早期的MCSD 是以 WOSA (Windows Open System Architecture) 為主,考驗開發人員對 Windows 環境的熟悉度,然後搭配兩科與應用程式開發有關的考試作為選考科目,當時微軟有將 MFC 以及 OLE 開發等納入選考科目中,以及當時初次進入認證考試的 Visual Basic 5.0 產品。
必考科目:
Exam 70-160: Microsoft Windows Architecture I Exam 70-161: Microsoft Windows Architecture II
選考科目(擇二應考,部份): Exam 70-024: Developing Applications with C++ Using the Microsoft Foundation Class Library Exam 70-025: Implementing OLE in Microsoft Foundation Class Applications Exam 70-165: Developing Applications with Microsoft Visual Basic 5.0 Exam 70-027: Implementing a Database Design on Microsoft SQL Server 6.5 Exam 70-069: Application Development with Microsoft Access for Windows 95 and the Microsoft Access Developer's Toolkit
第二代
MCSD on Visual Studio 6.0
在 Visual Studio 6.0 發表的時期,微軟對於 MCSD 認證的要求做了大幅度的修改,其主要原因是 Windows DNA 架構的發展,以及分散式應用程式的發展等,同時首次把系統分析的項目納入 MCSD 的測驗範圍,因此核心考科定為三科,選考科目為一科。同時微軟第一次將 Visual FoxPro 納入考試科目中,但也是最後一次。必考科目,系統分析類: Exam 70-100: Analyzing Requirement and Defining Solution Architecture 必考科目,桌面套用程式開發(擇一應考): Exam 70-016: Designing and Implementing Desktop Applications by using Visual C++ 6.0 Exam 70-156: Designing and Implementing Desktop Applications by using Visual FoxPro 6.0 Exam 70-176: Designing and Implementing Desktop Applications by using Visual Basic 6.0 必考科目,分散式套用程式開發(擇一應考): Exam 70-015: Designing and Implementing Distributed Applications by using Visual C++ 6.0 Exam 70-155: Designing and Implementing Distributed Applications by using Visual FoxPro 6.0 Exam 70-175: Designing and Implementing Distributed Applications by using Visual Basic 6.0 選考科目(擇一應考):列在桌面套用程式與分散式套用程式考科中的六科考試均可當作選考科目,但已列入必考科目計算者,不得再列入選考科目計算。 Exam 70-105: Designing and Implementing Collaborative Solutions with Microsoft Outlook 2000 and Microsoft Exchange Server 5.5 Exam 70-152: Designing and Implementing Web Solutions with Microsoft Visual InterDev 6.0 Exam 70-091: Designing and Implementing Solutions with Microsoft Office 2000 and Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications Exam 70-029: Designing and Implementing Databases with Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 Exam 70-019: Designing and Implementing Data Warehouses With Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 MCSD on Visual Studio 6.0 認證的考試有幾項特色:
首次,也是唯一一次列入 Visual FoxPro 考試的認證。
首次,也是唯一一次的 Office VBA 考試的認證,在 2008 年由 VSTO 考試替代。
首次,也是唯一一次的 Outlook 和 Exchange Server 互動套用的考試。
第三代
MCSD on Microsoft .NET
在 .NET Framework 推出時,MCSD 也順勢升級到 Microsoft .NET 技術,同時也調整考試的測驗方向,切割為 Windows 應用程式,Web 應用程式以及分散式應用程式的考試科目,同時仍然要測驗系統分析的能力,MCSD on Microsoft .NET 的考試科目即擴增到五科。
必考科目,系統分析類: Exam 70-300: Analyzing Requirement and Defining Microsoft .NET Solution Architecture 必考科目,Windows 套用程式開發(擇一應考): Exam 70-316: Developing and Implementing Windows-Based Applications by using Visual C#.NET and Visual Studio .NET Exam 70-306: Developing and Implementing Windows-Based Applications by using Visual Basic.NET and Visual Studio .NET 必考科目,Web 式套用程式開發(擇一應考): Exam 70-315: Developing and Implementing Web-Based Applications by using Visual C#.NET and Visual Studio .NET Exam 70-305: Developing and Implementing Web-Based Applications by using Visual Basic.NET and Visual Studio .NET 必考科目,分散式套用程式開發(擇一應考): Exam 70-320: Developing and Implementing XML Web Services and Server Components by using Visual C#.NET and Visual Studio .NET Exam 70-310: Developing and Implementing XML Web Services and Server Components by using Visual Basic.NET and Visual Studio .NET 選考科目(擇一應考):列在桌面套用程式與分散式套用程式考科中的六科考試均可當作選考科目,但已列入必考科目計算者,不得再列入選考科目計算。 Exam 70-229: Designing and Implementing Databases by using SQL Server 2000 Exam 70-230: Designing and Implementing Solutions with Microsoft BizTalk Server 2000 Enterprise Edition Exam 70-234: Designing and Implementing Solutions with Microsoft Commerce Server 2000 Exam 70-330: Implementing Security for Applications with Microsoft Visual Basic .NET Exam 70-340: Implementing Security for Applications with Microsoft Visual C# .NET
第四代
後續認證
由於微軟新一代認證層次結構的推展,MCSD 已由 MCPD 取代,但現行的 MCSD on Microsoft .NET 與 MCSD on Visual Studio 6.0 仍為永久有效。