Mainstream product support ends for both SQL Server 2005 and Visual Studio 2005 (.NET 2.0) on April 15, 2011. Mainstream product support for BizTalk Server 2006 and BizTalk Server 2006 R2 end on July 12, 2011. We will be retiring the SQL Server 2005, Visual Studio 2005, and BizTalk Server 2006 exams shown below on June 30, 2011. In other words, you won’t be able to take these exams after June 30th. 

If you’re in the middle of pursuing one of these certifications, don't panic. You still have time to finish it up. The table below has a link to each exam's page on our web site. The third tab on each exam's page provides a list of resources to help you prepare, as well as a link to the Learning Plan for that exam. Consider signing up for a Microsoft Certification Exam Pack With Second Shot if you will need to take more than one exam to complete your chosen path.

If you haven’t started to pursue the .NET 2.0 certifications yet, you might want to consider certifying on a newer version instead. The Visual Studio 2010 (.NET 4.0) exams are now available, giving you the opportunity to validate your skills on the latest version.

The exams below do not appear on our exam retirement page yet, but you’ll see that update reflected soon. For answers to frequently asked questions about exam retirement, see this page.

SQL Server 2005 exams to retire on June 30, 2011

Exam # Exam Name
70-431 TS: Microsoft SQL Server 2005, Implementation and Maintenance
70-441 PRO: Designing Database Solutions by Using Microsoft SQL Server 2005
70-442 PRO: Designing and Optimizing Data Access by Using Microsoft SQL Server 2005
70-443 PRO: Designing a Database Server Infrastructure by Using Microsoft SQL Server 2005
70-444 PRO: Optimizing and Maintaining a Database Administration Solution by Using Microsoft SQL Server 2005
70-445

TS: Microsoft SQL Server 2005, Business Intelligence Development and Maintenance
70-446 PRO: Designing a Business Intelligence Solution by Using Microsoft SQL Server 2005
70-447 UPGRADE: MCDBA Skills to MCITP Database Administrator by Using Microsoft SQL Server 2005

Visual Studio 2005/.NET 2.0 exams to retire on June 30, 2011*

Exam # Exam Name
70-526 TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 – Windows-Based Client Development
70-528 TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 – Web-Based Client Development
70-529 TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 – Distributed Application Development
70-547 PRO: Designing and Developing Web-Based Applications by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework
70-548 PRO: Designing and Developing Windows-Based Applications by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework
70-549

PRO: Designing and Developing Enterprise Applications by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework
70-551 Upgrade: MCAD Skills to MCPD Web Developer by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework
70-552 Upgrade: MCAD Skills to MCPD Windows Developer by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework
70-553 Upgrade: MCSD Microsoft .NET Skills to MCPD Enterprise Application Developer by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework: Part 1
70-554 Upgrade: MCSD Microsoft .NET Skills to MCPD Enterprise Application Developer by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework: Part 2
70-558 Upgrade: MCAD Skills to MCTS Windows Applications by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework
70-559 Upgrade: MCAD Skills to MCTS Web Applications by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework

*Note that Exam 70-536 will remain available to support the requirements for the Visual Studio 2008 (.NET 3.5) exams.

 BizTalk Server 2006 exams to retire on June 30, 2011

Exam # Exam Name
70-235 TS: Developing Business Process and Integration Solutions by Using Microsoft BizTalk Server 2006
70-241 TS: Developing Business Process and Integration Solutions by Using Microsoft BizTalk Server 2006 R2