07-28-2015 09:09 AM
The clad_exam_prep_guide_english.pdf states that "A CLAD demonstrates a broad and complete understanding of the core features and functionality available in the LabVIEW Full Development System and possesses the ability to apply that knowledge to develop, debug, and maintain small LabVIEW modules." In other words, you should be able to to string LabVIEW functions together into meaningful LabVIEW code in accordance with LabVIEW best practices. You are mostly book-learned, but can develop and maintain small VIs, updating them as necessary.
The test itself is a one-hour multiple-choice exam with a passing grade of 70% and is available at Pearson VUE testing centers or NI branch offices. You'll get something to write on, and something to write with, in case you have to work out some problems.
The Certified LabVIEW Associate Developer (CLAD) Exam Preparation E-Kit is National Instrument's official CLAD exam prep kit. You will find links to their exam prep guide, practice exams and other helpful items.
After quickly reviewing a sample CLAD test, in May of 2013 I walked into a test center, took the test and passed. Simple, huh? In truth, it was the culmination of about seven years of preparation - although I hadn't thought of it as such back then. It was all about visiting the NI LabVIEW Forum at least once a day, even if I had no questions to ask. Sometimes I just combed the forum looking for interesting topics. If I didn't understand something, I wasn't afraid to ask questions. I wasn't afraid to defend my position. (And occasionally I was even right!) Eventually I found that I was answering questions as well as asking them. My next question to ask was to myself: "Why not try the CLAD test?" So I glanced at a sample test, realized it felt more like a review than a test, walked into a test center, took the test and passed.
The reason behind my getting certified was to have something on my resume to compete with LabVIEW developers that had twice as much experience - or more - than I did. Seven years of experience may seem like a lot, but it's not.
Since then, I had become a CLD. With the CLAD, I showed that I knew basic LabVIEW concepts; with the CLD, I showed that, not only could I talk the talk, I could walk the walk. (The CLA shows that you can talk the talk and walk the walk, all while chewing gum and juggling a few chainsaws.)
This section will be a bit different than the corresponding sections in the other certification nuggets because there are really no specific strategies to doing well on the test other than know how to do well on a multiple choice exam. Instead, I will focus how to gather the LabVIEW knowledge necessary for you to pass the exam as well as discuss the path forward. That being said:
I hope you found this nugget to be useful. I invite you to share your CLAD experiences: "The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat," as it were. To the candidates: Study hard. Soak up the wealth of information from the NI LabVIEW forum. Fear not the CLAD test.
07-28-2015 09:11 AM
About the Nuggeteer!
Bill Ko is a Certified LabVIEW Developer (CLD) who currently rents his talents to whoever will pay for them. Likes the Rent-to-Own model better.
Bill has about twenty years of test experience with the last seven years in automated testing using LabVIEW with a sprinkling of TestStand thrown in for good measure. He has worked in many different environments from little startups to big corporations, huge assemblies and high-volume production.
Bill has worked for Watkins Johnson, JDS Uniphase, and Lockheed Martin, and has contracted with Philips Respironics and Wabtec.
08-13-2015 02:39 PM
I've been hesitant to take the CLAD because I've read that it really doesn't mean much, and should not be taken if you don't intend to take the CLD. In my current position, I never work in a team (on software) or make very large applications, so I'm not sure my experience would prepare me for the CLD.
08-13-2015 05:57 PM - edited 08-13-2015 06:00 PM
@Gregory wrote:
I've been hesitant to take the CLAD because I've read that it really doesn't mean much, and should not be taken if you don't intend to take the CLD. In my current position, I never work in a team (on software) or make very large applications, so I'm not sure my experience would prepare me for the CLD.
While it's true that it is a stepping stone to the CLD, it can also be used as a measuring stick to see how much you really know about LabVIEW. I actually think it could benefit you greatly because it will really make you start thinking "LabVIEW" if you haven't already. It's cheap and it's a short test. It could be a wise investment.
Plus, many places I've interviewed for give you a few questions right out of the practice exams to gauge your experience level. If you show that you're a CLAD, they may waive that test. In fact, some LabVIEW houses have been known to take a CLAD and train them up the a CLD - and pay for the test!
01-11-2016 11:33 AM
Thanks for the nugget billko. I finally signed up for the CLAD last week and had much the same experience as you, looked over a couple practice tests and it felt like a review. I'm starting to look at the CLD now but I'm not sure my company will want to fork over $299 for it 😞
01-11-2016 01:20 PM
@Gregory wrote:
Thanks for the nugget billko. I finally signed up for the CLAD last week and had much the same experience as you, looked over a couple practice tests and it felt like a review. I'm starting to look at the CLD now but I'm not sure my company will want to fork over $299 for it 😞
Depends on how serious they are about LabVIEW. Studying for it alone will take you several levels higher in your coding skills. Even if you feel you can already pass the test!
Maybe you can pitch the educational part of it. Hey, that's a thought... maybe you can call it job-related education and have the company reimburse you for it? Worse comes to worst, maybe you can write it off on your taxes as a work-related expense?
01-11-2016 02:19 PM
I agree that it would be educational (and the CLAD was paid for as an educational expense). The company has been very gracious to let me use the SSP to take Core 3, Advanced Architectures, and Object Oriented Programming in down time. I think another certification exam within a couple of months of the first might be a hard sell though 🙂
01-11-2016 11:00 PM
@Gregory wrote:
I agree that it would be educational (and the CLAD was paid for as an educational expense). The company has been very gracious to let me use the SSP to take Core 3, Advanced Architectures, and Object Oriented Programming in down time. I think another certification exam within a couple of months of the first might be a hard sell though 🙂
That's great! Not many people know about the online training you get as part of the SSP. 🙂
11-18-2016 11:43 AM
Update:
The LabVIEW Home Bundle license has since been updated to include a personal version of the application builder! While the license only allows you to build applications for yourself, it makes it even more vluable as a teaching aid because you can now take a project all the way from start to finish. You can find out first hand just how difficult it is to keep all your paths straight when making an executable out of your development code and only suffer the slippage of your personal project timeline in doing so.
Users who bought it under the previous license agreement will have their licenses upgraded, too!
04-09-2017 03:58 AM