The best way to start a career in .NET development is a combination of courses and pet projects, that allow gaining theoretical and practical skills simultaneously. Then, find your first employer with a good program of mentorship and education, and prepare for your first certification. We recommend starting with the new Foundational C# certification, recently introduced by Microsoft in collaboration with freeCodeCamp, that targets a beginner audience, aiming to provide a first step in their career. And complete a training course every few months to become a certified .NET developer with a good tech background. Since 2021, as Microsoft retired the Programming in C# certification and instead switched focus to more comprehensive certification pathways, it could be a bit more challenging but also more effective. These pathways not only include programming in C#, but also require a good knowledge of the Azure cloud platform, proficiency in scripting and automation, knowledge of system architecture best practices, and more. Of course, such a wide range of skills requires extensive training, but the results are worth it!