MCSD .Net Certification

I am considering getting Microsoft .NET certified.

Any advice from anyone who has done this already appreciated.

How much time did you have to put into it? What was cost? Was it meaningful? Alternatives. etc...

thx

It is all subjective and relative (sp?).

I have a MCSD for VS6, and it helped get me my current job, this I am sure of. For other people, it doesn't.

Cost, that is easy, 125 per test is the going rate right now. (visit www.vue.com, or www.2test.com to schedule an exam)

I just self studied, it is a hell of a lot cheaper than taking a class, and I think you tend to learn more because you have to find the answers, not be told them. I used the highest ranked books from Amazon, and they seemed to work well.

As for .Net, I have taken the 70-300 exam and passed (solution architectures). I have the 70-315 scheduled on Monday...let you know the outcome then.

For me, the tests are worth it, if not for a job, just to show progress in your professional development. Sure every employer can say that they could care less about certifications, but if it came to two equally qualified individuals, the one with the cert would almost always get hired. The people that say they would never hire a certified person are just short sighted individuals that you wouldn't want to work for anyway most of the time. If they fail to realize the time and dedication you put into taking and passing the tests, well, it is their loss.

Wow, I went off on a little rant...sorry.

It usually takes me a month of studying/practicing before I am willing to risk losing 125 dollars per test.

hellswraith,

thx for the input. I am leaning toward self-study also. My experience is limited in .NET. I am slowly making the switch from VB6. I am currently going over one of those "Learn .NET in C# in 24 hour" books. It is pretty good. I was thinking about getting the Step by Step books Microsoft offers to study. I will take your advice and check out Amazon also. Thx again.

Good Luck on the Exam.

You'll probably want to pick up something a little more in depth than the "Learn in 24hrs books". I'd highly recommend getting books that are specifically written for the exams, as the exams are more in depth than most 24hr books.

I think the problem employers might have with certifications, is that they are handed out by third-party schools that are supposed to adhere to certain guidelines, and because the schools are in it to make money, they push out people and 'certify' them before they are ready.

I got my current job because the previous employee who had obtained a .Net certification from a 'tech school', had been taught how to do everything with the VS IDE designer.

When it came time to actual coding, the employee fell short. He lasted about two weeks.

Microsoft received a few complaints, and they pulled the school's .Net certification licenses, but in the meantime, there were a lot of people who received certifications that didn't know the first thing about actual programming.

Here's a sample of one of their outrageous marketing pitches:
"Experts have compared our eight-month program
to the equivalent of up to three years of on-the-job experience."

I think most people would agree that is instant bs.
http://www.pcproductivitytraining.com/default.htm

I agree. There are those ones that did the training just to get a cert. If that is all they have, well, it will definately show in their resume. If they have no experience, and a cert, you have to dig deeper as a hiring person. If you don't, you will get screwed like the example you stated above.

For me, the certs are more or less a validation of the knowledge I think I possess. They are more for me, but don't hurt to put on the resume either.