Microsoft Free Second shot promotion is back

[JasonK]

This promotion ran last year, and its on again this year. Good for those going for certs and want to get a taste of how it is by taking them twice for the price of 1.

Microsoft Promotion
Pearson/Vue Signup

Get a FREE Second Chance to Pass Your Microsoft Certification Exam

For a limited time, you can get a free second shot at any Microsoft IT Professional, Developer, or Microsoft Dynamics (formerly Microsoft Business Solutions) Certification exam. Just register for this offer before your first exam, and you'll get two chances to pass. But this offer won't last forever, so register now.
Learn the skills you need to get your certification.

After you register, you'll be able to take advantage of special training and certification deals offered by our Microsoft Certified Partners for Learning Solutions. Their Microsoft Certified Trainers will give you expert training that will help put you on the fast track to increasing your skill set, expanding your knowledge base, and passing your exam.
Offer expires June 30, 2006.

Your initial exam must be scheduled and taken between February 15, 2006 and June 30, 2006. Your free retake exam must be scheduled and taken with the same EDP as your first exam by July 31, 2006.

 

[treidenb]

It seems to cheapen the quality of a certification if someone can fail and retake it, but I won't complain too much, because I'll definitely take advantage of this. Some employers take too much stock in certifications and look to those over quality related experience, which I think experience should come before certifications. Anyone can pass a test and many people study to pass the test, rather than study to know the information.

Thanks, I came to look for something specifically like this tonight. Any idea on where to find the best deals on CompTIA exams/vouchers, by the way?

 

[treidenb]

Good if you are taking multiple exams as well, not only limited to one exam...

Q. How many free exams can I receive?

A. Each time that you register for a second shot prior to taking your initial exam, you are entitled to retake that exam if you did not pass on your first try during the eligibility period. The eligibility period is February 15, 2006 through July 31, 2006.

 

[dew042]

Yeah for mediacraty!

Whoops bad spelling, sorry, second chance:

Yeah for mediocrity!

Yeah!

dew.

 

[probzy]

I'll try it...

 

[tornadog]

Thanks OP, wonder if I can combine this with the $50 off voucher I got for being an MS partner

 

[XARiUS]

The 2nd shot is a great deal really. I've got about 6 years of on-site experience as a Windows 2000/2003 sys admin for medium to large scale domains.

When I got laid off in July, I took my severence pay and went to one of those Win2k3 MCSE Bootcamps. I had the experience, but I knew I was probably lacking in a lot of areas that you only learn "from the books". The small details that you know they're gonna test you on.

Long story short, after 15 hours a day, for 13 days in a classroom I passed my MCP, MCSA and MCSE exams.

I had to re-take ONE exam on the final day. I'd missed the cut-off point by one quesiton on one of the tests. Thank god for re-takes! I wound up aceing the re-take.

I guess my only point is really, the re-takes aren't only for slackers who want an easy way to get their cert. A lot of us have really busted our ass to obtain our certifications and those re-takes can be a godsend!

Edit: Oh, and to the slackers who think they can breeze their way thru on a re-take. The odds of getting the SAME test over again are slim to none.

X

 

[Marthisdil]

It's too bad that MS certs are near meaningless in the real world. Real World experience > MCSE's to me when hiring folks. Ah well. Nothing wrong with the retakes though, really...

 

[tsuthar]

You really need both real world and msce for it to mean something. You can easily forget 90% if you dont really use it. Also, it doesnt help that most job postings say that it requires an MCP/MCSA/MCSE. I was told that whenever that is put down, that the employer doesnt really know what they want.

 

[FDF12389]

cool