CIW Exams - Frequently Asked Questions 

Before Taking an Exam

1. I am preparing to take a CIW exam, and I want some details about the exam itself and the skills I will be tested on. Where can I find details about a particular CIW exam?

Details about specific exams are available on the Exam Guide pages pages. These pages offer information about each exam such as certification credit, prerequisites, number of questions, time allotted, scoring percentages, skills measured, preparation tools and resources, and exam retirement information.

2. Where can I get training and study materials for a CIW exam?

Official instructor-led CIW training materials are available from CIW Authorized Training Partners (ATPs) and CIW Authorized Academic Partners (AAPs). See our CIW ATP/AAP Training Locator to find a location near you to sign up for CIW instructor-led training. CIW Self- Study Kits are available in the CIW Store. Although not specifically designed for self-study purposes, you can also purchase CIW courseware and online Practice Exam products from the ComputerPREP.com Web site.

3. How do I know whether my training provider is an authorized CIW trainer?

Our many CIW Authorized Academic Partners (AAPs) and CIW Authorized Training Partners (ATPs) offer superior training in CIW skills and exam preparation because only these establishments have CIW Certified Instructors (CIs) teaching Official CIW Curriculum. You can verify whether a specific training provider is an authorized CIW trainer by checking to see if it is listed in the CIW ATP/AAP Training Locator. If the training provider is not listed, then it is not an official CIW ATP or CIW AAP.

4. The study questions in your courseware are helpful when preparing for exams. Where can I find more practice questions for the CIW exams?

Official CIW Certification Practice Exam products allow students and instructors to instantly evaluate the level of IT knowledge achieved. These tools provide students with an additional method of review and assessment to enhance the learning experience. CIW Certification Practice Exams can also be used as a pre-assessment, practice exam and quiz administration tools to help instructors evaluate their students' knowledge.

Visit ComputerPREP for product and purchase information about currently available CIW Certification Practice Exam products. Sanctioned third-party practice exams and preparation tools are available from Self-Test Software and MeasureUp, organizations that have developed practice tests to help candidates prepare for CIW exams.

There are numerous other sites on the Web that offer so-called practice exams and other test preparation tools, as well. These sites, known as braindumps, are collections of exam items that have been stolen from high- stakes certification exams. There are several international organizations that publish, distribute and sell these items illegally, under thousands of different organization names and Internet domains. Using these collections is a violation of both the CIW Exam Agreement and the CIW Certification Agreement and is grounds for decertification. If you are are considering a practice test tool and are not sure of the legitimacy of a particular site, you can check it using CertGuard's free search tool: http://www.certguard.com/search.asp

5. What is the CIW Certification Agreement?

The CIW Certification Agreement is a binding legal agreement governing the rights and responsibilities of all CIW certification candidates. It covers exam content copyright and non-disclosure requirements, candidate and certificant conduct, the use of CIW logos and copyrighted CIW trademarks, abuse of certification status, and other legal protections. You are required to complete the CIW Certification Agreement to be eligible for CIW certification. Some candidates who have taken CIW exams in previous years may have completed an older version of the CIW Certification Agreement. This Agreement is still valid if it is documented in your current CIW Candidate Information Center record. To determine whether your Agreement is completed and you are eligible for CIW certification, log in to the CIW Candidate Information Center and click the Candidate Agreement link in the left column.

6. What is the CIW Exam Agreement?

The CIW Exam Agreement is presented at the start of every high-stakes CIW certification exam. Candidates must accept this agreement before proceeding to the first exam question. The CIW Exam Agreement protects the copyrighted exam content and states that exam content may not be distributed by candidates under any circumstances.

The CIW Exam Agreement is fairly long and may interfere with the time available to candidates to take their exams. Candidates may review the CIW Exam Agreement here, so that they need not spend significant time on it at the testing center.

7. I took a Japanese-translation version of a CIW exam. At the testing center, I was required to accept a CIW Exam Agreement, but the agreement itself was written in English. Why is the CIW Exam Agreement not available in languages other than English?

