Programming courses

[Dave123]

Hello, I have around 6months experience with visual basic 6.0. I am 16, and I am leaving school very soon, I am getting an apprenticeship as a floor layer. I am hoping to learn a course from home after work also, I live in the United Kingdom, and learn direct dont offer anything programming-wise other than C++, and their searches are down for the moment, so I dont know the prices.

I have both C++ and Visual Basic 6.0. I dont know which language will be better to get a career out of, if all fails with the apprenticeship? and I dont know where would be the best place to get a course from home? Most courses offer the programs with the courses which makes the price around 500pounds, which is no good for me.

Any suggestions?

[Hack]

Welcome to the forums and good luck with your apprentiseship.

I'd suggest on-line tutorials and programming books would be the least expensive way to go.

You could also look into CBT (Computer Based Training) that comes on CD/DVD (although I'm not sure what the price for these are.)

[Valleysboy1978]

What is important is the qualification you get at the end. It has to be recognisable by any potential employers, otherwise you are wasting your time.

I would probably suggest a part-time course in your local college for a HNC/HND. Then see what happens after that.

Good luck

[Dave123]

Thanks for the replys.

http://www.cityofbristol.ac.uk/cobct...&subclassid=41

I am thinking of going for that course. IF...I complete that course, then I will take the advanced vb course. The only problem is, I dont think it's actually a qualification, just a certificate, saying "I have completed the course...".

[Valleysboy1978]

Should be okay because its presented by an actual academic institution. Most employers will just ask you what you studied on the course to check you know what you're talking about.
If you like the course, give it a bash. What have you got to lose?

[Dave123]

Should be okay because its presented by an actual academic institution. Most employers will just ask you what you studied on the course to check you know what you're talking about.
If you like the course, give it a bash. What have you got to lose?

100quid...lol. But on the other hand, it wouldnt look bad on a cv, I suppose. I will probably buy it in a month or two. Thanks for your help.

[Valleysboy1978]

No problem

[dglienna]

You can always take a test to prove what you know. I have a problem with paying for a test that nobody wants me to take in the first place. I'm pretty sure that I would earn a few of the certs if I took the test, but I don't want to shell out the money to take them. Kind of a catch-22.

[RobDog888]

You can always take a test to prove what you know. I have a problem with paying for a test that nobody wants me to take in the first place. I'm pretty sure that I would earn a few of the certs if I took the test, but I don't want to shell out the money to take them. Kind of a catch-22.

Why would you think that way? Thats like saying I dont want to pay to go to college to get a Bachelors degree,
which relates to getting a lower paying job. With a degree or any certifications you can ALWAYS get a
better job or raise then you could without one. So, no its not at all a catch-22.

I got raises for each M$ test I passed (3 so far). I would take the tests even if I wouldn't get a raise. So I guess you
dont want to do any self improvement, or is it that you dont think you can pass the tests?

[Valleysboy1978]

Why would you think that way? Thats like saying I dont want to pay to go to college to get a Bachelors degree,
which relates to getting a lower paying job. With a degree or any certifications you can ALWAYS get a
better job or raise then you could without one. So, no its not at all a catch-22.

I got raises for each M$ test I passed (3 so far). I would take the tests even if I wouldn't get a raise. So I guess you
dont want to do any self improvement, or is it that you dont think you can pass the tests?

That is true, but only if your company recognises the qualification, and most importantly are willing to shell out more money for you. I have never experienced this phenomenon myself.

[RobDog888]

I know that some companies dont reward you for test/certs. but if you do it anyways, you will be more marketable
when looking for a better job.

When I interview for a new programmer, I require a BS degree or min. years of paid professional experience and
at least one M$ cert in a related field. This tells me that they are working on improving their knoweledge. I dont
want to hire someone that is not working towards making themselves more knoweledgable/productive, that will
not be of any benefit to me or my company.

Try to look at it from an employers point of view and I think you will see what I mean.

[dglienna]

I earned a load of certificates given for attending classes and passing tests, which even included Continuing Education Credits, and never got anything for them. Even the college that I attended didn't recognized them. Just my personal oppinion. I took Brainbench test when they were free, and passed 3 of them. I would have tried for more, but they only offered a two-week period, and I had some trouble with the advanced vb test last july. i did pass it, though.

[RobDog888]

Brainbench exams and most internet test are not recognised by employers. You need to take a M$ test which is
the industry standard. Its good that you took some classes, but if your employer doesn't reward you for
them then it only adds to your marketable value when/if you look for a new job. This was the point I was making.

Either way, getting certifications (M$) do not hurt you at all, they only benefit you. If they dont benefit
you at your current job then perhaps if you were looking for another one, then it would be appearant to you.

It never hurts to continue to learn. Invest in yourself or no one else will.

[Dave123]

Just out of a matter of interest. Where can I take a M$ test? I have searched the M$ website but I couldnt find anything.

[RobDog888]

M$ doesnt offer it directly. You can register with a certified testing provider like this one and take
the test at one of their locations. I think its currently $125 ea. for most of the VB tests.

http://securereg3.prometric.com/

[dglienna]

Are there study guides or practics tests or do you have to take a class to get those? Or just take them repeatedly? I'm not sure which ones I would take. VB wouldn't hurt, but network would be better. Is there an explanation of each one?

[RobDog888]

VB6 tests are retired. So you could either take the .NET test (allot harder) or take some of the MCSE networking test.
The networking tests are on things like Windows 2003 Server, Exchange Server 2003, Active Directory, Windows 2000 Pro, etc.
I think the MCSE is easier since its easier to choose the correct answers where the .NET programming tests are
based on syntax, anaysis, web services, SQL Server design & integration, etc.

Search the M$ site for the path you feel you want to take and more complete test descriptions. M$ recommends
about least 2 years of working experience with each technology to help get you ready. The tests cover a very wide range
of questions. When I was taking the
VB Distributed Applications test I couldn't believe all the different areas that they tested on (ActiveX Dlls, ActiveX EXEs,
MTS, COM, DCOM, etc.). I passed it on the second try with-in a week.

I barely found out that the tests were going to be retired at the end of last June and I only had 3 weeks to take
them in to get my MCSD. I missed my MCSD by 3.5 questions over 2 tests. It totally sucked!
I took 70-176, 70-175, 70-029, 70-100 over the 3 week period. I was sooo tired after that.

I did pass the VB Desktop Applications test with a score of 928/1000 - Aced it! Passed the Distributed Applications
with a score of 780 something. 3 of the tests were really hard and remember I have been programming with VB6
professionally for about 5.5 years when I took the tests. If you dont get a wide range of real experience over
all the possible technologies for a few years then you probably wont pass.

[dglienna]

Thanks. I think my knowledge isn't specific to one area, but I am good in many areas. I've been around for a long time, and learned the whole time, often by seeing others make mistakes. Not sure which one I could pass right away.

I guess it wouldn't hurt to study and pass. A lot of places try to sell me training. They even let you take re-tests for free. I may look into it in the future.

Thanks for the insight.

[RobDog888]

As you might be able to tell, I'm a strong believer in education.

's on double green bars. Welcome to the club.

[dglienna]

Thanks. It won't be long before it's not exclusive.

[patcher]

Might want to consider VB.NET instead, i think a lot of companies are going that way.

[RobDog888]

I'm not sure which ones I would take. VB wouldn't hurt, but network would be better.

I think hes leaning towards the MCSE path. There are allot of networking jobs out there. More
then programming jobs. Too late for me now to switch, but that is where the real money is at.
Dont know why when programming takes more knoweledge.

[Valleysboy1978]

Might want to consider VB.NET instead, i think a lot of companies are going that way.

Would agree with this. VB is become less and less in demand as more companies are taking up .NET