Need advice about Labview and NI certifications

[Naqqash]

Hi all I am a student. In the process of learning the LABVIEW. I've been working on it for about 3 to 4 months. From internet, examples, tutorials on NI site and now on forum also. Just thought why don't I should ask you people where to start and any books you think will help. My intentions are toward CLAD and then CLD. Any advice. Thanks in Advance.

If I am posting it on wrong board please tell me where to post.

Message Edited by Naqqash_IIEE on 03-13-2009 01:57 PM

[smercurio_fc]

Nope, this is the right forum.

I have never taken the CLAD or CLD (and don't intend to unless someone rakes me over a burning pit of lava), but here's what I can tell you. The topics covered in the CLAD typically come from the same information covered in the Basics I and II courses. If you've done those and have a decent head on your shoulders you will likely pass. The CLD is a bit more involved, and usually you have to have done some reasonable code to be able to pass the CLD. There are lots of links on the NI site for the CLAD and CLD, including sample exams. Just search for CLAD or CLD. 

Examples:

• Certified LabVIEW Associate Developer (CLAD) Exam Preparation.

• CLAD Sample Exam 

Searching this forum will also yield lots of hits, including posts where people have asked "what is the correct answer to these questions".

Good luck!

[Naqqash]

Thanks for your response. Any book  suggestion. If this is not the right board then where to post. I've gone through all the material about CLAD on NI site.

[jon_mcbee]

As far as books are concerned my three favorites are:

LabVIEW for Everyone

The LabVIEW Sytle Book

A Software Engineering Approach to LabVIEW

I have taken both the CLAD and the CLD exam.  A person who has a good understanding of the LabVIEW fundamentals will be able to pass the CLAD exam.  To see if you have a good understanding of the fundamentals you should do as Smercurio suggests and take the example tests.  To pass the CLD exam you have to have a good understanding of LabVIEW Style, and be able to implement it while writing a program that would normally take 8 hours in 4 hours.  With the CLD if you take the available practice exams and pass them (you will have to grade them yourself, which is a good way to brush up on style) then you are probably ready to take the exam.  It does not mean that you will pass it though.  It seems to me that the time limit is the killer with the CLD.

[Naqqash]

I've Labview for everyone. The writer mentioned that for CLAD go through from chap1 to 9 and I've done all the activities also including additional activities. But when I've read some sample exams there are some question which are not in these chapter e.g Property Node, they are in chapter 13. I've also taken fundamental exams online but unable to pass got 27 from 40. So can you suggest where I am doing wrong.

[jon_mcbee]

I dont think you are doing anything wrong, I think you just need to do it for a longer amount of time before taking these exams.  Experience is the key to both of these, and experience isnt something you are going to get by reading books*.  I had used LabVIEW 8 hours a day everyday for four years before I took the CLAD or CLD.  I could have passed the CLAD sooner if I had needed to take it sooner, but I don't think I can say the same about the CLD; I needed as much experience as I could get on that one.

*Let me add a disclaimer here:  Following examples in books such as LabVIEW for Everyone is a good way to get experience.  The caveat being that following an example once is not going to ingraine it in your memory.

Message Edited by jmcbee on 03-13-2009 01:35 PM

[MattBradley]

One other thing you can do is (if it's close enough) go to the NI days events.  You can take the CLAD for free (which is nice if you aren't sure whether you are ready or not but think you are).  There's one 3/19 in Mountain View, CA.

http://www.ni.com/nidays/