CLA: Programming Essentials in C

CPA: Programming Essentials in C++ FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

CLA: Programming Essentials in C | CPA: Programming Essentials in C++

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated January 19, 2017

FAQ – Table of Contents

1. What is C and C++?

2. What C and C++ beginner courses are offered on Netacad.com?
3. Who is sponsoring the courses?
4. What are the main features of the course curriculum?
5. Why should I learn C or C++ ?
6. Which language should I learn first: C or C++?
7. What are C and C++ actually used for?
8. How long will it take to complete each course?
9. Is there a Statement of Achievement?
10. What jobs align with the courses?
11. Do the courses align with any industry-recognized certifications?
12. What is the value of the C++ Institute certifications?
13. Is there any discount for the certification exam?
14. What are the prerequisites for the courses?
15. Is instructor training or any certification required to teach the courses?
16. Is there a downloadable option for the courses?
17. Will the courses be translated?
18. What are the recommended browsers for the courses?
19. Do I need any additional equipment for the courses?
20. Are there any instructor materials available?
21. Do the courses include labs, quizzes, or assessments?
22. How do these courses differ from other online courses?
23. What is the difference between the Netacad courses and the versions offered directly by the
C++ Institute?
24. Who should I contact if I have questions about the content of the courses?

© 2017 C++ Institute. All rights reserved. | www.cppinstitute.org Page 1 of 10

CLA: Programming Essentials in C | CPA: Programming Essentials in C++ | Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is C and C++?

C and C++ are two of the most popular and commonly used programming languages in the world. C is
an old (1972) and very influential language, widely used for system programming, including the
implementation of operating systems and embedded system applications. C++, initially developed
(1983) as an extension of the C language, is widely used in the development of video games and high-
performance embedded and real-time systems.

C was originally created by Dennis Ritchie, an American computer scientist and co-creator of the Unix
operating system. Developed between 1969 and 1973 at Bell Labs, the C language was closely
associated with the development and re-implementation of Unix. In 1989, the ANSI C standard was
ratified, and one year later the standard was adopted by ISO, giving rise to the ISO/EIC 9899:1990
standard, sometimes referred to as C89 (or C90). As of today the standardization committee has
published four revisions of the C standard. C11 is the current standard for the C programming
language.

C++ was designed and implemented by Bjarne Stroustrup, a Danish computer scientist and author of
several books and publications on C++ programming. The language was developed between 1978 (then
called “C with Classes”) and 1983 at Bell Labs. The C++ language was standardized for the first time in
1998 (ISO/IEC 14882:1998, informally referred to as C++98). As of today, the standardization
committee has published four revisions of the C++ standard (C++98, C++03, C++11, C++14) and is
currently working on the C++17 revision.

2. What C and C++ beginner courses are offered on Netacad.com?

Cisco Networking Academy, in collaboration with the C++ Institute, offers CLA: Programming Essentials
in C and CPA: Programming Essentials in C++ courses. The two courses have been designed for
beginners with little or no prior knowledge of programming.

3. Who is sponsoring the courses?

C++ Institute has developed the courses CLA: Programming Essentials in C and CPA: Programming
Essentials in C++ to enhance, develop and support professional careers in C/C++ programming and
related network technologies. C++ Institute is offering these courses to all institutions participating in
the Cisco Networking Academy® program for Instructor-Led Training (available now) and Self-Paced
Training (will be available in the future). The courses are offered free of charge. To learn more about
C++ Institute, please visit www.cppinstitute.org.

4. What are the main features of the course curriculum?

The course CLA: Programming Essentials in C covers the following subjects:

 Introduction to compiling and software development;

 Basic scalar data types and their operators;
 Flow control;
 Complex data types: arrays, structures and pointers;
 Memory management;
 Files and streams;
 Structuring the code: functions and modules;
 Preprocessor directives and complex declarations.

© 2017 C++ Institute. All rights reserved. | www.cppinstitute.org Page 2 of 10

CLA: Programming Essentials in C | CPA: Programming Essentials in C++ | Frequently Asked Questions

Students who complete the course will become familiar with the basic concepts of computer
programming and developer tools, and will be able to accomplish coding tasks related to the basics of
programming in the C language. After the course the student will be able to write his or her own
programs using standard language infrastructure. Furthermore, they will be ready to attempt the
qualification CLA – C Programming Language Certified Associate Certification from the C++ Institute.

