12/12/2000 -- As a contract Prosoft instructor, I have recently noticed a growing interest in programs that specialize in Internet Webmaster e-Commerce Certification. While teaching for The Beacon Institute, I have had the opportunity to share this growing trend with students and customers who are realizing the opportunities and options Internet Certification can bring to one's career.

At the outset of the Prosoft CIW program I teach, questions come up as to which test a candidate should take first to begin their journey: Prosoft CIW, or I-Net+. The reason this question is asked so frequently is that Prosoft permits candidates pursuing the CIW certification to begin the Certification Testing process by passing either the CIW Foundations exam or CompTIA's I-Net+ exam. While both exams cover relatively the same material, they are a world apart when it comes to the objectives they emphasize. Not all tests are created equally.

I recently took both the CIW Foundations exam and the I-Net+ exam. (In fact, I took the CIW Foundations exam twice over the course of two days.) Here are some of the fundamental similarities and differences between the two exams and how you can best prepare for each.

About CIW Foundations
The CIW Foundations exam, test number 1D0-410, has 60 multiple-choice questions and a 75-minute time limit. Each multiple-choice question has four possible answers, one of which is correct. The passing score is a 75 percent, meaning that a candidate must answer 45 questions correctly. The test fee is $125. Once passed, candidates are awarded with the CIW Associate certification, and can go on for a CIW professional-level designation.

The CIW Foundations exam is divided into three modules: Internet Fundamentals, HTML Fundamentals and Networking Fundamentals. There are 24 questions on Internet Fundamentals, 24 on Networking Fundamentals and 12 on HTML Fundamentals. To pass this exam a candidate must achieve 70% on each module. This means that, in theory, you could have an overall score of 85 to 90 percent and still and fail the exam. I experienced this the first time I took the exam. I had a 90 percent overall score but missed four of the 12 HTML questions. I failed by one question! On the second attempt, I was done in 20 minutes, got a 93 percent, and passed. The HTML questions were not hard or tricky. I just went too fast the first go around. I made dumb mistakes. I wanted to go to lunch. I found the CIW Foundations exam to be a balanced, fair assessment of a candidate's fundamental knowledge of the Internet.

About i-Net+
The I-Net+ exam is definitely not the same exam as the CIW Foundations. While the same courseware used for CIW Foundations will prepare a candidate for the I-Net (more about this earlier), this exam does not test the material in the same manner or with the same weight.

The I-Net+ exam, test number IK0-001, has 72 multiple-choice questions and a 90-minute time limit. The passing score is a 73 percent, meaning that a candidate must answer 53 questions correctly. The test fee is $175 (being raised to $190 in 2001). I successfully passed this exam in 30 minutes.

The I-Net+ exam is based on six domains, which are weighted. The six domains and their weighting are:

• I-Net Basics: 10 percent
• I-Net Clients: 20 percent
• Development: 20 percent
• Networking: 25 percent
• I-Net Security: 15 percent
• Business Concepts: 10 percent

Unlike the CIW foundations exam, there's no stipulation that you have to achieve a given score in each domain in order to pass. The scoring is a straightforward 73 percent.

My impression of the I-Net+ exam is that it strongly emphasizes Networking Technologies and Internetworking Technologies. It is definitely not a balanced exam. HTML was not emphasized. A friend of mine who is a Webmaster took the I-Net+ exam and was amazed at how little emphasis was placed on HTML and how much was on the technologies of networking. My reaction was the same.

One Resource for All
As mentioned earlier, you can use the same materials to prepare for both the CIW Foundations exam and the I-Net+. I recommend either attending an instructor-lead Prosoft CIW Foundations course or to prepare for the exams by self-studying the Authorized Prosoft Training Materials. Both exams can be successfully prepared for from this course material. CompTIA is not endorsing any one curriculum. Candidates for both exams should also have some Internet experience on a Windows or Unix platform. A person with a strong background in Internetworking could pass either exam without a great deal of study. However, I must caution that these are not easy exams.

So What Should I Study?
After I left the exams on the second day, I wrote down my observations for future reference. This is intended as a study guide to emphasize points that one might be weak on. Be sure you study all material with equal emphasis. All material is fair game. Watch out for the obscure as you prepare. Prosoft, and CompTIA, like Novell and Microsoft, love to look at and test on obscure issues. These are just 10 points that stood out to me.

Which Exam Should I Take?
Those pursuing Prosoft certification can take either exam to achieve the Associate CIW designation, but there is a definite difference in what objectives are addressed. That difference should be remembered so that those who are weak in Networking and Internetworking theory, but strong in HTML and Internet Fundamentals, will be able to make an informed choice.

One point that should be kept in mind if you are musing over whether to take I-Net+ or CIW Foundations or both: if you take and pass the I-Net+ you gain not only the CompTIA I-Net+ certification but also Prosoft's Associate CIW designation and entry into its tracks. If you solely take the CIW Foundations exam, you are gaining entry into the Prosoft certification arena.

Which test a candidate takes is based on job skills, knowledge base and future aspirations. Both exams amply test one's fundamental knowledge. They just emphasize different points and skills. Good luck, and welcome to the wonderful world of Internetworking.