Section I -- Take Your Expertise in a New Direction Certification Overview In today's increasingly competitive business world, it has become essential to map out your own destination. This is particularly so in the computer industry, where advancements occur so rapidly. Becoming certified through the Professional Certification Program from IBM can help provide you with knowledge and with recognition as a computer support professional. And you can quickly pull ahead of other software professionals as you demonstrate your proficiency in support of the latest IBM technology. The Professional Certification Program from IBM provides you with a structured program leading to an internationally recognized qualification. The program is a flexible one, allowing you to select your role, prepare for and take tests at your own pace, and, in some cases, select from a choice of elective tests best suited to your abilities and needs. Some roles also offer a shortcut by giving credit for certification obtained in the certification programs of other companies. If you are a network administrator, consultant, value-added remarketer, technical coordinator, sales support representative, or trainer, you can start charting your course today through the Professional Certification Program from IBM. Section II -- A Career-Enhancing Journey Benefits The Professional Certification Program from IBM is an international program which provides valuable benefits both to individuals and to companies. Certification distinguishes you as a computer professional in step with changing technologies and products. You can keep a competitive edge through the skills and knowledge you acquire on the route to certification and from the status conferred upon you when you are qualified. Your employer will benefit from your IBM product expertise and the access to IBM technical information that the program provides, and you in turn will become more employable Specific benefits may vary by country and role. In general, once you become certified, you will receive the following kinds of benefits: * Program Recognition As a certified professional, you can display your certification credential by using the certification logo associated with your role in advertisements or in your business literature. You will also receive a certificate of completion and a lapel pin. * Industry Recognition Certification can enhance your career potential by acknowledging your professional competency and increasing your ability to provide solid, capable technical support. Where possible, IBM will promote your expertise throughout the industry by publishing your name in directories and giving your name out when asked for referrals. * Technical Information Access All certified professionals receive subscriptions to technical newsletters and magazines as part of their induction into the Professional Certification Program from IBM and many receive discounts on IBM sponsored technical support. Members of the program also receive mailings concerning technical literature, conferences and shows, and any special offers. Section III -- Chart Your Course 1. The Certification Process To qualify for certification, you need to pass a series of tests offered through Drake ProMetric, an international leader in computerized certification testing in the computer industry. Begin your journey by choosing the certification role you wish to pursue and familiarizing yourself with the test roadmap for that role. When you pass all the required tests, you qualify for certification. At that time, you will receive the Certification Agreement which is applicable to all roles in the Professional Certification Program from IBM. You must sign and return the agreement to IBM before you can be certified. IBM reserves the right to change or delete any portion of the program, including the terms and conditions of the Certification Agreement, at any time without notice. You are required to comply with all changes to requirements. To help you maintain momentum as you move toward certification, you can obtain the latest certification requirements by calling Drake ProMetric and asking for the latest roadmap for your role. 2. Certification - A Direct Route The path to certification is straightforward. The following specific steps for certification tell you just how to proceed: 1. Review this information and the Certification Agreement you'll be asked to sign. 2. Select the certification role you want to pursue. 3. Determine which test you need to take first/next. 4. Prepare for the exam, using the following resources, where available: -- Test objectives -- Sample tests -- Education courses -- Self-study books 5. Enroll for the test by calling Drake ProMetric. 6. Take the test. 7. Repeat steps 3-6 until all tests are completed for the desired certification role. 8. When you have completed all required tests, a Certification Agreement will automatically be sent to you within two weeks. Sign the Certification Agreement and return it to IBM. 9. Look forward to receiving your certification welcome package telling you that you're certified! (Please allow 4-6 weeks for your welcome package to arrive.) 