What is .NET can one have other code exp. and still be able to program in .net?

I depends on whether you need them to hit the ground running or not, i.e. can you wait the time required for them to learn the syntax of the language, the framework and then the nuiances required to be a good .net developer.

An apptitude to programming is far more important than x years of experience (I have met people who have 1 years experience and be better than some with 5/6 years), but if you have a project you urgently need to deliver, then you may not be able to carry them in the short term.

VB experience (not VB.NET) as a prerequisite for .NET could even worse than nothing. Best previous experience would be Delphi (this thing is closer to .NET then anything else as .NET and C# was architected by the former Delphi chief architect Anders Hejlsberg).

Java and other modern OOP languages are also very useful, more than C++. Knowledge of several languages is a very big plus: there are chances that the candidate learned not so much of concrete languages but computer science, which is much more important. Even more important is the ability to understand, formulate and solve problems which is pretty hard to estimate. If can evaluate it, give it the first priority. General mathematical and/or programming culture is also important, communication skills, espesially written.

—SA

Visual Basic 6 and earlier is not (in today's world) a good qualifier for a .NET position. There is a wealth of .NET devs out there and anyone still on VB6 and earlier should really be doing self-improvement.

SQL is an asset in a different area and not related directly to .NET (though crossover is huge).

The "etc." door you left open is a huge question mark. If they have c++, Java and functional languages in there, chances are they'd be a quick learner. Especially if they are eager to get into .NET.

Now, if the candidate is a strong developer with great references and you know you want them on the team, they may still be viable. Get them on a professional development track, in courses, on certification exams and make sure they unlearn VB6.

Plan for the ramp-up time.

Cheers.

We can't possibly judge that because we haven't seen his resume, and only you know the requirements for the position. If you can hang with a beginning .Net programmer, and he sounds like he otherwise knows his stuff, he might work out.

Maybe if you described a) your requirements, and b) the situation, we could help a little better.

EDIT ==========================

Why was this 1-voted? If you're going to 1 vote, be a man and say why. Whoever you are, you probably have a pretty good idea of my opinion of your character, or more accurately, lack thereof.