Sometimes, I see something online that will help IT professionals and I need to let the readers of Advance Your IT Career know about it immediately. This is one of those deals that I need you know about.

If you haven’t heard of PrepLogic, then you are missing out. PrepLogic is one of my favorite IT certification practice exams to use. I have been personally dealing with them since I earned my MCSE on Windows  2000. In fact, they are one of the main reasons, I was earned my MCSE other than hard work and studying.

Anyway, if you are like me in the process of getting certified, this $59 practice exam deal is great but it ends Friday, June 11, 2010, so you need to hurry.

If you are taking the advantage of Microsoft’s Second Shot deal, then taking advantage of this deal is a no brainer. If you don’t know about Microsoft’ Second Shot, read my post about it (Ends June 30, 2010).

If you are going for your Cisco, Microsoft, CompTIA, or EC-Counci exams, give PrepLogic a try. They are backed by a money-back guarantee.

Anyway, I need to get back to prepping for my certification exams.

Click here to purchase your practice exam for $59

To your IT career success,
Ivan Hurt
The IT and Technology Career Strategist

“All good things must come to an end.”
English Proverb

On June 30, 2010, Microsoft’s Second Shot Exam Deal comes to an end. If you don’t know what the Second Shot is, let me tell you:

Second Shot provides a free exam retake should you fail in your first attempt at passing an IT Pro or Developer Microsoft Certification exam.

Here’s a few little important notes:

1. You must register first and obtain a voucher code so you can enter it when you register for the exam.
2. You must register, schedule and take the first and Second Shot exams by June 30, 2010. One Second Shot exam per customer.
3. You must wait one day after taking your initial exam before you can register for your retake exam.

Stop procrastinating and take advantage of the Microsoft’s Second Shot:

 Use the link below to get more information about the second shot program.

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/offers/Career.aspx#certification

To your IT career success,
Ivan Hurt
The IT and Technology Career Strategist

If you don’t remember at the beginning of the year, CompTIA did some slimy stuff to anybody CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+, or CompTIA Security+ certified.

Not would you the new A+, Network+, and Security+ certifications have to certified every 3 years, but anyone with the old certifications would lose their lifetime certification.

But don’t get pissed off, because CompTIA did right by anyone holding the old certifications.

Here’s a quote from their updated renewal policy:

CompTIA will not require recertification for any current holders of CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+ or CompTIA Security+ certification. You are not required to retest to maintain your valid CompTIA certification. Regardless of when you became certified in CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+ or CompTIA Security+, you are certified for life.

For candidates currently preparing to sit for a CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+ or CompTIA Security+ exam, if you pass an exam and become certified by December 31, 2010, you too will have a lifetime certification with no requirements for recertification or retesting.

Effective January 1, 2011, all new CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+ or CompTIA Security+ certifications will be valid for three years from the date the candidate is certified. After three years, the certification must be renewed. This can be done by passing the most current exam for a respective certification or by participating in CompTIA’s upcoming new continuing education program, which will allow individuals to keep their skills current and their certification up to date without retesting.

In a nutshell, anyone A+, Network+, or Security+ certified by December 31, 2010 will have a lifetime certification. If you get certified January 1, 2011 or later, be prepared to be re-certified every 3 years.

All I can say is hurray for CompTIA and all the IT professionals who wrote nasty letters to CompTIA.

To your IT career success,
Ivan Hurt
The IT and Technology Strategist

The CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+, or CompTIA Security+ now have a valid through date which last for three years.  In addition, if you do not hold the most up to date certification, you will be required update your certification. For more details, click the links below:

January 11th Press Release: CompTIA Announces Plan to Help IT Professionals Keep Skills Up-To-Date

CompTIA Certification Renewal Policy

I encourage all CompTIA A+, Network+, and Security+ IT professionals to raise hell and remind CompTIA that a “LIFETIME CERTIFICATION” means “FOR LIFE” and not until they decide otherwise.

To your IT career success,
Ivan Hurt
The IT and Technology Career Strategist

With the economy in such a mess, now is the perfect time to take a Microsoft certification exam. Microsoft and Prometric are once again offering the second shot program. The program allows you to retake a Microsoft exam if you failed the first time. The offer goes from January 13, 2010 to June 30, 2010.

One little detail, you must register first and obtain a voucher code so you can enter it when you register for the exam. Use the link below to get more information about the second shot program.

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/offers/Career.aspx#certification

To your IT career success,
Ivan Hurt
The IT and Technology Career Strategist