Although a wide range of IT certification information is available on the Web, you can't trust everything you read. When such high stakes (job promotions, time spent studying, money spent on training, expensive and nerve-racking tests, etc.) are in play, you should ensure that you're obtaining your tips and information from knowledgeable sources and using the best resources you can. But which sites offer the best and most helpful IT certification information? My list of the top 10 sites might surprise you. Not just because of which destinations made the list but because of those that didn't. A year ago, even six months ago, my list would have looked much different than it does today. For example, you won't find Exam Cram listed. On March 28, I read a Publisher's Weekly newsletter announcement that Coriolis was shutting down the next day. Even though the former certification-publishing leader was still trying to sell some of its assets at the time this column was written, the Exam Cram Insider Newsletter hadn't been updated for a while. As you read the following list, keep in mind that the only sites I omitted from contention were those that actually sponsor a widely recognised certification exam. That said, here are my picks for the Web's 10 most helpful certification sites. 10. MC MCSE Surprised to find MC MCSE in the top 10? Can a low-budget player really compete with the big guns in the market? I think so. Don't let the site mislead you. More than just Microsoft (MCSE) exam and certification information can be had. The portal also covers Cisco, CompTIA, and CIW certifications. MC MCSE offers study guides, practice exams, online labs, news, forums, and more. Best of all, everything's free. 9. Transcender I've never tried a certification exam without first giving Transcender's simulation exams a go. Neither should you. That's why Transcender's Web site makes my top 10 list of the best certification resources. Besides demonstration simulation exams and flash card software you can download for free, Transcender offers technical how-to articles. Join the Transcender Club (it's free; all you have to do is register) and check out the Transcender TechCenter. There, you'll find technical articles and article archives from a few IT industry writers, including the venerable Spike (Transcender's "certification guru" who writes a regular column for Certification Magazine). You won't find a ton of technical content in this section, but I'm hopeful that Transcender will expand it to offer even more of the news and inside information certification candidates always seek. One thing's for sure. The content and software you find on Transcender's site can be trusted. That alone makes it worthy of inclusion on my top 10 list. 8. MCSE Directory The MCSE Directory is just that: a directory that points you toward a wide variety of resources you can use in the pursuit of Microsoft certification. You'll find links to practice exams, study resources, and other online resources. You'll also find links to popular independent Web sites run by individuals, forums where certification topics are discussed around the clock, and even MCSE Web sites in languages other than English. All told, you'll find more than 150 links to other certification resources on the Web. Considering the wide range of links the directory points you toward, it's no wonder that Windows 2000 Magazine rated the MCSE Directory a Certification Web Site Gold Mine a few years ago. I think the designation still holds true today. But one word of caution: Although the MCSE Directory does a good job of linking to other resources, there's no guarantee that every resource the site links to is accurate. So don't take as gospel everything you read, even if you found a resource using the MCSE Directory. Instead, use the information you find on lesser-known sites to help round out your understanding, not to serve as truth. Click here for Part Two. TechRepublic is the online community and information resource for all IT professionals, from support staff to executives. We offer in-depth technical articles written for IT professionals by IT professionals. In addition to articles on everything from Windows to email to fire walls, we offer IT industry analysis, downloads, management tips, discussion forums, and e-newsletters.
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