CIW is based in the United States, and therefore any legal issues and documents must comply with U.S. laws and standards. The CIW Exam Agreement, the CIW Certification Agreement and other legal documents (such as certificates and transcripts) must be published in American English to satisfy U.S. legal language standards and remain valid. However, candidates who take CIW exams translated into other languages are still legally bound not to disclose, share or publish copyrighted exam items, or abuse certification status or copyrighted CIW trademarks in any way.

8. What are the prices for CIW exams?

Prices vary from country to country. View detailed information about exam pricing at the Taking An Exam page under Certifications. This page has information about registration, test-taking, accommodations for the disabled, test results and more.

9. Do I need to pass the CIW Foundations exam before I attempt higher-level CIW exams?

No, CIW Web Foundations Associate is no longer required as a prerequisite for any other CIW certifications. Some CIW certifications require that you pass multiple exams. You are not required to take exams in order. However, because more complex topics build on the CIW Web Foundations Associate topics, we generally recommend that candidates complete their study and take exams in escalating order. For more information about certification requirements, visit the Certification Pathways section.

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Exam Results and Candidate Records

10. I just took my first CIW certification exam, but all I have is my score report. What should I do next?

Your exam result will be automatically transmitted to the CIW Candidate Information Center within two to 10 business days. An automated e-mail message will be sent to you when your exam result has been imported. If you have not previously done so, log in to the CIW Candidate Information Center and review your certification record. If you have not previously logged in, you can use the information on your exam score report to authenticate your identity and create your login user name and password. The first time you log in, you will be asked to verify your mailing address. Update your record, if necessary, and click the Verify button at the bottom of the page.

Next, verify that you have completed the CIW Certification Agreement. Click the Candidate Agreement link in the left column. Read the Agreement, select Yes at the bottom if you agree to its terms, then click the Submit button. The CIW Certification Agreement is required for eligibility for any CIW certification.

Finally, click the Certification Progress link in the left column to review your certification status. You can drill into the certifications to examine the requirements of each program.

11. I failed my first attempt at a CIW exam, so I am studying to take it again. Can I see the questions and answers that I missed on the CIW exam I took?

No, CIW does not release exam items in any form, either questions or answers. This procedure is standard for high-stakes IT certification exams, and helps maintain the value of the credential

All CIW exam items are copyrighted material. To maintain the security and value of our program, we reserve the right to decertify and/or bar from exams any individual who in any way attempts to republish, distribute, disclose or use our copyrighted certification exam items in an unauthorized manner. You agree to these non-disclosure conditions and other rules by signing the CIW Certification Agreement, which is part of your CIW Certification record and can be viewed in the CIW Candidate Information Center. You are required to complete this agreement to be eligible for any CIW certifications.

12. I think my CIW exam may have been scored incorrectly. What recourse do I have to investigate this?

If you feel that a technical problem interfered with your performance on an exam, please contact your testing center directly for remediation.

Exams can be challenged for validity of item content. If you believe you have a legitimate reason to challenge the results of your recent CIW certification exam, you must complete the CIW Exam Item Challenge Form. The directions on the form detail the submission process. Upon receiving your CIW Exam Item Challenge Form, the CIW certification team will review your challenge, consulting technical staff as necessary. Once the review has been completed, you will be notified of the results by e-mail. Please allow up to 10 business days for a response to your challenge.

13. How do I review my CIW certification history and contact information?

You can review your contact information and certification history at the CIW Candidate Information Center. You can use that site to review/confirm your mailing address, publish your transcripts, request additional copies of a certificate, and download logos. You will need information from your Official CIW Exam Score Report the first time you log in to the CIW Candidate Information Center.

14. I took my CIW exam yesterday, but I am still not able to log in to the CIW Candidate Information Center. Why?

It normally takes two to 10 business days for your exam results to be transmitted from your testing center to the CIW Candidate Information Center. