If you're just starting out in learning Visual Basic, Microsoft makes it easy for you to get your feet wet. They're giving away Visual Basic .NET 2008 Express as a free download. They also provide a number of "how to's," code galleries, and video based instructions. Many professional Visual Basic programmers recommend that you download Microsoft's free version and exhaust its possibilities before buying the full edition of Visual Basic.
If you are a programmer who is well versed in VB.NET and want to become certified, you'll certainly be challenged, but all indications are that certification will be worth it. If your company is moving toward the use of .NET and you're already pursuing certification, you'll be ahead of the game. If you're the new kid on the block in your job, .NET certification will confer serious credibility. Microsoft is creating a lot of demand for VB.NET programmers, and if you pursue VB.NET certification, you'll be riding the crest of rising demand. In short, there is every reason to want to become a VB.NET developer and become certified.
Here are some of the steps that you'll take in order to become a gainfully employed VB.NET developer. Depending on your experience and education, you may not be starting at the beginning of this process.
First, if you are still in school, pursue computer science and technology courses. Though a degree will help you, your chops as a VB.NET programmer are what will get you the job in the end.
If you're currently working as a programmer, you'll need up to three years of experience as a general software developer for Microsoft environments. You'll be ahead of the game if you have experience with SQL database design and ASP.NET programming tools like JavaScript or CSS.
If you are at the stage where you have programming experience and you believe you're ready to pursue VB.NET certification, buy an instruction book that teaches programming syntax in practical situations. Visual Basic .NET Style Guide is a good choice. There are also numerous websites on which you can learn VB.NET skills and even test yourself on them. Many of these websites are free.
Participate in online newsgroups devoted to VB.NET. It is amazing how much you can learn just by reading archives. You'll pick up tips and tricks, and maybe even help others with their questions. Plus, it shows that you're really interested in VB.NET development if you take the time to join newsgroups and participate in them. Participating in newsgroups is a very effective way of taking the pulse of the programming industry and knowing which specific skills will be most valuable to your career.
While you don't necessarily have to become certified in VB.NET, it certainly helps your chances for landing that job as a VB.NET developer. In the meantime, if you can apply for programming jobs part time, you'll be building up the experience side of your resume. Speculation in the programming industry is that the demand for the technology is rising faster than the number of skilled developers needed for the work. Salaries are very likely to go up.
There is no reason not to get your hands dirty with the readily available VB.NET tools and start using new features and functions. It might take two years or so to become certified, but if you're well on your way as your company moves toward .NET development, you'll be ahead of everyone else. And if your company does not go in the .NET direction, you'll be well placed to find a higher paying job elsewhere.
The career outlook for VB.NET developers is bright, and for those who become certified, it is even brighter. Microsoft provides a fairly extensive set of tools for those who are new to Visual Basic: free downloads, code examples, articles, and tutorials. Someone interested in pursuing VB.NET certification, or who simply wants to learn more about it, can do so without having to spend money on the full version of Visual Basic until later on in the certification process.
