Recertification Exam

Recently I took a 642-812 BSMCN exam and passed. It is for my CCNP recertification which will be due in Dec 2009. I recertified it earlier so that I can focus more on my research. I spend about 1-2 months preparing for the exam. Come to think about it, I begin to feel that age is catching up on me, I won’t know for how long I can redo this recertification stuff. Maybe for another 2-3 more round (6-9 years more if Cisco don’t change their policy on recertification). After that, I don’t know how well I can maintain my recertification. At the mean time, I guess I can still go round telling people I’m CCNP certified. For now, it is CISCO exam holiday for another 2.5 year.

I noticed some changes in how the exam is conducted. After you have done all the registration at www.vue.com and turn up in the test center, there are additional two things are required for each candidate.

First, the test center will take a photo of you and required you to sign-in and sign-out on an electronic pad. At the end of the exam, the result slip printed by the test center will have your nice photo printed on it. Thus, unless you have the skill of CSI Miami makeup artist, it will be difficult for someone to take the test on behalf of you.

In order to pass the exam, candidates must have some hand-on knowledge. Without the hand-on knowledge it will be difficult for anyone to pass. Solid understanding on spanning-tree concepts is required. Well sometimes, this topic is not taught well by other instructors thus then you have to depend on your own initiative.

On the theory side, it may be helpful for you to take some past year question of many test offering such as test-king, actual test, pass for sure etc. This may be helpful for you. For every exam, you need to oversubscribe yourself with knowledge. This enables you to pass the exam.

Just don’t go and sit for the exam unprepared. It ‘s just a waste of time and money. Well, that all for this week, if you have any comment, leave it on this blog. See you again next week.