For a little while now I've been looking at the MCTS/MCPD certification paths. I think I've finally worked out the routes.

MCTS in two exams

You can become an MCTS in 2 exams which is the common pre-requisite Exam 70–536: TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 - Application Development Foundation and then either the Win path MCTS: .NET Framework 2.0 Web Applications Exam 70–528: TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 - Web-Based Client Development or the Web path MCTS: .NET Framework 2.0 Windows Applications Exam 70-526: TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 - Windows-Based Client Development.

MCPD in three exams

The shortest path to a MCPD is then another one exam, that's either the Win path MCPD: Windows Developer Exam 70–548: PRO: Designing and Developing Windows Applications by Using the Microsoft .NET Frameworkor the Web path MCPD: Web Developer Exam 70-547: PRO: Designing and Developing Web Applications by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework.

MCPD: Enterprise Application Developer in seven exams

However the MCPD: Enterprise Application developer requires another four exams on top your MCPD.

1. First you have to get the MCTS for the alternative (Win or Web)
2. then the MCPD for the alternate path
3. then the MCTS for Distributed applications
4. And finally you can now take the MCPD: Enterprise applications.

In summary, you can only take exams once you have completed everything to the left