Advice: Easy/cheap certification (MCP/MCSE/CCNA)

[Branded]

Hi All,

I have already searched a little and haven't found much specifics on this, but I thought this would be the best place to start.

I am tired of staying stagnant being a 1st/2nd Line Support Analyst and I've never been able to afford or ever been offered by my employers to go on courses etc. to get qualifications such as the ones in the title of this post.

I am not entirely void of this knowledge as I have some experience, but I still have much to learn and having these qualifications would really help me out.

I was wondering if anyone knew how to study these courses for free - whether it's by e-book or video and then pay just to attend the tests to get certified.

I need to know:

1. Which e-books/videos to use. The actual ones used to learn, not just test exams, but if you think they are worthwhile, then please let me know.
2. Where I can attend the tests to get certified. A link to a popular place that I can pay just for the test to get certified.
3. Whether this is definately possible.

Thanks in advance.

[Jaws]

I've done some of the developer certs all using the MS self study guides, these get you 15% off the price of the test and vary in quality (some chapters are dreadful); they also come with some practice tests.

There is a page on the MS site where you book the tests which lists all the UK test centres (there are some in most cities). It's all quite easy and you can reschedule the test as many times as you like if you're particularly slack with your studies (this feature is a blessing & a curse of course).

Edit: For general books, the MS Cert site should list recommended reading outside of the study guides, I've read some of the recommended ones since doing the tests and they were actually all good books.

[Durbs]

3. Whether this is definately possible.

Course it is.

The braindump sites like mcsebraindumps.com will give you all the questions for your chosen exam. You can get the blank question lists and research the answers yourself and in doing so learn the stuff properly - they are good if used that way (less good if used the way they are really intended).