I am employed part time as Microsoft desktop applications
specialist but spend most of my time supporting Excel
applications that use VBA. Lately I have been getting
some contract development work for small manufacturing
businesses using Excel, Access, VBA. Also some VB6
stuff. This work is increasing but I was wondering if
having something like MCP after my name would help my
hourly rate when I am asked to do this stuff.

I don't think that I would have too much difficulty with
the material. Ive had a lot of hobby type experience with
VB and going back to MS-DOS 2.0. I am a university
trained programmer with heaps of industry experience.

Should I get MCP 70-176, MCSD and if so what strand. Can
anyone
suggest how much it will cost me to do this and what
resources I need to buy? I dont want to spend money
unnecessarily.

Thanks

George Cooper.

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"George Cooper" <georgec@ptm.com.au> wrote in message
news:002d01c2e799$3de70cc0$340
1280a@phx.gbl...
> I am employed part time as ...Lately I have been getting
> some contract development work for small manufacturing
> businesses using Excel, Access, VBA. Also some VB6
> stuff. This work is increasing but I was wondering if
> having something like MCP after my name would help my
> hourly rate when I am asked to do this stuff. ..........

No one can accurately predict what certification will do for you in your
city, in your area of specilization and in your type of work (full time,
contract, moonlighting).

I can, however, guarantee that the in the process of exam preparation your
skills and knowledge will increase and this will help you in the future.

> Should I get MCP 70-176, MCSD and if so what strand. Can
> anyone
> suggest how much it will cost me to do this

It kind of depends on whether you're into expensive classroom courses or, as
an opposite, self-study with "previously owned" books. As far as I know,
exams are about US$125 and the price (and the exam) is the same no matter
which exam center you use.

> and what
> resources I need to buy? I dont want to spend money
> unnecessarily.

When you figure out what exam you're preparing for, do a search or post back
for specific book recommendations. Also, the book reviews at places like
Amazon can be helpful. You'll also find demo exams like the free ones at
www.transcender.com will give you an idea what the exam interface is like.

--
Cindy Winegarden MCSD, Microsoft Visual FoxPro MVP
cindy.winegarden@mvps.org http://cindywinegarden.adsl.duke.edu
http://mdsn.microsoft.com/vfoxpro http://foxcentral.net

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