As an Exam Developer at Citrix, there is one question I get all the time: "How can I prepare for a Citrix exam?" My answer is always the same: "Read the Citrix Preparation Guide for the exam (formally known as the Exam Enablement Guide). The Preparation Guide contains everything you need to know about the exam, including which materials to study in order to prepare for it."

There are a few other things you need in order to succeed when you take a Citrix exam:

• Field experience relative to the product(s) on the exam
• Access to the recommended training materials
• And of course, access to the Exam Preparation Guide, which is free and available for download from http://www.citrix.com/examlist or http://www.citrixtraining.com

What's in the Preparation Guide?

A ton of useful information including the following:

• Sample questions - types of questions to expect on the exam
• Percentage Weightings of the major domains covered on the exam - which areas to focus on as you study for the exam
• Objectives covered on the exam - statements describing how each of the topics identified for inclusion on the exam will be tested
• Recommended Experience - how much real world hands-on experience you will need in order to be sufficiently prepared for the exam
• Preparatory Course(s) - a list of recommended courses to take in order to prepare for the exam and at times courses required in order to complete the certification requirement
• Resources used to develop the exam content - where the exam questions are taken from like courseware manuals, Knowledge-based articles, forums and other publicly available materials

How is the Preparation Guide useful?
Where do I start? With the wealth of information in these guides at your disposal, you will never worry about taking a Citrix exam again.
 
First, let's start with the exam objectives. Each question is written to an objective. By providing you with the objectives, Citrix is giving you the most valuable tool you will need in order to study for all the possible questions that could be on the exam. This is how it works. Let's say you came across this objective: "Based on a given scenario describing the need to install a specific XenApp Plug-in, determine the XenApp Plug-in to install." For all the questions written to this objective, you can expect to see:

A "scenario describing the need to install a specific XenApp Plug-in"

Scenario: XenApp was recently implemented in an environment. A Citrix Administrator in the environment needs to tell the end users which XenApp plug-in to install in order to access their XenApp resources. The end users in the environment will need to access their hosted applications from Web Interface.

And a question that requires you to "determine which XenApp Plug-in to install"

Which XenApp Plug-in should the administrator instruct the end users to install?

It's that simple!
 
In addition, there are preparatory courses listed in the exam Preparation Guide that are recommended trainings for you to take. There are lots of qualified Citrix Certified Instructors who are ready to prepare you for any of our Citrix exams. Citrix also offers self-paced online training, so if you cannot attend a traditional training workshop, you could purchase self-paced training and learn on your own. You could also self study the courseware manual and administrator guides.
 
What if I don't have time to study?
Well, do you have time to work? Because if you do, your hands-on work experience can potentially help you pass an exam. In addition, if you value the certification you will take the appropriate steps to pass, which include studying. With the Preparation Guide before you, studying for a Citrix exam is fun and easy. It is like using a cook book to prepare a meal; using the cook book doesn't automatically guarantee a tasty meal, so you have to follow the instructions in the cook book to the letter. If you follow the Preparation Guide and understand the information included on the exam, you will have a better chance of succeeding on the exam.
 
Isn't it easier to just download the exam from a brain dump?

Yes, it is; but it is also a huge risk. Moreover, it is also self-deceiving. Citrix has a team of security experts patrolling the web using a very sophisticated statistical tool looking for cheaters. Those who are suspected to have cheated will be investigated, and if upon the completion of the investigation it is determined that they indeed cheated, they will end up having their exam results annulled. That means, at the very least, you will not pass anyways and/or at the very worst, you could be restricted from taking other exams in the future. You don't want to be a victim; simply stay away from such brain dump sites. Plus, Citrix has begun refreshing exams constantly, so there is no guarantee that the exam you download is still valid. Furthermore, wouldn't you be proud of yourself if you actually studied, took the exam and passed?

1. Would you like to work with co-workers who cheated, obtained a certification and don't know what they are doing? 
2. Would you like to report to a senior engineer or administrator who cheated his or her way to the top and doesn't know what he or she is asking you to do?
3. Would you risk being caught? Citrix decertifies and bans cheaters, and also notifies their employers. In addition, if you are required to maintain Citrix certification in order for your employer to maintain a certain customer or partner status with Citrix, your employer will lose that status.

The next time you plan to take a Citrix exam, please remember to use the Preparation Guide. Please read it and understand what the exam covers and what you will need to study. Upon reading the Preparation Guide, if you still have additional questions, send an email to training@citrix.com. Someone from Citrix Education will respond to your email within 72 hours.
 

Effective August 31, 2009, Citrix certification exams will be delivered exclusively through Pearson VUE testing centers and will no longer be available through Prometric testing centers.

Students may still register for an exam and redeem exam vouchers with Prometric until July 31, 2009; however, scheduled exams must be completed in a Prometric testing center by August 30. Beginning August 1, any unused Prometric vouchers will be valid in the Pearson VUE system. The current Citrix exam registration process with Pearson VUE is unaffected by this transition, and will continue as normal.

With the transition to a single-vendor relationship, Pearson VUE and Citrix plan to work more closely together to focus on key areas such as exam security and marketing programs that raise awareness of the value and integrity of Citrix certifications. This will also allow Citrix to increase the scalability and coverage of its certification programs, ultimately adding to its recognition and value.

For more information on this transition, click here.

Do you have a CCA for XenApp 5? If the answer is yes, you are well-positioned to advance to a brand new level of Citrix certification!

The Citrix Certified Advanced Administrator™ (CCAA) for Citrix XenApp 5 for Windows Server 2008 is a new designation to recognize advanced administrator-level specialists who possess Citrix XenApp expertise. Because the CCAA builds upon the CCA for XenApp 5 foundation, current CCAs for XenApp 5 are only two requirements short of earning this credential.

The CCAA allows IT professionals to validate technical skills required for the implementation of advanced XenApp 5 for Windows Server 2008 features and perform additional functions including monitoring, optimizing and troubleshooting*.

To advance your CCA for XenApp 5 to a CCAA, follow the steps below:

Step 1 - Complete Training course: CXA-300-1I Advanced Administration for Citrix XenApp 5.0 for Windows Server 2008

Step 2 - Pass certification Exam: A08 Advanced Administration for Citrix XenApp 5.0 for Windows Server 2008

If you have any questions, please visit www.citrixeducation.com or contact training@citrix.com.

*Note: Content in the CCAA for XenApp 5 certification training and exam is based on the Windows Server 2008 version of the product. Therefore, previous experience in and/or knowledge of Windows Server 2008 is highly recommended.

Reminder - Enter the Synergy self-paced online training giveaway by May 31, 2009!

At Synergy, Citrix Education announced they are giving away one year of unlimited access to all self-paced online training courses and practice labs!* If you are a customer and haven't signed up already, visit www.citrix.com/wintraining to enter by May 31, 2009.

*This offer is for customers only (non-Partners).

New courseware has been released from Citrix Education - Get up to speed on Citrix XenApp 5.0, XenDesktop 3, NetScaler 9 and more! Click on the course/certification title below for more information on these hot releases.

Instructor-led Courses

• CXA-100-1I Providing Help Desk Support for Citrix XenApp
  Prepare to troubleshoot common XenApp issues and identify whether complex issues are related to the XenApp product, the network or directory services.
• CXD-200-1I Implementing Citrix XenDesktop 3
  Learn to install, configure and manage Citrix XenDesktop 3.
• CMB-201-1I Implementing Citrix XenApp Platinum Edition Components
  Learn to properly design, implement, and support Citrix XenApp Platinum Edition components, including EdgeSight 5.0, Access Gateway 9.0 Enterprise Edition, Password Manager 4.5 and WANScaler 4.3. For experienced IT professionals.
  

Self-paced Online Courses

• CNS-200-1W Basic Administration for Citrix NetScaler 9.0
  Gain an understanding of NetScaler features such as load balancing, SSL offload, classic and advanced expressions, compression, auditing and logging and monitoring.
• CPV-200-1W Implementing Citrix Provisioning Server 5.0
  Learn to install, configure and administer Citrix Provisioning Server 5.0 farms.
  

Certification

• Citrix Certified Administrator (CCA) for Citrix NetScaler 9
  Validate expertise in the implementation and administration of NetScaler 9.
  

The new Citrix Certified Enterprise Engineer™ (CCEE) for Virtualization and Citrix Certified Integration Architect™ (CCIA) for Virtualization requirements are now available on www.citrixeducation.com. The CCEE and CCIA expand on the administrator-level certifications and provide IT professionals with a clear path for advanced certification in virtualization technologies.

Update paths are available for candidates holding a legacy Citrix Certified Enterprise Administrator™ (CCEA) or CCIA certification. With just one or two exams, candidates holding the CCEA or CCIA can easily update to the new CCEE and CCIA for Virtualization.
 
To learn more, click here.

Partners: Receive bonus training when you register for Citrix Summit in Las Vegas, May 3-4
All partners who register for Citrix Summit will receive the Virtualization Starter Pack*, a bundle of self-paced online training courses designed to help you learn more about the latest virtualization solutions. This package features four training courses and seven days of content, with a separate retail value of $6000 USD! This package includes:

• 2 days of XenDesktop - a $2000 value

• 2 days of XenServer - a $2000 value

• 2 days of Provisioning Services - a $2000 value

• 1 day of Essentials for XenServer training

*Training access will be distributed in July, with vouchers valid through the end of 2009. Partners are entitled to one pack per paid registration. If you're a salesperson, learn about CCSP 2009 at Summit and give your Virtualization Starter Pack to your most valued technical resource.

Register for Summit between March 25 - May 1 and receive this great value.

Special Registration Discount for Citrix Certified Attendees

As an exclusive benefit for Citrix Certified professionals, we are offering a discounted rate of $1495 USD for a Synergy All-Inclusive conference pass - that's $400 off the current list price!* If you are Citrix Certified, contact Synergy Headquarters at citrixsynergy@citrixevents.com to validate your certification and request the special promo code for discounted registration.

As a Citrix training student or certification candidate, you may be interested in the many additional training and certification opportunities at Synergy, including:

• Hands-on learning opportunities delivered via new and innovative learning methods
• On-site testing opportunities and a "buy one get one" certification offer
• A chance to win access to unlimited training and virtual practice labs for one year at no cost

Click here to learn more and register for these exciting opportunities!

Register for Synergy now

*Citrix customers (non-Partners) only, does not include Citrix Certified Sales Professionals

Customers & Partners: Get Certified at Synergy

Take one of our latest exams at regular price at the Citrix Testing Center and receive an extra exam of your choice at no cost! The free exam may be used for retakes or advancement toward your desired credential. Now through May 1, pre-register to take an exam at the Citrix Testing Center and receive an extra 20% off the exam price!

Citrix Education is looking for a team of Citrix Engineers to assist in developing questions for the upcoming exam required for Citrix Certified Enterprise Engineer™ (CCEE) certification. This is a great opportunity for Citrix Engineers who implement XenApp, XenServer, XenDesktop or Provisioning Server as a virtual solution or for Subject Matter Expert s(SMEs) in Citrix virtualization technologies.

Seven (7) Citrix Engineers will be selected to attend a five-day onsite Item Development Workshop (IDW) at Citrix headquarters in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida from Monday, April 20th through Friday, April 24th. During the IDW, participants will help develop questions and simulations to be included in the upcoming exam. Due to the nature of the workshop, participants must attend in person.

Participants will receive credit as a SME for the developed exam, free copies of related courseware and a voucher for this exam.

