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What certifications are available? How can I prepare for the exams? Who can help me study? Where can I buy books cheaply? How can I do self study?

This site is organized to help you find the information you need to become certified .... without spending an arm and two legs. This site is totally non-commercial. No ads. Nothing for sale. Lots of friendly, helpful tips. Come back often!

Updated monthly, last updated January 11, 2000. Click here to receive email notification of site updates.

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January 2000 Features

Link of the Month
Sample A+ questions
60 questions from Indus Systems in 1997. Do you know PC hardware?

Tip of the Month
Novell Product Documention On-Line
Complete manuals for current Novell products available on the web, free! Also you can order paper copies for reasonable fees.

Past tips of the month
A very popular feature of this site

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A short list of available certifications

	The Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) certification validates the skills of professionals planning, implementing and troubleshooting network operating systems - and much more.
	Certified NetWare Engineer (CNE): the Leading IT Certification. Novell's certification curriculum is 50% industry generic -- giving you the skills to competently support multivendor networking products.
	The ICCP has helped to define and raise the standards of our industry. Certified Computing Professional (CCP) and Associate Computing Professional (ACP)
	Network+ is a vendor-neutral certification from the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA). Designed for networking technicians with 18 - 24 months experience, the candidate must possesses the knowledge needed to configure and install the TCP/IP client. Novell is accepting Network+ certification exam in place of Networking Technologies exam toward a CNE.
	The Certified Network Professional Program (CNP) was designed from the ground up as a professional certification. CNP certification will enable the IT industry to identify network computing professionals who exhibit competence, experience, and commitment to their profession.
	Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) Program -- a high-level certification program designed to identify and serve the best of the internetworking experts.
	Citrix Certified Administrators (CCA) are industry professionals who have demonstrated a thorough knowledge of the server based computing products MetaFrame and WinFrame.
	National Society of Professional Engineers' Professional Engineer (PE). By demonstrating the required education and experience and successfully completing the required examinations and becoming licensed, you will be able to perform the broad scope of engineering services.
	Sun Certified Network Administrator demonstrates technical proficiency beyond the system-administrator level.
	Santa Cruz Operation ACE certification program measures your ability to support and administer SCO® installations with the skills that SCO recommends to maximize system performance
	IBM offers both network hardware and network software certifications.
	Banyan Certified Professionals - CBS, CBE, CBS/NT. the goal of the Technical Certification Programs is to assist end users and Channel Partners to gain the technical expertise necessary to effectively support their client base.
	The 3Com Master of Network Science (MNS) shows that you are fully qualified to design, build and support 3Com networks. Includes a one- or two-day long hands-on exam administered by 3Com at strategic sites around the world.
	The Compaq Accredited Systems Engineer (ASE) Program is a worldwide Compaq-specific certification program recognizing expertise in Compaq product knowledge and integration.
	The Intel Certified Integration Specialist track is designed for individuals who are responsible for technical "post-sales" activities which include the selection, installation, and configuration of business solutions based on Intel's broad product line.

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Past tips of the Month:

December, 1999
Citrix Certified Administrators (CCA) is a new certification for industry professionals who have demonstrated a thorough knowledge of the server based computing products MetaFrame and WinFrame.

November, 1999
Register with Microsoft TechNet and receive the TechNet Flash e-mail Newsletter, FREE technology information and updates, expert insight and access to the TechNet CD Online.

September, 1999
The Novell Career Builder Loan Program is available now in the U.S. The Novell loan program can be tailored for areas outside the U.S. based on demand. The Microsoft Skills 2000 IT Career Loan Program can include living expenses allowances and computer purchases.

August, 1999
August is back-to-school time! Take courses at a local college to prepare for the network exams. These are SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper than traditional training companies, use the same official curriculum, and have certified instructors! Classes are spread over weeks giving students an opportunity to absorb information. Classes are available on the weekends and at night. Check out the Novell Education Academic Partners or the Microsoft Authorized Academic Training Program. 

