Retake option is back

I just received an email from Cisco.com stating that if you have a valid CCNA, then Cisco will provide you an option to pay and take any one of the CCNA concentrations for regular price, and if you fail you can take the same exact exam that you failed for free...

This offer is valid from Jan 20,2009 to July 20th 2009.

did anyone else get this email.

go to the following website for more information
www.pearsonvue.com/cisco/Specialize.

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mikej412

I got the Comeback email - Cisco Come Back 2009 Promotion

“Come Back 2009” Promotion

Here’s how to redeem your Cisco “Come Back 2009” Exam:

Register for an exam at full price. If you fail the exam, you may schedule a free retake of the same exam by entering the promotion code: COMEBACK2009 at the time of registration.

Offer only valid for Career Certifications and Specialization Exams (not valid on online exams). NOTE: All exams needed for a certification must be taken to gain back your certification.

But there is the * leading to the footnote in the email for the ComeBack offer

*Both the full price and free Come Back exams must be taken between January 20, 2009, and July 20, 2009. The free retake exam(s) must be the same exam number as the exam(s) failed. NOTE: All exams needed for a certification must be taken to gain back your certification.

Haven't gotten the Cisco Specialize Promotion one yet (but who needs the email when you have the web link

)

Here’s how to redeem your Cisco “Specialize” Exam:

Register for an exam at full price. If you fail the exam, you may schedule a free retake of the same exam by entering the promotion code: SPECIALIZE at the time of registration.

Offer only valid for Cisco CCNA Concentration exams: 640-460-IIUC CCNA Voice, 640-553 IINS CCNA Security and 640-721 IUWNE CCNA Wireless (not valid on online exams).

The Cisco Second Chance Promotion page still shows as Promotion Ended -- but maybe the fact the page still exists is a sign they may be planning to reuse it again someday.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This promotion has ended.

the_Grinch

This is great! Just gotta knock out the CEH exam and CCNA so that I can get my shot at CCNA Security....plus an incentive to go for all of them!

aragoen_celtdra

Almost what I'm waiting for but not quite yet

. What I would really like to see come back is the second chance promotion that Mike mentioned above. With that promotion, you are not limited to just the CCNA series of tests.

mikej412 wrote: »

IThe Cisco Second Chance Promotion page still shows as Promotion Ended -- but maybe the fact the page still exists is a sign they may be planning to reuse it again someday.

It'd be nice if the secondchance is offered again.. soon! I hope to take my BSCI exam no later than the end of February and that offer can provide some insurance.

mamono

This is awesome, great that I haven't taken my CCNA: Wireless yet!

I just might start considering studying for the others CCNA concentrations too since they will be prerequisites later for Professional level certs anyways. One less thing to worry about...

nel

Thats good news then for the folk who are looking at the NA concentrations. Especially in this crappy time that we are in financially.

Lets hope they bring back the 2nd chance!! (HINT HINT cisco!!!):D

malcybood

I was toying with the idea anyway, but I'm definitely doing the CCNA:Voice after the BSCI! I booked my BSCI today for 6th March so I'll try to do CCNA:Voice maybe late March I think.

There seems to be alot of "Describe" objectives that I've covered already with other vendor certification/experience and also the voice section of the CCDA so this should be more of a refresher and a "few new bits" for me. A free retake is good but doubt I'll need it *confident strut* lol

The only bit I guess I need to get some hands on with are the implementation of UCM500 - eek. I've seen in some other threads people have done this exam without a lab. I may have to do the same tbh as I can't acquire Cisco voice stuff from work as we don't use Cisco voice! I think the CBT Nuggets may be my best bet here!

Anyway good link thanks for the info lildeezul

aragoen_celtdra

Hey guys! Just wanted to update everyone that there is a "good" possibility that the Cisco retake offer might be applicable for everyone.

I spoke with a Pearson/Vue rep recently and, while I did get conflicting explanations, most of the answers (I spoke with them 3 times) pointed to "yes" you can use the promotion code for retaking a Cisco exam should you fail the first time.

I explained most of it on my blog: Free Retake of Cisco Exams. Someone left me a comment that he actually tried it and it worked. I can't prove or authenticate his comment, however.

Of course, caution is warranted as there is no official confirmation of this. My suggestion is to try it out and see if it works. I wouldn't go in the testing center unprepared and try to "wing it" then use the promotion as a back up. That just wouldn't be prudent.