The course CPA: Programming Essentials in C++ covers the following subjects:

 Introduction to compiling and software development,

 Basic scalar data types, operators, flow control, streamed input/output, conversions,
 Declaring, defining and invoking functions, function overloading,
 Data aggregates,
 Strings processing, exceptions handling, dealing with namespaces,
 Object-oriented approach and its vocabulary,
 Dealing with classes and objects, class hierarchy and inheritance,
 Defining overloaded operators, self-defined operators, exceptions,
 Fundamentals of STL.

Students who complete the course will be able to accomplish coding tasks related to the basics of
programming in the C++ language, and to understand the fundamental notions and techniques used
in object-oriented programming. Furthermore, they will be ready to attempt the qualification CPA –
C++ Certified Associate Programmer Certification from the C++ Institute.

5. Why should I learn C or C++ ?

There is no best programming language. Each language is better than others for certain things, and
which one you are using depends on what you want to do with it. Having said that, the fact remains,
though, that the world runs on C and C++. People use numerous C/C++ powered devices on a daily
basis, whether they realize it or not, and there are all the signs that C/C++ will remain omnipresent in
the future.

There are probably as many views on what the best language for beginners is as there are teachers of
programming. We are not saying C/C++ is the best choice; we are saying, however, that C/C++ is a good
choice. Why? Well, for several reasons: to name just a few, there have been millions or even billions
of lines of code written in C/C++, so it is particularly advantageous when you are starting your
adventure with programming and looking for examples – yes, the C/C++ languages are simple, readable
and flexible, and yes, they are versatile, portable, and fast; what is more, there is a large and very active
C/C++ community, which will lend you a hand whenever you encounter a programming challenge.
There is nothing more valuable at the start than support that comes from other programming
professionals.

The C/C++ languages have influenced and been the backbone of a number of other languages (for
example, Java derives much of its syntax from C/C++). They are very powerful programming tools.

Learning C/C++ gives you a wider perspective. First, it will give you a solid foundation and pave your
way to learning other programming languages much easier and much faster. And second, when you
code in C/C++, you actually have to understand everything you write. This means you will understand
everything the machine will do with your code, which, in turn, gives you full control over what the
machine will do and, consequently, gives you a better understanding of how it works.

© 2017 C++ Institute. All rights reserved. | www.cppinstitute.org Page 3 of 10

CLA: Programming Essentials in C | CPA: Programming Essentials in C++ | Frequently Asked Questions

Knowledge of C/C++ helps you delve into the details of programming and the language is a great
foundation for learning more and more. Do not forget that.

6. Which language should I learn first: C or C++?

There does not seem to be the right order to learn C and C++. Even though C++ is a direct descendant
of classic C, and it retains almost all of C as a subset, they are actually different languages. Which course
you do first will, then, depend on your goals.

C and C++ are powerful languages, both considered general-purpose programming languages: the C
language is widely used for creating software that is “close to the machine”, while the C++ language is
widely used for creating higher-level applications.

The C language can be used for building low-level programs that are close to the machine, i.e. operating
systems, drivers, device control applications, etc.

The C++ language can be used for building higher-level applications with graphics libraries, applications
for communication with network devices, computer network simulators, as well as systems of remote
device and network management.

That is why, broadly speaking, the C language is most often used for systems-level programming, while
C++ is used for higher-level programming. So if you are considering a career as a driver developer, then
you are more likely to prefer C over C++, and therefore start your adventure with programming by
signing up for the CLA: Programming Essentials in C course. If, on the other hand, you want to become
a video game developer, you are much more likely to use C++ over C, and therefore do the CPA:
Programming Essentials in C++ course first.

One more hint, though, can be that the CLA: Programming Essentials in C course covers a lesser amount
of material to study, hence it may be preferred for the start by some.

7. What are C and C++ actually used for?

C and C++ are everywhere. Therefore, it may often be difficult to separate one from the other as in
most cases programs and applications are written by combining the two languages. For this reason,
we are going to refer to the following examples as “C/C++ applications.”

Most of the operating systems are written in the C/C++ languages. These not only include Windows or
Linux (the Linux kernel is almost entirely written in C), but also Google Chrome OS, RIM Blackberry OS
4.x, Symbian OS, Apple Mac OS X, iPAD OS, Apple iPhone iPod Touch, and Cisco IOS (which is mainly
comprised of compiled C and C++ code).

Think of such Internet Browsers as Microsoft Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari,
Netscape Navigator, or Opera. They all, too, have been developed in C/C++.

And what about websites? Google? Facebook? Twitter? YouTube? Amazon? PayPal? Yes. They all have
been written, to a larger or smaller extent, in C/C++.

