Does starting experience count towards gaining ranks? I'm new to Dark Heresy, but not to rpgs.

I figured it out. Sorry I posted the topic. Guess I was getting a little post happy.

So, do they count towards ranks? I am unsure of this myself.

Yes, it does. Ranks are based on the XP you spend. If you spend the 400 starting XP (and you should), then you are already 80% of your way to Rank 2 in your class. This was further clarified in the errata where it states "The paragraph about Starting Experience on page 29 should be expanded to include: 'This means that if you spend the full 400 starting xp, the character only needs to earn and spend a further 100 xp in order to reach the required 500 xp to advance to the second rank in their Career Path.'"

Its quite a clever way to get players interested in their character's growth and development at an early stage.

Give them points to spend immediately, then allow them to expand their options almost as instantaneously!

just remember you have to spend points in rank 1, cross the rank 2 threshold and then spend new points in rank 2. IOW, you can not buy a rank 2 power to give you rank 2.