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For the past ten years I've been programming for companies who didn't have
the resources or willingness to update their VB6 Windows apps to .NET.
Therefore, I have very little experience with .NET itself.

I was recently laid off and now have an opportunity to update my skills. It
looks like the overview for MCTS suggests that candidates should already have
a year or more of experience using .NET, which I don't have. What would you
suggest I do to try getting certified in this track? Do you think I'd be able
to handle it anyway, with 10 years programming experience, even if it's not
in .NET? I'd like to become a web developer.

Thanks,
Trent

I have some experience on projects that involved migration of VB6 code to
..NET. The difference is substantial, and DOES require a different
approach/way of thinking, but it can be done if you are committed.

I suggest you take some existing code that you are familiar with and
re-writing it in .NET in order to learn the fundamentals. Use the plethora of
resources provided by Microsoft online to help you along. Also, pick up the
official study kit/guide for the MCTS exam that you wish to pursue; this will
give you a good idea on the topics to cover.

I think if you work at this for 3-6 months consistently, you should have
sufficient knowledge to pass the exam.

"Trent Leach" wrote:

> For the past ten years I've been programming for companies who didn't have
> the resources or willingness to update their VB6 Windows apps to .NET.
> Therefore, I have very little experience with .NET itself.
>
> I was recently laid off and now have an opportunity to update my skills. It
> looks like the overview for MCTS suggests that candidates should already have
> a year or more of experience using .NET, which I don't have. What would you
> suggest I do to try getting certified in this track? Do you think I'd be able
> to handle it anyway, with 10 years programming experience, even if it's not
> in .NET? I'd like to become a web developer.
>
> Thanks,
> Trent

"Trent Leach" <> wrote

> I was recently laid off

Now that's really 'cute', first they let you do the old stuff, not
beneficial for your carreer, and then they send you to the exit!

> It looks like the overview for MCTS suggests that candidates should
> already have
> a year or more of experience using .NET, which I don't have.

Ah, don't let that scare you off!! Mostly if you do a job, you are occupied
with the same kind of technical problems in the projects technical domain,
and a lot of other non technical political problems. These exams are more
general. Of course experience helps, but I think this should rather be: 'if
you have no time to study because you have a full day-time job, then you
better also have a year of experience'. What you should do is download the
free express edition, study the 'self paced course' material, and do the
exercises. And you can do it. I suggest to do 70-536 first. It should take
you 3 to 6 months though full time, since you have to know the material
inside out, but it's certainly doable.

And next time an employer assigns you to do the old stuff, make time free to
study some new material, even if your employer is pushing you to make some
deadlines for legacy projects. Think of yourself, as you have experienced,
your employer thinks of himself also, not of you.