Participants in the workshop will:

• Receive training on how to write questions for certification exams

• Work alongside our Exam Developers to develop questions

• Work alongside other field experts to review, modify and finalize questions written by other participants of the workshop

No preparation is necessary; simply bring your expertise! If travel is an issue, Citrix Education is offering a limited number of travel scholarships available on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Criteria for IDW participation
In order to be considered for participation, participants must:

• Have Windows Server 2008 and/or Linux operating system experience

• Have Active Directory knowledge

• Have advanced Citrix XenApp, XenServer, XenDesktop and Provisioning Server knowledge

• Have implemented a POC, pilot, lab or production environment that included XenApp, XenServer, Provisioning Server and/or XenDesktop

• Have advanced virtualization knowledge including in depth understanding of networking concepts such as VLANs and storage concepts surrounding SAN, NFS and LUNs

• Provide a reference to confirm your experience with the Citrix products in the virtualization line of sight (XenApp, XenServer, Provisioning Server and XenDesktop)

• Pass the exam development pre-screening by responding to a short survey
  • To participate in the survey, please follow this link: https://citrix.websurveyor.net/wsb.dll/s/92g629 You must complete the survey by Friday March 27th in order to be considered for the workshop. (The survey is 15 minutes long, but you do not have to complete the survey in one sitting).

• Participate and pass a phone interview conducted by a member of the Citrix Education team

• Be willing to commit to attending for the duration of the workshop

Once you complete the survey, please contact Kpayah Tamba at Kpayah.Tamba@citrix.com to notify him that you have completed the survey. Please include your phone number, along with the dates and times when it would be convenient for you to be contacted for a phone interview. The phone interview is the final stage of the enrollment process. All interviews must be completed by Wednesday April 1, 2009.

There are a lot of things to do in Vegas, such as seeing a show, riding a roller coaster and of course, becoming a high roller; however, none of them come with a guarantee that you will go home with something more valuable than you arrived with. At Citrix Synergy, not only will you leave with new and/or renewed connections with other professionals in the industry and at Citrix, but you will leave with knowledge that will deliver more value to your company and to you as an individual.

Sure, there are multiple valuable conferences within a conference at Synergy (iForum, Network World Live! and Virtualization Congress) but my personal favorite is GeekSpeak Live!  If you haven't seen or attended a GeekSpeak session (examples Shawn at Synergy  and Michael with GeekSpeak Roadtrip!) , you need to check this out. These sessions are where true unfiltered technical interactive discussions occur, many sessions are led by Citrix CTPs such as Charles Aunger , Ruben Spruijt  & Jeroen van de Camp, and Brian Madden and many more, but you also have the ability to lead and/or change a discussion topic on the fly.

This year we have expanded GeekSpeak Live to not only include our traditional evening sessions, but we also have the GeekSpeak SpeakEasy sessions on the exhibit floor and we have woven GeekSpeak session through the traditional conference tracks as well.

As we get closer and closer to Citrix Synergy, I will be posting more information about our GeekSpeak sessions and presenters. Please feel free to leave a comment on this blog, check out the GeekSpeak forum or drop me an email if you are interested in a topic or being a GeekSpeak session lead.

Before I go, I wanted to share a discussion I had with a Citrix Synergy attendee. The discussion started regarding the GeekSpeak session, but quickly transitioned to "I am planning to attend, but my boss/finance team is really leery of spending on technology conferences (especially in Vegas), given the negative press that AIG and others in the industry have gotten regarding conferences. Do you have any advice for me?"

We at Citrix are completely aware budget constraints and have pulled together some information on the topic for you. The fact is that from a cost perspective, Vegas is a value compared to other cities hosting technology events Vegas is 20%-60% cheaper from an attendee perspective. With the data we provided, she was able to assure her management that Citrix Synergy was not a boondoggle!

I look forward to seeing you at Citrix Synergy and Geekspeak Live! , perhaps the one time that "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas" isn't true!

Let the games begin...before you even get to Las Vegas!

