When searching for a Practice Test, always start with the Certification Vendor.

Many of the Certification Vendors maintain a list of authorized/recommended practice test providers that carry their exams. If they don't, you have three choices which will help you find a practice test provider that is not a braindump.

• CertGuard is building a list of the Vendor Pages which have that information HERE
• You can contact the Vendor directly and ask them for the information.
• You can search for a practice test provider on the internet and verify that it is not a braindump by checking it's status on our Cert Search page.

Know what can happen to you if you get caught cheating. Microsoft has increased the penalties for cheating.

Here are some notable points:

• A candidate caught cheating immediately loses any current certifications the candidate holds and is permanently ineligible for any MCP certification.
• Since February 1998, Microsoft has required all certification candidates to accept the terms of a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) before taking certification exams.
• Microsoft closely monitors websites suspected of publishing braindump materials.
• Microsoft follows up on leads provided by other individuals in the community.
• Practice tests can supplement, but should not be a substitute for, the training and required hands-on work experience in the skills covered by the exam objectives.
• If you know of Web sites or individuals who may be disclosing Microsoft certification exam information, send e-mail to tctips@microsoft.com or telephone (800) 636-7544.

The following is a list of items taken from the Cisco Candidate Conduct Policy. This is not the complete list of items in that policy, we have only included what we believe to be the more commonly violated points. Please refer to the policy before taking a Cisco Exam. The more important points to note are IN BOLD AND ALL CAPS.

No candidate will take any action that will compromise the integrity or confidentiality of a Cisco Certification examination or otherwise compromise the integrity of the Cisco Certification program. Such actions INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:

• Disseminating actual exam content via web postings, discussion groups, chat rooms, study guides, etc.
• GIVING OR RECEIVING ASSISTANCE OF ANY KIND from anyone for any electronic or lab examination.
• Using any aids, notes, equipment or other materials not authorized by the Testing Delivery Partners or Cisco during the exam.
• FAILURE TO PROTECT CERTIFICATION CONTENT including labs through carelessness or in an attempt to shield facts regarding a violation.
• Causing a disturbance of any kind in a testing facility; removing or attempting to remove questions and/or responses (in any format) or notes, note board, or scratch paper from the testing room.

This is an excerpt of Time Tips for Certification Exams. We cannot stress enough that the time allotted you for the exam has been proven to be adequate enough for hundreds of thousands of candidates prior to you and will continue to be adequate for hundreds of thousands more. Our resident professional has provided tips to manage your time on the day of your scheduled exam(s).

• Pace yourself!
• Don't park anywhere that limits your time.
• Reserve an entire morning or afternoon for the exam.
• Don't go into the exam hungry.
• Use the restroom prior to starting your exam.
• Don't schedule the exam if you're sick or don't think you can complete it.
• If you're dyslexic, you do not read fluent English, or you're just a slow reader then you may call and request additional time.

Time tips provided by Mitchell D. Garvis, MCT

Have you been busted for cheating? Afraid of what may happen if you are caught cheating? What if you weren't cheating but still got busted (I'm sure it happens frequently)? Regardless of the circumstnces, you have a right to appeal the decision made against you.

This tip comes from the CompTIA website, but I know other vendors have similar methods of appealing their decision.

• After you have received a written notice of violations from CompTIA, you will have thirty (30) calendar days to file a written request for appeal.
• You are required to file a written request for appeal with CompTIA's Security Manager. You must include the following information if you want CompTIA to even consider the possibility of reinstating your certifications.
  • A statement describing the grounds for the appeal,
  • Why the appeal should be granted, and
  • Any supporting evidence you have which will help your case.
• This information must be sent via registered or certified mail and it must be received by CompTIA within thirty (30) calendar days of receipt of the notice of violations.

NOTE: A candidate's appeal will not be considered after such thirty (30) calendar day period has expired.

If the CompTIA Security Manager determines that the above guidelines have been met, then your appeal will be sent up to a Candidate Appeals Committee for binding arbitration. If you're not familiar with the term, that means that the committee's decision is final and cannot be overturned.

The decision itself is based on a majority of the committee. So what it takes is a minimum of 3 of the 5 committee members agreeing one way or the other to decide whether or not you've violated their terms or policies.

Hewlett-Packard (HP) is taking a large step toward combating cheating on their exams. "The HP Certified Professional Program has been designed to provide the value, integrity, and professionalism the IT community has come to expect from a certification program", is how HP describes the efforts they have been putting into their program.

In order to provide you (the HP Exam candidate) with more valuable certifications, HP has done the following:

• Developed a Web page to communicate the importance of security for all HP Certified Professionals, partners and customers and to describe the methods by which HP protects the integrity of the HP Certified Professional Program
• Enhanced the candidate agreement and made it accessible online [You can find it here: Certification Security]
• Updated the retake policy (if you're studying for an HP exam, make sure you read this)
• Created a revocation policy (oh, you've definitely got to read this)
• Provided a means by which our community can inform the HP Certification Security Manager of security breaches.

There are communities within the IT Industry which will help you attain certification status without the use of braindumps. Communities such as ProProfs.com, CertCities.com, CertForums.com, and NetworkingBoards.com provide premium assistance to individuals looking to get certified, and they do it all while discouraging the use of braindumps.

The ORACLE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM CANDIDATE AGREEMENT states that candidates must follow these specific guidelines in order to keep their Certification Designation:

• pay the applicable exam fees;
• accept the terms and conditions of this Agreement before completing each Certification Exam;
• pass all required exams and complete any hands-on course requirements specified on the Certification Program Website for the applicable Certification Designation;
• comply with any additional requirements specified on the Certification Program Website for the applicable Certification Designation;
• keep contact information up to date with both the testing vendor and the Certification Program;
• meet all of the Certification Program's continuing certification requirements specified on the Certification Program Website for the applicable Certification Designation.

To avoid braindumps in your searches, use our Advanced CertSearch. It can be found at the top of each forum page and at the top of each page on the main site. You can also add this to your Internet Explorer (IE 7) and search from there.

We have a comprehensive list of all the Certification Vendors, links to their Training & Certification Pages, links to their Exam Policies, and a link to contact them. Some information is incomplete but we are working on updating that information when we can.