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Preparing for the Certified LabVIEW

Associate (CLAD) Exam

National Instruments Training & Certification

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• National Instruments certification program overview

• LabVIEW certification track, exams and process

• CLAD exam• Preparation materials

• Exam format and question types

• Exam topics and related questions

• Objective : Increase your chances to successfully

complete the CLAD certification exam

Presentation Agenda

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Certification Program Overview

Certified Associate Developer

LabVIEW

Certified Developer

LabVIEW

LabWindows CVI

TestStand

Certified Architect

LabVIEW

TestStand

Foundation

Experience

Mastery

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LabVIEW Training & Certification Path

LabVIEWCore 1 & 2

LabVIEWCore 3 & Connectivity

Advanced Architectures

for LabVIEW

• LabVIEW fundamentals

• Basic application

creation using LabVIEW

• Basics of data

acquisition & instrument

control

• Modular application

development

• Structured design and

development practices

• Inter-application

communication and

connectivity techniques

• Large application design

• Advanced development

techniques

• Implementing multi-

developer projects

• Demonstrates knowledge

of core features and

functions

• Develops, debugs and

maintains small LabVIEW

modules

• Demonstrates experience

in developing scalable,

readable and maintainable

applications

• Develops, debugs, and

deploys medium to large

scale applications

• Demonstrates mastery in

architecting applications

for multi-developer teams

• Develops requirements

architectures, tools,

components and best

practices for team

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LabVIEW Certification Exams and Process

Certified LabVIEW

Associate Developer

Certified LabVIEW

Developer

Certified LabVIEW

Architect

• Objective style exam

(multiple choice)

• 1 hour long

• Scheduled (online) via

Pearson Vue’s web page

• Administered and

proctored by Pearson

Vue

• Evaluated automatically

• Results available to

candidate upon exam

completion

• Certificate is mailed by

Training & Certification

• Practical development

exam

• 4 hours long

• Scheduled by Training &

Certification or NI branch

• Administered by Training

& Certification, proctored

by NI representative

• Evaluated and concurred

by two engineers

• 4 week process

• Certificate is mailed by

Training & Certification

• Short answer and

practical development

exam

• Same as CLD

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Certified LabVIEW Associate Developer (CLAD) Exam

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CLAD Exam Format & Style

• Multiple choice style – 40 questions

37 questions have one anwer

Last 3 questions have multiple answers

• These questions will be clearly identified

• Time allocated: 1 hour

• Computer Based Test – Pearson Vue

Mark questions for review – can go back to review items

after completion

Skip questions – can go back to skipped items

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CLAD Exam Question Format & Style

• Question format

Multiple choice, application based

Graphical - Questions / answers may contain screen shots

of VIs / functions

• Question style

Given a scenario, determine the best function / method for

solving the problem

Given a block diagram, predict the outcome

Given a block diagram and missing function(s), determine

the best function(s) to complete the functionality

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CLAD Preparation Steps

1. Review the exam topics in the CLAD Exam Preparation

Guide

2. Identify any knowledge gap

3. Attend NI Training courses or utilize resources (at the end of

the CLAD exam preparation guide) to close the knowledge

gaps

4. Evaluate your knowledge - Take the free on-line LabVIEW

Fundamentals Exam

5. Assess yourself - Take the Sample exam

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CLAD Exam Topics

1. LabVIEW programming concepts

2. LabVIEW environment

3. Software constructs in LabVIEW

4. Programming VIs and functions

5. Data communication and synchronization VIs and functions

6. VI Server VIs and functions

7. Error handling VIs and functions

8. Design patterns

9. SubVI design

10. Debugging tools and techniques

11. VI design and documentation (style) practices

12. Memory, performance, and determinism

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CLAD Exam Topic

• LabVIEW programming principles:

Data flow

• Identify programming practices that enforce data flow

on the block diagram, in VIs, and SubVIs

• Identify programming practices that break data flow

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CLAD Exam Topic – Programming

Practices

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CLAD Exam Topic – Programming

Practices

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CLAD Exam Topic

• Software constructs in LabVIEW

Program control structures and data storage

• Determine the data values in the shift registers after a

set number of iterations occur or upon loop termination

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CLAD Exam Topic – Shift registers

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CLAD Exam Topic

• Software constructs in LabVIEW

Working with front panel window objects and data

types

• Determine if a type definition or a strict type definition is

needed to represent a data item

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CLAD Exam Topic – Type Definitions

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CLAD Exam Topic

• Programming VIs and functions

Determine the output or intermediate values of data

elements in an application that utilizes VIs and

functions from the following list

Determine the most appropriate VI(s) or function(s)

to complete a specified functionality

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CLAD Question – Timing Functions

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CLAD Exam Topic

• Data communication and synchronization VIs

and functions

Identify the pros and cons of and use local, global,

or shared variables for data communication

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CLAD Question – Global & Local Variables

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CLAD Exam Topic

• Design patterns

Identify a design pattern, explain its pros and cons,

and compare it with other design patterns

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CLAD Question – Design Patterns

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CLAD Question – Design Patterns

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CLAD Exam Topic

• Debugging tools and techniques

Given an error situation, select the most appropriate

method to debug the error

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CLAD Question – Debugging Tools &

Techniques

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CLAD Exam Topic

• SubVI Design

Connector pane and connection types

• Identify which terminals are Required, Recommended,

or Optional

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CLAD Exam Topic – Connector Pane

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CLAD Exam Topic

• Programming VIs, functions, and properties

VIs and Express VIs

• Utilizing VIs and functions from the following list,

determine the most appropriate VI(s) or function(s) to

complete a specified functionality

• File I/O

• Other…

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CLAD Exam Topic – File I/O

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CLAD Success - Next Steps

• Immediately eligible to take the CLD exam

Form / participate in user groups with CLD / CLAs

Prepare for the CLD exam using resources on Developer

Zone

Time yourself during practice exams

Schedule to take the exam by emailing certification@ni.com

• Note: CLAD certification must be current to take the

CLD exam

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CLAD - Recertification

• CLAD certification is valid for 2 years

• Recertification email sent out after 22 months of

certificate issue date

• Recertification exam is another CLAD exam

• Recommendation: Take the CLD exam and

certify as a CLD before CLAD expires

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Questions?

• Exam related questions

• Visit ni.com/training for program information and preparation resources

Best wishes on your Certification Exam !

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Thank you!