The promotion I'm talking about is the Come Back 2009 promotion. Despite the note at the end of the promotion saying,

NOTE: All exams needed for a certification must be taken to gain back your certification.

I was still told that anyone can take advantage of the promotion.

Again, I stress, please use the promotion only as last resort and not as a back up. I'm only letting you know of this in case you are one who has failed the exam recently and are looking into retaking it. This is a case where "it doesn't hurt to try".

For those trying the CCNA specialization exams, you have the "Specialization" promotion still available for you.

jscimeca715

I'm sorry if I don't understand this, but I'm needing some more clarification: I haven't taken any Cisco tests yet. I'm registering for my CCENT at the end of the month and want to know if this applies to me? Or only if I have had a CCNA that has lapsed and want to retake it? Thanks for any clarification.

aragoen_celtdra

jscimeca715 wrote: »

I'm sorry if I don't understand this, but I'm needing some more clarification: I haven't taken any Cisco tests yet. I'm registering for my CCENT at the end of the month and want to know if this applies to me? Or only if I have had a CCNA that has lapsed and want to retake it? Thanks for any clarification.

You're not alone with your uncertainties. One thinng I know is that this promotion is not only for CCNA. The rep I spoke with said that there is a long list of Cisco exams that this promotion applies to. So I'm confident that this could work with the CCENT.

The real question is whether it only applies for those who are recertifying or if it applies to anyone who fails an exam - even if it's only their first time taking it. There is a misleading implication in the wording of the promotion, particularly the part where it mentions "All exams needed for a certification must be taken to gain back your certification".

Unless more people have tried it and let us know for sure, then I can only go by what the Pearson/Vue rep told me. And even with that, I could not positively confirm their words since they themselves don't seem to be 100% sure.

So if anyone has tried it, it would be a great public service if you could let us know if it works - or not.

mikej412

aragoen_celtdra wrote: »

The real question is whether it only applies for those who are recertifying or if it applies to anyone who fails an exam - even if it's only their first time taking it. There is a misleading implication in the wording of the promotion, particularly the part where it mentions "All exams needed for a certification must be taken to gain back your certification".

They had the same confusion last time (the first time) they did this -- that's when they eventually offered the SecondChance promotion.

The eMail first paragraph states

As a network professional who may have let a certification lapse, Cisco would like to offer you the opportunity to re-invest in a Cisco certification with the special Cisco Come Back offer. Register and take any Cisco exam you need to restart your certification at the regular price, and—if you don’t succeed on your first try—you’ll get a free second opportunity to pass the exam! To learn more or sign up for an exam, visit: Cisco Come Back 2009 Promotion

Everything in the eMail seems to imply that it is only for people to recertify an expired certification. -- yet they never explicitly state "for use on exams required to earn/gain back an expired certification." If I let one of my "recertify every 2 year Cisco Specialist Certifications" expire, does this mean I could take any/all current cisco exams and get a free retake if I fail -- or would it only cover exams for that expired Specialist Certification?

If someone takes and fails an exam, they don't really have anything to lose by trying the promotion code (except the cost of the exam if Pearson/Vue decides they want their money and holds an unpaid pass result hostage).

It's the people who decide to take a paid "practice test" expecting a free retake that will lose out if/when the comeback code isn't honored for someone who doesn't have an expired certification.

mikej412

aragoen_celtdra wrote: »

The real question is whether it only applies for those who are recertifying or if it applies to anyone who fails an exam - even if it's only their first time taking it. There is a misleading implication in the wording of the promotion, particularly the part where it mentions "All exams needed for a certification must be taken to gain back your certification".

They had the same confusion last time (the first time) they did this -- that's when they eventually offered the SecondChance promotion.

The eMail first paragraph states

As a network professional who may have let a certification lapse, Cisco would like to offer you the opportunity to re-invest in a Cisco certification with the special Cisco Come Back offer. Register and take any Cisco exam you need to restart your certification at the regular price, and—if you don’t succeed on your first try—you’ll get a free second opportunity to pass the exam! To learn more or sign up for an exam, visit: Cisco Come Back 2009 Promotion

NOTE: All exams needed for a certification must be taken to gain back your certification.

So unless you have an expired certification, I wouldn't count a free retake. But they still missed their chance to clear this up by posting "only for candidates with an expired certification, and only good for exams to regain that expired certification. All expired exams must be retaken to regain the expired certification."