Register for Citrix Synergy before April 24 for seven chances to win self-paced online training from Citrix Education valued at $2,000!*  Simply indicate your desire to enter the Lucky 7 drawing under the Options section of your event registration form and qualify when you complete Synergy registration.

This newly-released delivery format allows users to benefit from the cost savings and convenience of training from the comfort of home or office.  Featuring a robust technical curriculum and 30 days of unlimited lab access time, self-paced online training equips learners with the skills and hands-on experience to master their Citrix solution.

Winners will be posted at the Citrix Education booth during tradeshow hours.  Visit the booth to find out if you are one of the Lucky 7!

Register Now

Already registered for Synergy?
Access your My Synergy account to update your event profile and enter to win.

*Please see terms and conditions for eligibility.

Cut Costs with Citrix Help Desk Training!

On February 26-27, 2009, Citrix Education will be hosting a live instructor-led beta class focusing on XenApp skills and knowledge for IT help desk professionals. This beta class, held at Citrix headquarters in Fort Lauderdale, FL, is offered for just $500 (a savings of over 50%!) This training class is designed to build the expertise of in-house help desk professionals, thus reducing consulting and support costs.

Course Details

Title: CXA-100-1I Providing Help Desk Support for Citrix XenApp (Beta)
Description: This course includes interactive instructor-led discussion and hands-on labs and exercises that guide students through help desk tasks. Upon completion, students will be prepared to troubleshoot common issues encountered in a XenApp environment.
Cost: $500 (savings of over 50%)
Duration: 2 days
Dates: February 26 - 27, 2009
Location: Citrix Headquarters - Fort Lauderdale, FL
Audience: IT staff supporting Citrix XenApp

Seating is limited, so register today!

Questions? Email americaseducation@citrix.com

Keep in mind...

The average high temperature in South Florida during December is 77°F, and the average low, 61°F
The last time it snowed in South Florida was in 1977

Are you a Network Engineer or a Systems Engineer who specializes in the planning and integration of Citrix XenApp Platinum in an enterprise environment? If so, Citrix Education would like to invite you to participate in a four-day, onsite Job Task Analysis (JTA) workshop at Citrix worldwide headquarters located in sunny Ft. Lauderdale, Florida from Tuesday, December 16th through Friday, December 19th. In this workshop, you will provide input that will be used to design the new Citrix Certified Enterprise Engineer™ (CCEE) certification exams and corresponding training curriculum. 

The objectives of the workshop are the following: 

• Determine the job tasks that Citrix Engineers are responsible for in Citrix XenApp Platinum environments
• Create real-world scenarios that will be used in future training and certifications
• Select the topics that should be taught and tested in the new Citrix Certified Enterprise Engineer (CCEE) track

No need to prepare! Simply attend all four days and provide information about your Citrix implementation as well as the specific tasks you perform.

Compensation: If you are selected to attend the workshop, Citrix Education will pick up the tab for your travel, meals during the workshop, and entertainment in beautiful sunny South Florida!

Criteria for participation:

• Must act as Engineer for a XenApp 5.0 for Windows Server 2008 environment
• Must have integrated XenApp with at least one Platinum component such as:
  • EdgeSight 4.5 or higher
  • WANScaler 4.5 or higher
  • Access Gateway 8.0 Enterprise Edition or higher
• Experience with the following is ideal:
  • Using XenApp SDKs for customizations
  • Scripting (MFCOM or Powershell)
• Experience with or plans for the following are a plus but not required:
  • Virtualizing XenApp on XenServer, VMware, or Hyper-V
  • Provisioning XenApp loads
  • Monitoring Loads of XenApp farms

If you, or a member of your technical team, are interested in participating in this workshop, please send an email to Lourdes Soler at Lourdes.Soler@citrix.com. Please include your phone number, and the dates and times when it would be convenient for you to be contacted.

Space is limited so act now!

