Darren's Weekly Nugget 02/09/2009

[Darren]

Shortly after NI Week 2008, I found out that NI employees could take the NI Certification exams.  Previously this was not allowed.  Once I found out, I took the CLAD, the CLD, then the CLA.  Don't worry, I passed them all.  🙂

Over the past few weeks, I've posted information on my LabVIEW blog detailing how I prepared for each exam.  I recommend checking out my articles before you plan on taking any of the LabVIEW Certification exams:

• Preparing for the CLAD
• Preparing for the CLD
• Preparing for the CLA

-D

P.S. - Check out past nuggets here. 

[GregFreeman]

That stuff in your blog is GREAT. I'm not taking any of these yet and I still read through all three of them!

[altenbach]

Why all the fuss? Wouldn't it be sufficient to simply memorize all answers from practice tests? 😄

[Ray.R]

Altenbach....  you're being naughty....  😉

[NIquist]

Just out of curiosity, why would NI not want their employees to be certified in the very products they sell and support???

Concerning the CLAD, I believe there are many versions which cover the same material but with the questions phrased differently.   The hardest part for me wasn't knowing the answers, it was figuring out what the hell the question was asking.  In any case, so many versions make memorizing answers rather tough (and you really shouldn't need to).

BTW:  Thanks for the blog Darren!  I'm preparing for the CLD myself and all help is appreciated.

[Darren]

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NIquist wrote:

Just out of curiosity, why would NI not want their employees to be certified in the very products they sell and support???

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I'm not certain about this, but I *think* it was simply a manpower issue. Up until recently, they didn't have enough staff to grade exams submitted by both customers and NI employees.

-D

P.S. - I'm glad you like the blog!  I have tons of ideas for articles, it's just a matter of finding time to post them.  The certification exam prep articles were highly-anticipated though, so I knocked those out first.  🙂

[Wiebe@CARYA]

When in doubt, just pick C, or the longest answer.

Regards,

Wiebe.

[Darren]

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Wiebe@CARYA wrote:
When in doubt, just pick C...

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I think what you meant to say was, "When in doubt, just pick G"

-D

[Ben]

Hi Darren,

Re: passing the CLA

Congratulations and welcome to the club!

Ben 

BTW: Could you please talk to someone about having to renew every two years! Id' prefer no re-cert test (I just send in the check to NI to get it re-newed) that way NI makes their money and I don't have to fret over tests.

[Ben]

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Ben wrote:

...

BTW: Could you please talk to someone about having to renew every two years! Id' prefer no re-cert test (I just send in the check to NI to get it re-newed) that way NI makes their money and I don't have to fret over tests.

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Or change the schedule to 1st re-cert after two years, that should be good for five years, then ten years. After a person has been developing more than ten years with LV and had previously passed the exam, they should be writting the exam and not taking it.

Ben