Think of Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, etc.) or e-mail clients (Microsoft
Outlook, Mozilla Thunderbird, IBM Lotus). Think of Multimedia players such as Winamp, Windows
Media Player, VLC media player, or Apple iPod software. Think of Database systems such as Oracle
database, MySQL, IBM DB2, Microsoft SQL Server, IBM Informix, SAP DB/MaxDB, or MongoDB. Think
of the examples of the Graphical User Interface, such as Microsoft Windows UI, Apple MacOS UI
(Aqua), or KDE. Finally, think of compilers and virtual machines for programming languages, such as
Microsoft Visual C++ Compiler, Microsoft Visual Basic Compiler, Microsoft Visual C# Compiler,

© 2017 C++ Institute. All rights reserved. | www.cppinstitute.org Page 4 of 10

CLA: Programming Essentials in C | CPA: Programming Essentials in C++ | Frequently Asked Questions

Microsoft .NET CLR, or Java Virtual Machine (JVM). Yes, they all have been developed in C/C++. And
yes, a variety of compilers and run-time environments for other programming languages have been
developed in C/C++, which means, for example, that it would not be possible to execute .NET or Java
applications without C/C++.

Do you remember Doom III, StarCraft, Master of Orion III, or Warcraft III? You have probably played
(or at least heard of) Diablo I or Diablo II? If you like computer games, then you must have heard of
Electronic Arts. All of these games have to do with C/C++ programming. The truth is that a large
majority of computer games and game engines have been developed in C/C++. Electronic Arts’ video
game engine and (probably) all Microsoft games are no exception.

Looking for more? Here are some other applications largely written in C/C++: Sun Microsystem’s
compilers, Solaris OS, Google File System, Google Earth and Picasa, Adobe’s Photoshop, Illustrator,
Acrobat Reader, InDesign, Intel’s chip design and manufacturing software, IBM’s OS/400 and K42,
Microsoft’s DirectX, Exchange Server, and Visual Studio, CERN data analysis applications, Bloomberg,
Autodesk’s applications, e.g. Autodesk Maya, 12D, Vodaphone infrastructure, and FlightGear…. Okay,
are you ready to learn some programming now?

8. How long will it take to complete each course?

Each course is designed to be taught over a semester, but academies and instructors are encouraged
to use the courseware and teaching resources based on the actual needs of the academic institution
and students.

9. Is there a Statement of Achievement?

A Statement of Achievement will be issued to participants who successfully complete the CLA:
Programming Essentials in C course. The Statement of Achievement will acknowledge that the
individual has completed the course and is now ready to attempt the qualification CLA – C
Programming Language Certified Associate Certification, taken through Pearson VUE computer-based
testing, at a 51% discount.

A Statement of Achievement will be issued to participants who successfully complete the CPA:
Programming Essentials in C++ course. The Statement of Achievement will acknowledge that the
individual has completed the course and is now ready to attempt the qualification CPA – C++ Certified
Associate Programmer Certification, taken through Pearson VUE computer-based testing, at a 51%
discount.

To receive the Statement of Achievement, instructors must mark the student as having successfully
passed the course.

10. What jobs align with the courses?

C is a general-purpose programming language that is widely used for writing almost all types of
software. It is used for embedded and real-time systems, operating systems, control systems,
compilers, databases, utilities, network drivers, open source software, and many modern programs.
The most common jobs related to C programming are Software Developer, Software Engineer, System
Engineer and Software Architect.

C++ is a general-purpose high-level programming language that is widely used for writing almost all
types of software. It is used for embedded and real-time systems, gaming, finance, telecom projects,
device driver development and many more applications. The most common jobs related to C++
programming are Software Developer, Software Engineer, System Engineer and Software Architect.

© 2017 C++ Institute. All rights reserved. | www.cppinstitute.org Page 5 of 10

CLA: Programming Essentials in C | CPA: Programming Essentials in C++ | Frequently Asked Questions

It is important to remember that a knowledge of programming is also one of the crucial skills for
network administrators. It helps them to better understand the functionality as well as the potential
of network devices. Network engineers and network administrators, with knowledge of programming
in at least one powerful C-like language (e.g. C or C++), are highly sought-after in the job market today
for the unique combination of their skills and ability to successfully deal with non-standard network
issues.

11. Do the courses align with any industry-recognized certifications?

Yes, the CLA: Programming Essentials in C course aligns with the C++ Institute CLA – C Programming
Language Certified Associate Certification. The CLA – C Programming Language Certified Associate
Certification is a good starting point for individuals who want to become professional C developers.

The CPA: Programming Essentials in C++ course aligns with the C++ Institute CPA – C++ Certified
Associate Programmer Certification. The CPA – C++ Certified Associate Programmer Certification is a
good starting point for individuals who want to become professional C++ developers.