Citrix Education just announced the rollout of its redesigned certification program. The new certification structure, developed in collaboration with Citrix customers, offers candidates more choices such as certification tracks by role and specialization, as well as streamlined update paths that make it easier for IT professionals to stay current. The certification changes support IT professionals' need to demonstrate specialized knowledge in key server, desktop and application virtualization technologies.

The next generation of Citrix certifications deliver:

1. Certification by job level
Three levels of IT professional certification are offered, which allow candidates to match their certification path to their job role:

• Administrator Series - Consists of the Citrix Certified Administrator™ (CCA), which has been expanded to include tracks supporting Platinum product editions. Also offered is the new Citrix Certified Advanced Administrator™ (CCAA) certification, which takes the CCA one step further with in-depth product specialization.
• Engineer Series - Consists of the new Citrix Certified Enterprise Engineer™ (CCEE), which offers seasoned IT professionals the opportunity to validate their ability to combine the coordination of operational planning efforts with 'tactical design' expertise and integration know-how.
• Architect Series - Consists of a re-vamped Citrix Certified Integration Architect™ (CCIA) certification, which allows IT professionals to hone real world skills with a range of technologies to design strategic approaches to application and workload delivery.

2. Certification by solution
Various paths, including Application Virtualization, Desktop Virtualization, Server Virtualization and Application Networking, are available, so that IT professionals can align their certifications to the technology solutions most relevant to their job role.

3. Certification by product specialization
IT professionals can achieve specific designations for the latest Citrix products, such as Citrix XenApp™, Citrix® NetScaler®, Citrix XenDesktop™, Citrix XenServer™, and others, to prove their competency and skills on the latest enterprise products.

4. Simplified Certification update paths
With the release of the next generation certification programs, update paths to the newest CCEE and CCIA certifications will be available for current advanced certification holders. These update paths will significantly reduce requirements by focusing on the domains, features and technologies that are most required to advance to the next generation CCEE and CCIA certifications.

For more information on the next generation certification structure, visit www.citrixeducation.com > Certifications. Be sure to access the new certification marketing materials for a detailed overview.

Citrix Education's new "Take 2" Exam Program offers the opportunity to retake a Citrix exam at no additional cost, minimizing the financial risk involved with pursuing Citrix certification. 

With this program, you may purchase a special voucher at a slightly higher price than the regular exam fee. If you fail the exam on your first attempt, you may use the voucher to retake the exam at no additional cost!

The program is offered for a limited time exclusively through Pearson VUE. Click here to learn more and obtain your vouchers today!

Join Citrix Education at Summit and participate in our many educational activities geared towards Citrix partners:

• ENTER TO WIN access to ALL Self-paced Online technical training courses for 1 Year
• TAKE the new CCA for XenApp 5 exam at NO COST and select others at 50% OFF
• GET Hands-On with Technical Learning Labs
• LEARN about the latest enhancements to the Citrix® Solution Advisor Program and Certification Structure  
  

Click here for more information on these offerings.

Special Certification Offer for Partners - Implementing Citrix XenApp 5.0 for Windows Server 2008 exam at NO COST, select other exams 50% OFF

Citrix Education offers partners the opportunity to get Citrix certified during Summit!  Partners can take the latest certification exams at our on-site testing center at a 50% discount and take the newest CCA for XenApp 5 exam at NO COST!

Partners, reserve your spot today and take advantage of this SUMMIT ONLY offer. Seating is limited and will be assigned on a first come first serve basis to those partners registered to attend Summit. For more information on this special offer and to pre-register for an exam, click here.

Offer available through 10/19/08

The Citrix XenApp 5 beta exam,1Y1-A05 Implementing Citrix XenApp 5.0 for Windows Server 2008, is currently offered at NO COST to all candidates through 10/19/08.* Candidates have the opportunity to show their expertise and get ahead of the crowd on the next XenApp certification.

Because this exam is in beta, exam takers will have the chance to provide feedback and shape the final version. Candidates who pass the beta exam will earn the new Citrix Certified Administrator (CCA) for Citrix XenApp 5 on Windows Server 2008 at no cost.

