Beginner wants to learn .net/asp and get qualified. Advice needed!

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Hi all,

I have experience with HTML/CSS and have made a few websites and know my way around a computer but when it comes to other programming languages I haven't a clue.

I was advised to learn .net/asp from an employer and I have decided it's what I am going to do.

Can anyone recommend some certs I can get that will get me upto speed and make me look qualified in using them?
I am finishing my degree in IT computing next year but the .net/asp material is very limited - I have time to kill until then so would like to get learning.

Also how much would it typically cost for a beginner?
I have a lot of spare time right now so I could be learning for upto 6-7 hours a day if I really wanted to.

 

Thanks very much for the info wagnerk, just what I needed.

Sounds like a good plan and I'll get right on it.

 

Just looking at the exams and see there is 2 version of each, one for VB and c#.

What is the best one to pick, and do those books cover each one or would I need to purchase different books if I only wanted to learn c#? (my friend is telling me to go with c#).

 

.NET gives you a choice of what to program in, so you can either have C# or VB.NET (amongst others, like F#, JScript.NET etc). It's a matter of preference what you want to use, but C# seems to be where most jobs are. A friend, who leads a team of programmers working with .NET, has just told me on Skype that might be the best option too.

Don't know about the books, but I am sure a quick google or Amazon search would tell you.

 

Thanks!

Any idea how long it would take to get those certificates for a complete beginner in those areas?
Is less than 6 months do-able or are we talking a year atleast?

 

All depends how you get on with understanding programming in the language. Programming is very much one of those "you can, or you can't" type things.

Obviously follow the examples in the books, but it would be really useful to do a bigger project. So for example, when we did the .NET framework in Uni, the project was to build a messaging system, a bit like Windows Live Messenger, but in C#, making the right calls, etc.

There are some classic projects - like in Java, you would implement a calculator, as it allows you to do the object oriented things, such as variable casting, inheritance, polymorphism etc. No reason why you can't do something similar in C#.

Once you can program proficiently, then worry about certifications. See the certification as more like a confirmation that you can do some basic level programming in .NET

 

Great thanks for all the info!

 

Oh btw - do these certificates need renewed every couple of years like the A+ N+ etc?

 

If you're a complete beginner to programming then you may want to start on something a bit more generic before you tie yourself into a certain language.

I started out with the Open University and did a very good course on object orientation and program design in general.
Without that, I don't ever think I would have got my head around any of the concepts involved in .net.

I guess for you the downside there will be time, as you can't really hurry an OU course because you have time on your hands.
The cost though is also pretty good compared to training providers. On average you'll pay about £1000 for an academic year at the OU (including all materials and exams etc) which is pretty good compared to a TP charging between £3000-8000 for a course.

It'll also give you some idea if programming is for you.
It isn't for everyone.

 

Hi guys,
Old bump here.

So I took JonnyMX advice in the above post and started at the Open Uni.
I am doing software development course which right now, involves mainly Java (no .net or c#)

I am just talking to someone about a placement and I am now researching the certificates again (even though I won't be doing them for another year yet).
Do the same certs above still apply to me for .net/c#, or is there newer ones out now - and is the expiry still 5 years?

Thanks!

 

You could look at the following exams :-

I would advise MTA level as you say you don't have much experience :-
Software Development Fundamentals
Web Development Fundamentals
HTML5 Application Development Fundamentals

After that you can start to look at MCTS level exams :-
Programming in C#
Programming in HTML5 with JavaScript and CSS3
Developing ASP.NET MVC 4 Web Applications

The Microsoft learning portal covers it all in detail.