12. What is the value of the C++ Institute certifications?

With an increase in the need for IT positions and, at the same time, a rise in the number of
programmers and software developers, it is becoming more and more important to showcase and
validate your knowledge, especially when you are looking for a new job and are having to compete on
the job market with dozens or even hundreds of other applicants.

The C++ Institute certification can be a powerful weapon in the race for better employment, first-rate
expertise and greater competitiveness.

The certification can open doors to a better job and a better salary. It is a great motivator for self-
improvement and self-development. It is one of the key requirements set by an increasing number of
IT managers and, frequently, a standard criterion for candidates among recruiters.

The C++ Institute certification is proof to the employer that you possess the expertise necessary to
fulfil certain duties. At the same time, it is a sign for them that you are willing to expand your
knowledge. And because certified individuals directly contribute to an increase in a company’s
efficiency, productivity and profit-making capacity, the C++ Institute certification is an asset for every
organization.

In the survey conducted online from June 22 to June 24, 2016, among individuals who had passed a
C++ Institute certification exam in the previous 24 months (The 2016 Value of C++ Institute Certification
Report prepared by Fundacja IT and C++ Institute):

 83% of respondents said that obtaining a C++ Institute certification had directly translated into
receiving some career benefit.
 62% of respondents said that obtaining a C++ Institute certification had a positive impact on
professional image and reputation.
 49% of respondents said that earning a C++ Institute certification had helped them to do their
job more confidently.
 41% of respondents claimed that learning new things was the biggest benefit from obtaining
a C++ Institute certification.
 42% of respondents said they had experienced the first benefit of obtaining a C++ Institute
certification immediately, and 33% within 3 months.

© 2017 C++ Institute. All rights reserved. | www.cppinstitute.org Page 6 of 10

CLA: Programming Essentials in C | CPA: Programming Essentials in C++ | Frequently Asked Questions

To read more about the value of the C++ Institute certifications, please visit the Why Get Certified page
at http://cppinstitute.org/why-get-certified.

13. Is there any discount for the certification exam?

The C++ Institute offers participants of the Cisco Networking Academy® program who successfully
complete the CLA: Programming Essentials in C course a 51% discount on the list price for the CLA – C
Programming Language Certified Associate Certification exam taken at Pearson VUE Testing Centres.

The C++ Institute offers participants of the Cisco Networking Academy® program who successfully
complete the CPA: Programming Essentials in C++ course a 51% discount on the list price for the CPA
– C++ Certified Associate Programmer Certification exam taken at Pearson VUE Testing Centres.

Students who successfully complete the course, i.e.:

 take all the chapter assessments,

 take the mock test,
 take the final test and answer at least 35 questions correctly,

will be entitled to a discount voucher that reduces the exam fee by 51%. Students who qualify for the
discount will see a Request Exam Voucher module (2) appear at the bottom of the screen under the
Modules section (1). To request their discount vouchers, students must click the Request your discount
voucher link (2), fill out the Voucher Request Form (3), accept the Voucher Policy (4), and submit the
application (5). The C++ Institute will process the application and contact the students within the next
72 hours at the email address provided in the Voucher Request Form.

© 2017 C++ Institute. All rights reserved. | www.cppinstitute.org Page 7 of 10

CLA: Programming Essentials in C | CPA: Programming Essentials in C++ | Frequently Asked Questions

14. What are the prerequisites for the courses?

There are no prerequisites.

15. Is instructor training or any certification required to teach the courses?

No special instructor training or qualification is required to teach the courses. However, we
recommend that instructors earn a CLA – C Programming Language Certified Associate Certification
prior to teaching the CLA: Programming Essentials in C class and a CPA – C++ Certified Associate
Programmer Certification prior to teaching the CPA: Programming Essentials in C++ class, so that they
become familiar with the exam structure and know how to prepare their students for it.

16. Is there a downloadable option for the courses?

No, there is no downloadable version of the courses, but students and instructors can download the
PDF versions of labs.

17. Will the courses be translated?

We are considering translating the courses into other languages; however, there is no exact timeframe,
nor have any specific languages been selected yet for this process.

18. What are the recommended browsers for the courses?

We recommend using the most recent versions of Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, and Internet
Explorer.

19. Do I need any additional equipment for the courses?

The courses can be accessed online through any Internet browser, on computers with Linux, Windows,
or Mac OS.

