微軟認證專業程式開發人員（MCPD）是微軟為程式開發人員所設計的中級認證，其等級與MCITP相同，是以特定的任務（job）為測驗的標的，與MCTS只考程式開發的技能不同，也因為MCTS已測驗過程式開發的能力，因此MCPD的考試是著重於設計與發展應用程式的整體架構與組成的能力，設計決策（Design Decision）是 MCPD的考試主軸，因此如果沒有相當經驗的考生，想通過MCPD的測驗是相當困難，也因此，MCPD自2005年底推行以來，考過MCPD:Enterprise Application Developer（與過去MCSD同級）的人數也只有MCSD人數的1/5左右（6,567人）[1]。
2012年微軟重新啟用MCSD稱號，所以MCPD會慢慢隨著相關考試停考而走入歷史。
MCPD是在Visual Studio 2005產品發表時一起開始推廣的認證，並規劃了三個職務：
- MCPD: Web Developer:專司在.NET Framework 2.0上的Web應用程式開發。
- MCPD: Windows Developer:專司在.NET Framework 2.0上的Windows應用程式開發。
- MCPD: Enterprise Application Developer:專司.NET Framework 2.0在企業級應用程式的開發，包含Windows、Web與分散式應用程式。
- 前置需求：MCTS: .NET Framework 2.0 Web Client Development
- 考試：
- Exam 70-547: PRO: Designing and Developing Web Applications by using Microsoft .NET Framework
- Exam 70-551: UPGRADE: MCAD skills to MCPD Web Developer by using Microsoft .NET Framework
- 前置需求：MCTS: .NET Framework 2.0 Windows Client Development
- 考試：
- Exam 70-548: PRO: Designing and Developing Windows Applications by using Microsoft .NET Framework
- Exam 70-552: UPGRADE: MCAD skills to MCPD Windows Developer by using Microsoft .NET Framework
- 前置需求：
- MCTS: .NET Framework 2.0 Distributed Application Development
- MCTS: .NET Framework 2.0 Windows Client Development
- MCTS: .NET Framework 2.0 Web Client Development
- 考試：
- Exam 70-549: PRO: Designing and Developing Enterprise Applications by using Microsoft .NET Framework
- 升級考試（MCSD適用）:
- Exam 70-553: UPGRADE: MCSD Microsoft .NET skills to MCPD Enterprise Application Developer by using Microsoft .NET Framework, Part 1
- Exam 70-554: UPGRADE: MCSD Microsoft .NET skills to MCPD Enterprise Application Developer by using Microsoft .NET Framework, Part 2
Visual Studio 2008已於2008年正式發表，同時MCPD認證也提出了三個在Visual Studio 2008（.NET Framework 3.5）上的職務認證，分別為：
- MCPD: ASP.NET Developer 3.5
- MCPD: Windows Developer 3.5
- MCPD: Enterprise Application Developer 3.5
.NET Framework 3.5中的考試比.NET Framework 2.0更多，所以前置需求的考試數量也更多，詳見MCTS。
- 前置需求：MCTS: .NET Framework 3.5 ASP.NET Applications
- 考試：
- Exam 70-564: PRO: Designing and Developing ASP.NET Applications by using Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5
- 升級考試（MCPD: Web Developer適用）：
- Exam 70-567: UPGRADE: Transition your MCPD Web Developer Skills to MCPD ASP.NET Developer 3.5
- 前置需求：MCTS: .NET Framework 3.5 Windows Forms Applications
- 考試：
- Exam 70-563: PRO: Designing and Developing Windows Applications by using Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5
- 升級考試（MCPD: Windows Developer適用）：
- Exam 70-566: UPGRADE: Transition your MCPD Windows Developer Skills to MCPD Windows Developer 3.5
- Exam 70-565: PRO: Designing and Developing Enterprise Applications by using Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5
- 升級考試（MCPD: Enterprise Application Developer適用）：
- Exam 70-568: UPGRADE: Transition your MCPD Enterprise Application Developer Skills to MCPD Enterprise Applications Developer 3.5, Part 1
- Exam 70-569: UPGRADE: Transition your MCPD Enterprise Application Developer Skills to MCPD Enterprise Applications Developer 3.5, Part 2
Visual Studio 2010已於2010年4月份正式，同時MCPD認證也提出了兩個在Visual Studio 2010（.NET Framework 4.0）上的職務認證，分別為：
- MCPD: Web Developer 4
- MCPD: Windows Developer 4
Visual Studio 2010不提供MCPD: Enterprise Application Developer系列認證。
- MCTS: .NET Framework 4.0, Web Applications
- MCTS: .NET Framework 4.0, Service Communication Applications
- MCTS: .NET Framework 4.0, Data Access
- Exam 70-519: PRO: Designing and Developing Web Applications Using Microsoft .NET Framework 4
- 升級考試（MCPD: ASP.NET Developer 3.5與MCPD: Enterprise Application Developer 3.5適用）：
- Exam 70-523: Upgrade: Transition Your MCPD ASP.NET Developer 3.5, or Enterprise Application Developer 3.5, Skills to MCPD Web Developer 4
- MCTS: .NET Framework 4.0, Windows Applications
- MCTS: .NET Framework 4.0, Service Communication Applications
- MCTS: .NET Framework 4.0, Data Access
- Exam 70-518: PRO: Designing and Developing Windows Applications Using Microsoft .NET Framework 4
- 升級考試（MCPD: Windows Developer 3.5與MCPD: Enterprise Application Developer 3.5適用）：
- Exam 70-521: Upgrade: Transition Your MCPD Windows Developer 3.5, or Enterprise Application Developer 3.5, Skills to MCPD Windows Developer 4
微軟自SharePoint Server 2010起，將開發人員的考試提升了一級到MCPD層次。
- MCTS: SharePoint Server 2010, Application Development
- Exam 70-576: PRO: Designing and Developing SharePoint 2010 Applications
