10/16/2002 -- Earlier this week, Microsoft added its six MCAD/MCSD.NET core exams to the roster of elective requirements that can count toward the Microsoft Certified Database Administrator (MCDBA) certification:

• 70-305Developing and Implementing Web Applications with Visual Basic .NET and Visual Studio .NET
• 70-306Developing and Implementing Windows-based Applications with Visual Basic .NET and Visual Studio .NET
• 70-310Developing XML Web Services and Server Components with Visual Basic .NET and the Microsoft .NET Framework
• 70-315Developing and Implementing Web Applications with Visual C#" .NET and Visual Studio .NET
• 70-316Developing and Implementing Windows-based Applications with Visual C# .NET and Visual Studio .NET
• 70-320Developing XML Web Services and Server Components with Visual C# and the Microsoft .NET Framework

With these six, the MCDBA elective roster now comprises 11 exams. It's not the first time that Microsoft has allowed the addition of developer exams; three of the original electives are older-version MCSD core exams.

Besides the electives, the MCDBA requires completion of three core exams: one SQL Server administration exam (70-028 SQL 7 or 70-228 SQL 2000 Admin), one SQL Server design exam (70-029 SQL 7 Design or 70-229 SQL 2000 Design, and a networking systems exam (currently, 70-215 Windows 2000 Server is the only exam that satisfies this requirement).

For MCDBA details and full requirements, go to http://www.microsoft.com/TrainCert/mcp/mcdba/requirements.asp. -M.D., MCPMag.com