© 2017 C++ Institute. All rights reserved. | www.cppinstitute.org Page 8 of 10

CLA: Programming Essentials in C | CPA: Programming Essentials in C++ | Frequently Asked Questions

The minimum equipment required for each course is:

 A computer with an Internet browser and active Internet connection, equipped with an IDE.
OR
 A computer with an Internet browser and active Internet connection.

The first option requires the installation of a software application such as Microsoft Visual Studio
(Windows OS), Eclipse (Windows OS, Linux OS, Mac OS), NetBeans (Windows OS, Linux OS, Mac OS),
Code::Blocks (Windows OS, Linux OS, Mac OS), Xcode (Mac OS), or some other IDE of your choice.

The second option does not require the installation of any software applications – it is possible to use
on-line tools like ideone or C++ shell throughout the course.

A dedicated simulation/compilation tool integrated with the course and lab exercises will be available
in the future.

20. Are there any instructor materials available?

Yes, instructors have access to lab solutions (examples of how labs can be solved), and marketing
resources. In the future, instructors will have access to additional teacher resources such as lesson
plans, PowerPoint slides, etc.

21. Do the courses include labs, quizzes, or assessments?

Yes, all of them. Each course includes labs that help the student practice skills addressed in class or
prepare for the next class. Instructors can choose from among a large selection of labs to decide which
particular skills they want their students to develop.

At the end of each module, the student is presented with a quiz (10 questions) that helps them
organize their knowledge and check if they are ready for a chapter assessment (20 questions), which
is the final stage of verifying and testing their skills. All the chapter assessments are ungraded, which
means the student does not need to pass them to complete the course. There is also an ungraded
mock test (40 questions) that covers chapters one through eight.

For the final test (50 questions), covering all the modules, students must answer at least 35 questions
correctly to be able to receive a 51% discount voucher for the CLA – C Programming Language Certified
Associate Certification or CPA – C++ Certified Associate Programmer Certification exam. All questions
here are scored, and results are available in the gradebook on NetSpace.

22. How do these courses differ from other online courses?

Both the CLA: Programming Essentials in C and CPA: Programming Essentials in C++ courses are
introductory self-contained courses by which students with no prior background in coding can learn
the fundamentals of C and C++, and the general concepts of computer programming. The courses offer
a full-spectrum preparation for the CLA – C Programming Language Certified Associate Certification
and CPA – C++ Certified Associate Programmer Certification exams.

In addition, those candidates who successfully complete the CLA: Programming Essentials in C course
receive a Statement of Achievement, and are eligible for a 51% discount voucher on the list price for
the CLA – C Programming Language Certified Associate exam. Those candidates who successfully
complete the CPA: Programming Essentials in C++ course receive a Statement of Achievement, and are
eligible for a 51% discount voucher on the list price for the CPA – C++ Certified Associate Programmer
exam.

© 2017 C++ Institute. All rights reserved. | www.cppinstitute.org Page 9 of 10

CLA: Programming Essentials in C | CPA: Programming Essentials in C++ | Frequently Asked Questions

Each course contains quizzes, chapter assessments and lab exercises that facilitate the understanding
of programming concepts and the conversion of knowledge into practical skills. The courses have been
designed and reviewed by experienced faculty and industry professionals with the goal of meeting
current market trends and equipping the student with the fundamental knowledge for careers in
software development, systems administration, network administration, device management,
network management, and systems operations.

23. What is the difference between the Netacad courses and the versions offered directly by
the C++ Institute?
Once the courses have been published on the Cisco Networking Academy learning platform, the C++
Institute will gradually stop offering them to educational institutions via the C++ Institute Authorized
Academy program. The existing C++ Institute Authorized Academies who wish to utilize the C++
Institute courseware will be encouraged to submit their applications for membership of the Cisco
Networking Academy program to take advantage of this and other courses available as part of the
Cisco Networking Academy curriculum.

Moreover, each course offered at www.netacad.com contains quizzes and lab exercises that are not
offered in the publicly available self-study version of the course. After some time, the difference
between the two versions of the same course will become apparent, as the idea is to make the Cisco
Networking Academy version specifically geared toward the needs and expectations of Cisco
Networking Academy students and instructors.

24. Who should I contact if I have questions about the content of the courses?
Students should direct all questions about the course content to their course instructor. Students and
instructors can also use a contact form that has been specially designed for this purpose to submit
feedback to the C++ Institute for bugs, suggested edits, content typos, etc. For questions not covered
in this document, all CLA: Programming Essentials in C and CPA: Programming Essentials in C++
questions should also be sent via the contact form.

Please read this FAQ and review the courseware before contacting the C++ institute staff. Thank you.

© 2017 C++ Institute. All rights reserved. | www.cppinstitute.org Page 10 of 10