Microsoft has been giving out certification exam discounts anywhere from 15% if you buy Microsoft Press books, 32% if you happen to work for a Microsoft Partner, 40% if you happen to register for their first to know campaigns everytime there is a new certification available and up to 65% if you happen to be an MCT (Microsoft Certified Trainer). Of course you could also take the exam for free if you happen to be one of the lucky ones who receive a free exam voucher that they give out during contests and big events or you can take the exam while it still in beta.
They also had a program they called second shot which gave the test taker a free retake in the event that he/she fails on the first try. This definitely encouraged a lot of first time test takers to take the exam knowing that they could always take the exam again if they don’t make the cut on their first try. This is first hand knowledge as a lot of IT professionals I know who haven’t taken any IT certification exam took advantage of this offer.
Taking a cue from that successful Cisco is now following Microsoft’s strategy in the realm of professional certification programs. This time Cisco reaching out to three distinct audiences who may be hesitant about taking a Cisco exam not only for the level of difficulty of the exam but also because of the price tag. Cisco exam fee’s vary anywhere from US$125 for ICND1 and ICND2 exams, US$250 for CCNA, US$300 for CCNP and CCDP exams while the coveted CCIE written exam is priced at US$350.
Cisco is currently offering three promos for their certification exams:
1. 20% Discount
2. Second Chane Promo
3. Come Back Promo
You can get a 20% off from your Cisco exam fee when you book your exam online at Vue.com. Just use the promo code CSNR2F343782. But don’t sit on it too much as the promo code is only valid up to October 31, 2008! This would be a good come on for your employer especially if they will be the one to pay for your exam. Obviously this promo is for you if you are already confident enough with your skills. Otherwise you might consider taking the second chance promo instead.
The Cisco Second Chance promo encourages those who have failed an exam in the last year to try again. If you take a full-priced exam now and fail, you can get a second chance by taking the exam again for free!.
More info on the Second Chance promo at http://www.pearsonvue.com/cisco/secondchance.
The Cisco Come Back promotion on the other hand is for those who have achieved Cisco certification in the past, but for whatever reason have let their certification credential lapse/expire. If you take a full-priced exam now and fail, you can get a second chance by taking the exam again for free! This definitely is a good opportunity for you to renew your certification.
More info on the Come Back promo at http://www.pearsonvue.com/cisco/comeback.
With each of these promotions, both exams must be scheduled and taken between April 15, 2008, and October 15, 2008 and regular retake rules apply. Should there be a need to take the free retake, you can always schedule it online. Take note however that the 20% discount promo is not applicable if you take any of the two free retake promos. These promos are also not applicable to the CCIE Lab exam.
Candidates who are eligible for these promotions were invited to participate in an email blast sent by Cisco and they will receive a reminder midway through the promotion period.
So how about you? When will you be taking your Cisco certification exam?
