Occasionally I like to see how the IT market looks in key areas.  How many people hold Microsoft certifications is one indicator of the market and can help me focus my energy towards higher-paying positions in my studies.

This site is updated occasionally and might suggest where you could study.  Don't ask me any questions about it, I am just providing the link.

Thanks Grok, was looking for something like this.  But one quick question if you don't mind clarifying for me...Are there no certifications for application development with Microsoft tools not specifically pertaining to .NET?  Like using Visual Studio with C/C++ but not utilizing the .NET framework (or at least not making it the focal point).  I was looking at MCAD and MCSD, but both look like they're focused on .NET applications only.

You can get certified on any particular product, most major ones anyway, as a specialist or analyst.  For example, you can get an MCDBA for Microsoft SQL Server, which does not require usage or knowlege of .NET at this time.  The 2005 SQL Server will require some .NET knowledge.

If you are asking is there a certification that says you know how to use Visual Studio IDE, no, and no one would care if you did, except shops that build custom IDE tools, like WholeTomato software, or VSS-like source code checkin systems.

Not how to use Visual Studio per se, but rather knowing C++ and how to develop with it using Visual Studio, unless that was implied with "Visual Studio."

Thanks for the link.

I've been wanting to get MCAD in C# for awhile....  Anyone want to pay for me to take the tests?  :P

[quote author=MyndFyre link=topic=10118.msg94353#msg94353 date=1104884857]
I've been wanting to get MCAD in C# for awhile....  Anyone want to pay for me to take the tests?  :P
[/quote]

If you are not willing to invest in yourself, why should anyone else?