July, 1999
Cramsession.com site is visually noisy, be prepared. The hundreds of links to valuable study aid sites will make your visit worthwhile.

June, 1999
Understanding IP Addressing: Everything You Ever Wanted To Know
Learn IP from the experts at 3COM! An informative, authoritative, and free resource. Be sure to do the exercises in Appendix B and C. This lovely tutorial can also be accessed as PDF files, just jump to the bottom for the PDF links.

May, 1999
Frequently Asked Question - MSCE, MCSD, MCT
LearnQuick.Com has a handy list of questions and good answers. Very current. Also consider joining their very informative email lists.

April, 1999
Microsoft TCP/IP and Network Essentials exams are no longer adaptive.
These exams changed in mid-March after several months of the adaptive format. The exams are now conventional, fixed time, and a fixed number of questions. Yes, you can now skip a question and return to answer it later.

March, 1999
Attention CNE's: Your certification is valuable!
Microsoft waives 1 of the 6 MCSE exams for CNE's and Banyon professionals
ICCP waives 1 of the 3 CCP exams for CNE's

February, 1999
Microsoft Skills 2000 IT Career Loan Program
Choose from a number of loan offerings, including training loans to finance Microsoft technical training as well as related costs such as living expenses and personal computer equipment. Whether you're just starting out, or are looking to upgrade your skills and advance in your current position, here is an helpful resource.

January, 1999
Get hands-on experience with NT 4.0
Buy a 120 day trial version. For $20 US, you get to install the operating system and all the latest updates and drivers and try it out for four months—right in your own computing environment.

December, 1998
Novell Product Documention On-Line
Complete manuals for current Novell products available on the web, free! Also you can order paper copies for reasonable fees.

November, 1998
Get hands-on experience with NetWare 5
The NetWare 5 demo is a single server three user demo license with no expiration date. Requires a server with 64MB RAM and 550MB disk space. Cost is only $15 US. Available for shipment to anywhere in the world. This is a real deal, folks! THANK YOU, NOVELL!

October, 1998
Build a professional library.
Budget money to keep this library updated, you will need it! Buy quality books. Here is a good book review site: MCSE Books and Reviews

September, 1998
Buy a pair of earplugs!!
When you are in the exam room, you do not want to be distracted by the folks coming and going to their computers ... nor by the annoying noises that human beings make when they are nervous. Earplugs are a simple way to improve your concentration. Available a drug stores or hardware stores for a couple of dollars.

August, 1998
Prepare to fail.
Yes, very few candidates pass all the exams on the first try.
Prepare to fail....prepare budgetary, prepare timewise, prepare emotionally.
And if you do fail one exam:

1. Immediately write down all the exam topics that troubled you. Experienced exam takers do this before even leaving the testing site.
2. Schedule the retest date, ideally within the next 10 days.
3. Then resume studying, now focusing on your known weak topics.
4. Retake the exam, with confidence!!

July, 1998
Guide to Communication Protocols (sorry, no longer available)
Network Associates offer a free pocket guide comparing protocols between vendors. This information is seldom found in resources which focus on one or two vendors. Just complete a simple form and the guide arrives via postal mail in a week or two.

June, 1998
Get a free trial version of Microsoft's TechNet
200,000 pages of technical support for Microsoft products, including all product resource kits.

May, 1998
Your already have a home computer, now get a home network!
Building a Simple (and Cheap) Ethernet Network by LearnQuick.Com.
(editor's note: Sadly LearnQuick no longer has home network information on the web)
Have fun, impress your neighbors, and get valuable hands on experience!

April, 1998
If you fail the Microsoft exam twice after purchasing
the Transcendor exam preparation software, you get your money back.

March, 1998
Attention: MCSE candidates. Join NT*PRO
Membership is free and includes valuable discounts

February, 1998
Attention CNE's: Your certification is valuable! Did you know that....

• Microsoft waives 1 of the 6 MCSE exams for CNE's and Banyon professionals
• ICCP waives 1 of the 3 CCP exams for CNE's