Microsoft To Raise Exam Prices 25 Percent Next Year
12/5/2001 -- Sources have told MCPMag.com that beginning Jan. 4, 2002, U.S. pricing for Microsoft exams through Prometric and VUE testing centers will increase 25 percent to $125. Microsoft's exam pricing hasn't changed in about seven years.
The increase comes at a time of global recession, and speculation is that the increase will help to offset the added cost of maintaining the certification program's quality. Andy Barkl, MCT and owner of WeTrainIT in Glendale, Arizona, notices that Microsoft is following suit with other certification programs. "Cisco exams were just raised to $125 also and CompTIA exams always have been more expensive than most."
The increase is likely to affect international pricing. Georges Thibault, an MCT in Quebec, Canada, calls the increase "ridiculous." He notes that the exchange rate can translate to about $200 Canadian. "Why does Microsoft have to make the certification process so expensive?" Microsoft would not comment on the increase, but plans to officially release this information on Friday. -MCPMag.com
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There are 75  user Comments for “Microsoft To Raise Exam Prices 25 Percent Next Year”
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| 12/5/01: Bob says: |
Actually, Microsoft's exam prices are still much cheaper than CompTIA's. I'm a CompTIA Corporate Member and the price of my exams (even with the $50 member discount) is still $140 ($190 would be the norm). |
| 12/5/01: Michael says: |
That's fine, raise the cost per test but reduce the number of tests that need to be taken. |
| 12/5/01: Anonymous says: |
Microsoft should make the canadian exam prices the same dollar amount as in the US: ie C$125 instead of U$125. The Microsoft Press books have always enjoyed a lower canadian price than the US price multiplied by the current exchange rate. I believe CompTIA+ is charging too much, but it be could because of lower income from all sources (we all know Microsoft could throw a million bucks out the window and would suffer almost no consequences; I don't believe CompTIA has the same resources.) |
| 12/5/01: Sean says: |
CompTia's pricing is one reason I quit taking CompTia's tests. Microsoft's pricing is still reasonable enough to continue taking the tests but it makes the test taker think that they are completely ready to take a test..... |
| 12/5/01: Non Canadian says: |
Jeez....make it the same price as a Canadian test....the Canadian dollar is practically worthless...... |
| 12/5/01: Terry says: |
I haven't been able to understand why any IT related cert tesy should be over the $50 mark. MANY other trades cert tests are $50. And they don't seem to be going broke, or letting the quality of the certifications slip. MONEY _ MONEY _ MONEY _ that is all this is really about. M$ wants more. |
| 12/5/01: Anonymous says: |
Wouldn't Microsoft rather have certified technicians because of their talent and knowledge of their products, rather than just those that have the money to take them? Microsoft has already scared away many of their previously loyal engineers, and they go and do this? It was already bad enough that NT 4.0 MCSE's have to basically take all new exams, and they have since backtracked a little, but it just seems that the company's certification program is not going in the right direction... |
| 12/5/01: Paul says: |
u are pricing urself right out of the market Too bad this opens the door we have been fighting Oh well, get ready for selfpace and no certification |
| 12/5/01: GB says: |
Raise the price? fine by me...it just raises the stakes for the certification, if the test cost was too cheap then it would create more "paper" MCSE's, they just keep taking them until they pass...I have seen it at testing centers.. Those "paper certified" individuals give my hard won certs and experience a bad name. Heck raise the price of the certs to $200.00 US, and keep it the same for other countries. the certs would be more respected this is sure. |
| 12/5/01: Anonymous says: |
What's next? |
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