70-483: Programming in C#
- 70-357: Developing Mobile Apps
As you can see the MCSA foundations for the new MCSD: App Builder certification require you to pass 2 exams. While not an extensive set of choices, the tracks to pick are either Web Application development or UWP (Universal Windows Platform) App development.
MCSD: App Builder
Once a qualifying MCSA certification (as listed above) is earned, the next path is to pass only 1 more exam to earn the full MCSD: App Builder certification! And, the best part is that you get to choose from a fairly long list of exams to make that happen.
Here’s the current list of Elective exams that can be taken to build on an MCSA to earn the new MCSD: App Builder certification:
- 70-532: Developing Microsoft Azure Solutions
- 70-487: Developing Microsoft Azure and Web Services
- 70-488: Developing Microsoft SharePoint Server 2013 Core Solutions
- 70-489: Developing Microsoft SharePoint Server 2013 Advanced Solutions
- 70-354: Universal Windows Platform – App Architecture and UX/UI
- 70-355: Universal Windows Platform – App Data, Services, and Coding Patterns
- 70-496: Administering Microsoft Visual Studio Team Foundation Server
- 70-497: Software Testing with Visual Studio
- 70-498: Delivering Continuous Value with Visual Studio Application Lifecycle Management
Regardless of the MCSA track you choose to start with (Web Apps or UWP Apps) you can continue on with earning the MCSD: App Builder with an exam in that topic area, or any of the other elective exam options.
About the Author:
Chris Pietschmann
Chris Pietschmann is a Microsoft MVP, HashiCorp Ambassador, and Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT) with 20+ years of experience designing and building Cloud & Enterprise systems. He has worked with companies of all sizes from startups to large enterprises. He has a passion for technology and sharing what he learns with others to help enable them to learn faster and be more productive.
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Well I’m already a MCSA Web Applications Developer (70-483 and 70-486) and passed the 70-487 Exam today, but I didn’t got the MCSD App Builder certification. Do I miss something?
You’ll need to review the MCSA requirements again. The 483 and 486 qualify for different MCSA tracks. They don’t add up to anything taken together. You’ll need to pass either the 70-480 or 70-357 to get that MCSD.
MCSA Web Application certification needs
One of the following 2 (either 70-480 or 70-483)
70-480: Programming in HTML5 with JavaScript and CSS3 OR
70-483: Programming in C#
AND
70-486: Developing ASP.NET MVC Web Applications
Hi. I have already passed 70-488 exam. Do I need to appear at the same exam again for getting MCSD APP BUILDER?
Once you pass an exam, and it’s still current and active, then you don’t need to retake it. It will count towards multiple certifications that require it.
I need study material. Any suggestions?
There are exam prep books from Microsoft Press available for most of the exams, and the documentation is fairly good these days. You could also use video training that’s available from Microsoft Learning, http://opsgility.com, and http://pluralsight.com to study.
I want to enroll and appear for the MCSD course. Could you please guide me with the procedure for the same.
http://SkillMeUp.com from Opsgility has some great Azure training content on-demand; both hands-on labs and videos! For the .NET exams and other content you may need to find training materials elsewhere for things that SkillMeUp.com doesn’t have content for. There are lots of books and online services out there to choose from.
Any idea what the new requirements are for this certification after Jan 2019? https://buildazure.com/2018/09/24/introducing-role-based-microsoft-azure-certification-shakeup/ 70-532 is being retired.
There’s the Microsoft Certified Azure Developer certification that is replacing the old 70-532 exam. This covers the Azure side of things. For a general replacement for the MCSD: App Builder, we’ll have to wait until Microsoft Learning announces what the new job role based certification path will be for developers.
Hello
I own “MCSA: Web Applications” (passed exams 480 and 486)
Also I’ve passed exam 487.
So my certification page says I’m “Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer: App Builder :2019”
But I DON’T see it in my transcript.
Could you please tell me why?
That you may need to contact Microsoft about.
Hello Chris,
I could see frequent changes in the exam list in recent months. I have completed 70-480 and 70-486 exams. To get MCSD certification still it requires 1 more exam to pass but in the list of exams i could see 70-486 that I cleared already.
What to do now?
Any suggestions appreciated.
If you passed all the required exams for MCSD: App Builder, then congratulations! As for next steps, that all depends on what your goals are. You could move on to either Azure Developer, or SQL Server certifications; which ever fits your career goals and current job roles best.