 *The last day to take the beta exam is 10/19/08. To register for the exam, visit http://www.vue.com/

The views expressed here are mine alone and have not been authorized by, and do not necessarily reflect the views of, Citrix.

As the Manager of Exam Development in Citrix Education, I have also focused more on exam security. Beginning last year, I focused more than ever on security measures by working with industry peers, security consultants, and exam delivery providers (Prometric and VUE) to tackle the growing problem of cheating. I have to admit that when I first began this process it felt like an unrealistic goal to tackle.

The ever growing presence of brain dumps (those web sites that sell stolen exam content) is not easy to ignore. But to make matters worse, the attitudes of some towards the use of brain dumps and other forms of cheating just makes it that more difficult. In the last year I have had more opportunities than ever to meet and get to know Citrix certificants. What they have repeatedly stressed to me is how they want Citrix Education to do something about brain dumps; that they don't want just any Joe Administrator to get Citrix Certified; that they are sick and tired of meeting "paper certified" individuals who have no experience.

So how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time......

In 2007, Citrix Education started slowly by adopting a security plan. That security plan, addressed four areas:

Detection of test theft and fraud
Education of candidates to appropriate behavior
Development of comprehensive policies
Enforcement of policies

Citrix Education conducts web patrolling efforts 24 hours a day world wide to identify brain dumps as well as violators of our exam policies. Once a site is detected, staff members and security professionals purchase, analyze, and verify that advertised content or information is indeed the intellectual property of Citrix. Based on the information gathered, I have been able to serve legal take down notices to websites and cease and desist letters. In addition to brain dumps and auction sites, I have also discovered candidates "discussing" exam content and "sharing" answers...you know in the interest of "knowledge being FREE".

Candidates sharing exam content, is by the way, in direct violation to the NDA that all exam takers must accept before taking an exam. When initially kicking off the security initiative, I realized that many did NOT read this NDA before taking the exam. Kind of like a EULA, exam candidates see that NDA and simply scroll to the radio button marked "Yes, I agree." without ever considering what they have agreed to.....

So Citrix Education adopted a Candidate Conduct Policy that had been widely used by our IT Peers . This policy http://www.citrixtraining.com/content/index.cfm/cgroup_id:48 basically outlines everything that candidates have done in the past that is classified as illegal behavior. Additional Citrix Education policies include a retake, beta exam, and special needs testing policies: http://www.citrixtraining.com/content/index.cfm/cgroup_id:38.  A violation of any policy can result in a list of remedies including bans up to a year.

The newest addition to exam policies is that of classifying results as indeterminate. Basically based on data forensics, our security consultants identify suspicious results and depending on the strength of the data, say a 1 in 10,000,000,000 chance of a specific result occurring, I can definitely with confidence conclude that a result is not sound and will invalidate those results. Once invalidated, a result will not count toward certification.

After putting these policies and procedures in place it's been really interesting what I have found:

Once people know someone is looking, they repent and cease with their misconduct.
Education of candidates is key; in fact candidates often state that they did NOT know that they were in violation of the NDA or any other policy.
Even those with the most grave violations, seem to value the cert when they are in danger of losing it.

I hope our efforts will help Citrix Education begin to make a dent in the challenge of exam security. But I realize that a huge part of the problem is in the attitudes and lack of a universal understanding of what constitutes test theft and fraud. So my mission is simple,

To educate Citrix Certification Candidates and Certificants on what constitutes cheating and how it impacts the value of the credential in an effort to maintain the integrity and validity of our certification programs.

What I really hope to get out of this besides the above is a better understanding of our certified community. And as Citrix Education takes bite after bite of the elephant known as cheating....I can only hope that candidates and certificants worldwide will see the return to the value of certification....

The million dollar question is with all the buzz by Citrix and others on increased security initiatives, how will the cheaters respond?

Sierra Hampton is the Manager of Exam Development and has worked at Citrix for 7 years.