Microsoft .NET education and training existed even before Microsoft (MS) released the .NET framework, which some programmers believed would revolutionize Windows-based programming. The first version of the .NET framework introduced a brand new language, C# (pronounced C Sharp). This created a great demand for more information about .NET and for Microsoft .NET education and training in the programming community.

The availability of Microsoft .NET education and training resources was a major factor in the success of Microsoft .NET. It shortened the amount of time a company needed to spend adopting the new technology and gave confidence to IT decision makers. It is not so much that .NET was terribly complex, especially not when compared to languages like C/C++. Many thought they needed .NET developer training because the framework introduced new concepts into Microsoft development, such as C#, the Common Language Runtime (CLR), assemblies, ASP.NET, etc.

Today, Microsoft .NET training is available for every skill level, from the beginner trying to learn how to program, to the advanced programmer, to the Enterprise architect. Training is available in one of several formats. The most common are:

1. Courses offered on premises with Microsoft .NET training providers
2. .NET tutorials online
3. .NET training from books or CDs

To gain access to MS .NET training in any of these formats, consider these steps.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find on-site Microsoft .NET training providers by looking online

There are many companies that offer certified Microsoft .NET education and training. Many of these companies have huge computer labs where students can learn the .NET framework. Also, some of these companies will send trainers to a company's office.

I recommend: Find a training company online that offers Microsoft .NET education and training. Three good examples of companies with several locations are Intertech, Gatlin Education Services and TechSkills.

Buy online Microsoft .NET tutorials

If you are like most people, you cannot afford to spend a week in training or to send your staff away for that long. This is why many companies have developed online computer based training (CBT), which allows each learner to move at his or her own pace and to study at various times throughout the day.

I recommend: Look for a good online course that suits your budget. eLearners.com and OReilly.com both offer good online certification and training for both C# and Visual Basic .NET education.

Purchase physical copies of .NET tutorials

Instead of buying CBTs, which can sometimes be expensive, consider buying a CD or book on Microsoft .NET education and training. Typically, buying books and CDs is cheaper because the training is impersonal and because it is usually focused on one or two specific topics (getting started, ASP.NET, desktop programming, Web Services, etc.).

I recommend: Buy your own offline, physical products in either CD or book format. If you still want a CBT, but do not want an offline version, buy from InformIT. If you want a book, O'Reilly offers solid resources.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Remember that the .NET framework could encompass education on a number of different languages (C# lessons, Visual Basic .NET training, etc.). Make sure that when you buy Microsoft .NET Education and Training, you are buying the right language(s).
• •  There are several different coding platforms that may require different sets of Microsoft .NET education and training materials. These include the web, desktop, Web Services, Silverlight, etc.
• •  Paying for certification courses is a perfectly valid way to get Microsoft .NET education and training, as long as the programmer has basic knowledge of .NET programming. These courses tend to be more fast-paced, but they are always packed with information.