3. Keeping up to Speed The Professional Certification Program from IBM will keep you informed as to when recertification is required. Once you're certified on a given product release, you will continue to receive applicable benefits through the program. However, should you want to keep up to speed and stay certified on the latest technologies, Update tests (where appropriate) are offered to make it easy for you to do so. Please be sure you keep your address current at Drake ProMetric to assure you will be notified of the latest program changes. Section IV -- Along the Way, Testing and Preparation 1. Testing Overview The test roadmaps are organized into three categories: - Recommended prerequisites - Core requirements - Elective requirements The recommended prerequisites do not specify tests but rather the minimum knowledge or experience recommended before you begin taking certification tests. The core requirements list the tests required for that particular role. Some roles also require a certain number of elective tests be passed for certification. The elective requirements list the options from which you may choose. 2. Test Procedure for your local Drake Authorized Testing Center The following information includes details for registering and taking certification tests: Make Contact. In the United States and Canada, you can register for a test by contacting: 1-800-959-EXAM (3926) Drake ProMetric IBM Certification and Registration 2601 West 88th Street Bloomington, MN 55431 In other parts of the world, you may contact Drake at: United States and Canada: 1-800-959-3926 Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Eastern Europe: 49 (0) 211-500-9950 U.K., Ireland, Scandinavia, The Middle East, South Africa: 44 (0) 71-437-6900 France, Spain, Portugal, North Africa: 33 (0) 1-4289-8749 Japan: 81-3-3269-9620 Australia: 61-2-414-3666 Latin America: 612-896-7458 Provide Information. When you call, be ready with the following information: Name Phone number Mailing address Billing address (if needed) Test number Method of payment (credit card or check) Register. You may call to schedule a test any time up to the day before the date you want to take the test. The registrar will help you select a time and location most convenient for you. If you need to reschedule or cancel a test, you must do so at least 24 hours before your scheduled test time. Payment and Confirmation. If you pay by credit card, you immediately schedule your test at a Drake Authorized Testing Center. If you pay by check, you'll need to wait until Drake receives it and confirms payment. Drake ProMetric Certification Registration will send a letter of confirmation with instructions about the test date, time, and location. If you register within 48 hours of the test date, you will not receive a letter. Schedule and sign-in. You may schedule a test any time up to the day before the date you want to take the test. If you need to reschedule or cancel a test you must do so at least 24 hours before your test time. You should arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled beginning time to sign in. You should bring two IDs: one, a photo ID (driver's license or company security ID); the other, a major credit card or your Social Security card. Take the test. The tests are closed book and are administered on a personal computer. Tests generally contain over 75 questions that take between one and two hours to complete. Test results. You will receive a full score report with section analyses at the conclusion of the test. You can reregister for a test if you fail. When you pass a test, you will automatically receive the associated credit. 3. Preparing for the Tests With the assistance of this guide, you can plan your path to certification. You may be ready to begin testing right away because of previous education, experience, or your current job skills. But to make the most of your expertise, you may want to take advantage of the following resources: Test Objectives - Test objectives describe all of the topics potentially covered on the tests you'll take. They are available from Drake ProMetric and from 1-800-IBM-4FAX. Sample Tests - Sample tests will acquaint you with the format of the tests from Drake and will help you determine whether or not you would benefit from further study. Sample tests, with answer keys, are available from Drake ProMetric and 1-800-IBM-4FAX. Education - IBM Education and Training offers courses which can help prepare you for certification. Self-Study Books - Self-study books are available which help you prepare for certification at your own pace. These books are designed to be used as on-going reference material. Call Drake ProMetric for more information or to order a book. Section V -- Instructor Certification in the U.S. and Canada The certification process for candidates seeking instructor certification is different: 1. Review this information and the Certification Agreement you'll be asked to sign. 2. Complete the required steps in the applicable roadmap to become either a Certified OS/2 Engineer or a Certified LAN Server Engineer. 3. Call 1-800-IBM-4FAX and request an instructor application (document #2331). 4. Complete and submit the application along with a current resume and two letters of recommendation to: The Professional Certification Program from IBM ATTN: Instructor Certification 11400 Burnet Road, Internal Zip 3013 Austin, Texas 78758 5. Show proof of experience or instructor training in one of two ways: a) To show proof of instructor experience, provide a list of all classes taught in the past 12 months. b) To show proof of instructor training, provide proof of either completion of a degree in education or completion of an in-company or public instructional skills course. NOTE: There is a shortcut to instructor certification. If you are already certified through another company's instructor certification program, you can skip step 5 and instead of showing proof of instructor experience or training, show that you have an existing certification with one of the following vendor instructor programs: -- Certified Banyan Instructor -- Microsoft Certified Trainer -- Certified Novell Instructor