Cut the Cost of Certification

It Doesn't Have to be Expensive

It’s no secret that we’re in a severe recession. It’s also no secret that getting certified can cost a lot of money – hundreds of dollars at a minimum, and often many thousands of dollars. But you often don’t have to pay full price; sometimes you don’t have to pay anything at all. Here are some cost-saving measures you can take to take the financial sting out of getting certified.

• Get your employer to pay. Many employers realize the value of having certified individuals on staff. Those employees are generally more satisfied with their jobs, and some contracts, especially with the government, require certified workers. Ask your employer if they will pay for your certification. You may be surprised. If there is no formal training budget, ask the boss about setting one up, pointing out the value of certification.

• Try eBay/Craigslist for equipment. Do an eBay search for “Cisco routers.” You’ll be amazed at how many results you get. You can also find great deals on used servers and other hardware and software on trading sites like these. There’s nothing like working with real-world equipment to help prepare for an exam.

• Get deals from vendors. Certification vendors offer certification deals, especially when economic times are tough. They have a lot to gain by having a certified workforce, and have many ways to save on the cost of test-taking.

Microsoft, for instance, ran a promotion giving away free exam vouchers for folks who signed up for a blog. And most vendors offer exam discounts at their conferences. This would be another way to have your employer pay, even if they won’t pay for your certification; ask them to send you to a conference, and use the conference discount.

• Take a certification beta test. Vendors usually offer free or reduced exams for beta testers. Oracle, in fact, is doing it right now. Beta exams normally aren’t top quality – after all, you’re helping them tweak the content – but they usually do count toward your certification, and they can be half the price or more of the regular test.

• Use a home equity line of credit. If you have to pay for a very expensive certification yourself, consider a home equity line of credit to pay for it, rather than a credit card or higher-interest loan. Since the line of credit is based on your home’s value, they are often the cheapest types of loans you can get. Credit cards should be a last resort only – you don’t want to have to pay for your certification, then 15%-21% more on top of that.

• Used books. This one is tricky, as many certification books can be useless for the latest version of a credential. But some certifications, like the A+, for example, don’t change all that much from year to year. Getting a good deal on a used book can definitely shave some dollars off the cost.

Before going this route, make sure that the book or books you’re considering will still be relevant to the latest test. Otherwise, you’re just flushing money down the toilet.