NI, previously National Instruments Corporation, is a multinational American organization with a global presence. NI makes automated test equipment and software for virtual instrumentation. Data acquisition, instrument control, and machine vision are all common uses of those.

NI Certification Overview

Individuals who demonstrate a high level of knowledge and skill with National Instruments products are recognized through the National Instruments (NI) Certification Program. Technical and instructional validations are the two types of certifications available. A technical certification, in particular, is provided for the knowledge in specific hardware, software, and the usage of National Instruments products to provide industry solutions. What is more, individuals delivering training on National Instruments products must be instructional certified to properly explain complex technical issues to their audiences. When it comes to technical designations, the first category there is the Certified Associate Developer that houses one qualification namely, the Certified LabVIEW Associate Developer (CLAD). Then goes the Certified Developer category with three distinct certifications like the Certified LabVIEW Developer (CLD), Certified LabWindows/CVI Developer (CCVID), and Certified TestStand Developer (CTD). Finally, the third threshold is known as the Certified Architect, and it holds the Certified LabVIEW Architect (CLA) and the Certified TestStand Architect (CTA) designations. Now that you know this, let us focus on several valuable NI certificates on offer below.

Certified LabVIEW Associate Developer (CLAD)

The CLAD is an entry-level LabVIEW certification that shows a thorough understanding of the LabVIEW core features and functionality. Additionally, the CLAD designation denotes a thorough awareness of the LabVIEW environment, a fundamental comprehension of programming including specification quality standards, and the ability to recognize program applications. To attain the certificate, you need to pass the affiliated CLAD exam, which is available in two versions: LabVIEW and LabVIEW NXG. Besides, the official CLAD test features 40 multiple-choice inquiries that applicants must solve in 1 hour. More so, the final exam must be passed with a score of 70% or above to get a pass status. Lastly, the following topics should be familiar to a certified LabVIEW Associate Developer:

• From a single VI to a basic State Machine or Event-Driven UI Handler, you should be able to use a variety of software structures.
• Use NI Hardware to collect data from sensors.
• Execute a test a certain number of times or until a condition is satisfied, create a voltage ramp, perform other repetitive activities, and use loops.
• Simplify codes and contribute to larger projects, then create and edit SubVIs, clusters, and Type Defs.

Certified LabVIEW Developer (CLD)

The CLD qualification verifies a candidate’s ability to design and develop overall organization in LabVIEW while reducing development effort and assuring maintainability through suitable documentation and style. This way, Certified Developers can support less experienced engineers by providing technical leadership, ensuring that their team follows best practices, and develops into more skilled and efficient LabVIEW programmers. What is more, the CLD certificate indicates a comprehensive understanding of the LabVIEW Full Development System's basic advanced features, as well as the ability to utilize that knowledge to design, troubleshoot, and maintain small LabVIEW components. To earn the endorsement, you need to clear the namesake practical exam that will last for 4 hours, where obtaining at least 70% is considered a pass. To add more, some exam subjects for the CLD test are listed below:

• Develop a Modular, Scalable, Readable, and Maintainable LabVIEW application (VI).
• Upgrade LabVIEW modules that are loosely connected and highly coherent.
• Produce a LabVIEW VI that uses the concepts described above to create a logical hierarchical design.
• Organize the VIs in the file system to represent the software's hierarchical nature.
• To improve usability and performance, make appropriate settings for the front panel object.
• Create a subVI that performs a single well-defined function.
• In a subVI, instead of a global variable, use a functional global variable design pattern.

Certified LabVIEW Architect (CLA)

The CLA is the final phase in the LabVIEW certification process, which consists of three parts. The related exam with the same name evaluates the candidate's ability to create a logical VI hierarchy and project plan to deliver an application that meets a set of high-level requirements. In addition, Certified Architects offers technical expertise, ensuring that their team's developers follow industry standards and grow in competence and efficiency. As for the test details, the official evaluation will be in the form of architecture app development that will sustain for 4 hours. Besides, to accomplish it successfully, you need to get at least 70% as a passing mark. Last of all, some exam objectives for the CLA validation are as follows:

• Initialize, use, and shutdown messaging schemes that should be modularized.
• Demonstrate the integration of error management with functional modules.
• For user interface events, employ an event-based design and specify user-generated events for timing, error, signaling, and so on.
• Use the LabVIEW Development Guidelines as well as company-developed standards to establish and maintain a consistent development style.
• Define the APIs for subVIs and modules.
• Based on functional needs, choose appropriate design patterns for modules and subVIs.

Certified TestStand Developer (CTD)

The first phase of the two-part TestStand certification process is the CTD certificate. The affiliated exam, also known as the CTD, verifies the candidates’ ability to use TestStand software to create, debug, and deploy functioning applications while reducing development time and assuring maintainability. As a result, Certified Developers can provide technical leadership and direction to less experienced individuals in order to assist them to follow best practices and become more effective and efficient developers.

Certified TestStand Architect (CTA)

The CTA validation assesses a candidate's ability to build TestStand-based test systems from high-level specifications. Thus, Certified Architects provide technical leadership, ensuring that their team's developers follow best practices and grow in competence as well as efficiency. In order to take this certification, you should have an active CTD certification. Plus, it’s going the assess the following skills of the interested examinees:

• Translating TestStand specs and design documentation.
• Competence with the TestStand framework's development and customization.
• Experience designing a scalable, stable, and well-documented TestStand framework that adheres to industry best practices and guidelines.

Career Opportunities

Regarding the relevant career opportunities, with the NI certifications, you may opt for such roles as a Test Engineer, Software Engineer, Apps Engineer, Developer, and the like. For salaries, the CLAD designation can bring you around $77k per year while this number for the CLD increases and is $82k annually as said by Payscale.

Certification Path

Well, if you’re targeting the NI technical certificates related to LabVIEW, then you should commence your education with the CLAD designation. Next will be the CLD and CLA, respectively. Still, if you want to pursue the certificates belonging to the TestStand specialization, then it’s advisable for you to pursue the CTD and CTA qualifications in the order as covered here.