From Dori Reuscher,
Your Guide to Computer Certification.
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There is a way to achieve certification quickly, cheaply, at your own pace, and without visiting a testing center. Brainbench.com offers 375 online, vendor-neutral certification exams. As a relative newcomer to the certification landscape (founded in 1998), Brainbench's progressive approach to certification is taking a firm hold on the business community. There are several good reasons for this. First, the site is great. It's well-organized, easy to use, and provides a lot of free information. Second, they offer free certifications. Granted, the free tests are usually more dated and a bit simpler than the fee-based, but they offer an excellent way to begin a Brainbench transcript and to sharpen your skills before you begin the real thing. Even the fee based exams are reasonably priced with individual tests starting at $25 and annual subscription services starting at $89. Third, it offers a way for companies to screen and test the abilities of potential and current employees.

Options

Brainbench offers a wide range of skills assesments for which you can receive a Brainbench certification. The tests run the gamut from listening skills, to anatomy, to programming, to C++. Based on your performance on each exam you will get either a Brainbench Certification or Master Certification. Brainbench then maintains an online transcript of your certifications, which you have the option of making public so that others can view your results. You can also add non-Brainbench certs to the transcript if you would like to maintain a full transcript of your certifications.

Certification Preparation

Aside from providing actual Brainbench certifications, there are also tests which are aimed directly at certification preparation for those studying for Java, Cisco, MCP, Unix, and other vendor sponsored certs. All of the certification preparation exams cost $25 each or are available with the subscription. The exams are thorough and although they are open-book (obviously), if you can complete one without assistance from reference materials, you can consider yourself prepared for the vendor exams.

I went in and took three of the free exams and am considering getting the BCIP (Brainbench Certified Internet Professional). In fact, one of my free exams already counts toward the BCIP Web Designer cert.

One quick warning, if you are a exam or cert junkie, the free exams can be addictive! Overall, with it's credibility, affordable prices, and great exams, Brainbench is definitely worth considering as a standalone cert or as a training resource.