Anyone taken the Certified Labview Architect exam?

[davidpcl]

I'm having a crack at the Certified Labview Architect exam next week - just wondering if anyone out there has taken it and has got any tips?

[SachaE]

Hi David,

If you're comfortable with the information in the tasks and objectives list here :

http://www.ni.com/pdf/custed/us/cla_tasks_and_objectives.pdf

then you shouldn't have a problem.   

Unfortunately there's nothing more we can really advise beyond good programming practices.

  http://www.ni.com/pdf/custed/us/cla_requirements_conditions.pdf

Page 3 refers to Confidentiality of Examination Materials, which actually precludes anyone from discussing the content or intent of examination items and this is why no-one would be in a position to reply to your query.

By signing the application form, you agree to be bound by this and other conditions, and so has everyone else who has applied for this certification, so no-one will be able to reply to your query on this matter.

Sorry.

Sacha Emery
National Instruments (UK)

[davidpcl]

HI Sacha, I'm generally comfortable with the objectives but it can be tricky revising for an exam where you have no idea what the format of the questions is going to be, and it would certainly be useful for myself and other people taking this exam if there was a past, or example paper available (as is provided for the developer exams) that might give a better understanding of what is expected - it would certainly make me more confident that I could pass first time. As it is I am really going into this exam half blind and fully expecting to fail, and in fact I'm treating this attempt more as a reccy just so I can get a look at a paper, and then at the second attempt I can really tune my revising to the paper.

I posted my original message just to see if anyone had the odd tip which might help me to concentrate my revision efforts more acutely - it was certainly not to get any sort of detailed question information - I'd just like to go into the exam with a better sense of what to expect. Anyway - hopefully see you Thursday if you're about.

Dave C

[Ben]

I can offer general advise that does not violate the agreement.

1) Practice using the version of LV that you are going to be taking the test on. If you ar used to a customized environment, then learn how to customize it fast or get used to using the default setting. Things like "auto-guess-my-tool" etc.

2) Review the course material recomended by the req's document.

3) Make sure you are up-to-date on the latest and greatest features of the version you will be testing with.

4) Get a good nights rest.

5) Write down every thought you have on a subject.

Planning to take the test more than once is a good idea. I have seen people try it multiple times before they pass.

Ben

Certified LabVIEW Architect, LabVIEW Champion, and General Anoyance

[LV_Pro]

     Unfortunately, those of us who make our living working billable customer hours find taking these exams once expensive, much less multiple times. Add to it that the exams are given in specific/limited locations (I had to travel 100 miles/ 160km to take the CLAD part, another 100/160 to a different city to take the CLD part) and it is very non-trivial.Those who work for companies that have enough  "buffer" to write off the time are definitely in a better position.  For that reason a little more information to the structure of the exam would be appreciated, and from my experience would not invalidate the exam's testing of knowledge. I can't imagine knowing what I know about the actual exam question I was asked helping in a different problem except as an overall understanding of how the questions would be asked, which, having taken the live online prep class, I already knew. Something similar for the CLA would give me sme confidence that I might not have to take it multiple times, just to get a feel for the types of questions. As to knowing what version of LabVIEW is going to be on the machine, how would you ? A friend of mine who took the CLD exam last spring when I did failed because he wasn't familiar with the 7.x environment, not due to a lack of LabVIEW experience/knowledge, but due to his customers still working in 6.x.  I have been "playing" in 8.0, but haven't done a "real" project to get comfortable in the new, less modifiable environment (as in configurable to the previous look and feel, such as 7.x is) as my customers are reluctant to start a new project in 8.0 yet.   On top of it, the machines provided where I took the test didn't have floppy drives, which is the mode that we were supposed to submit our test results on (sealed envelope with all test paper work and labview code created on a floppy, to be sent directly to NI), adding to the initial stress level and causing a major initial distraction.
     Didn't want to make you any more nervous than taking the exam will, just wanted to vent some annoyances that I have about the process. While I think that certification is a good thing, helps provide some indication of actual knowledge, the process seems to have some glitches in it yet.

P.M.

[davidpcl]

Hi Ben, thanks for your 'Tips' - love the poem too - who's that by?

[LV_Pro]

it is a excerpt from "Man of La Mancha", which is the play based on Cervantes' "Don Quixote"

[Wiebe@CARYA]

Ben,


"Ben" <x@no.email> wrote in message news:1141049438327-330622@exchange.ni.com...
I can offer general advise that does not violate the agreement.
1) Practice using the version of LV that you are going to be taking the test on. If you ar used to a customized environment, then learn how to customize it fast or get used to using the default setting. Things like "auto-guess-my-tool" etc.
2) Review the course material recomended by the req's document.


I couldn't find any recommended course material in the links mentioned previously. Is the "req's document" another document?


Regards,


Wiebe.



3) Make sure you are up-to-date on the latest and greatest features of the version you will be testing with.
4) Get a good nights rest.
5) Write down every thought you have on a subject.
&nbsp;
Planning to take the test more than once is a good idea. I have seen people try it multiple times before they pass.
&nbsp;
Ben
Certified LabVIEW Architect, LabVIEW Champion, and General Anoyance

[davidpcl]

Hi LV_Pro - I definitely agree with most of what you've said - I would love to go into Thursdays exam with a warm fuzzy feeling that I have some idea of what to expect - as you've said it's the structure that is the important thing to know, and it's just being able to go into the exam with a bit of confidence that I would like. I may well have the knowledge to get through, or I may not - but until I've seen the paper I have no idea how to apply that knowlege correctly.

I don't particularly like to bash NI as they really are a fantastic company, and I've had nothing but positive experiences with their staff and products. I give them credit for providing a certification system that has a lot of credibility and has definitely made a big impact on my Labview development skills, but on providing resources for the architect exam I have definitely been disappointed. All it would take would be a mock exam paper that would give you an idea of the structure, and give you a bit of a better target to aim for, and a fairer chance of passing. It is obviously a very hard exam judging by the number of people who hold architect status - which is a good thing, but just taking it simply from ticking off requirements without a context just seems like a bit of a shot in the dark to me - and an expensive one at that!

[Khalid]

---

@"Ben" wrote:

1) Practice using the version of LV that you are going to be taking the test on. If you ar used to a customized environment, then learn how to customize it fast or get used to using the default setting. Things like "auto-guess-my-tool" etc.

---

Can we bring along our favourite LabVIEW.INI file for use at the exam?  That would save some initial setting-up time and make me more "at home."  Of course, the instructor can check the INI beforehand to ensure there are no undocumented SuperSecret.... settings in there .

-Khalid (Certified LabVIEW Developer).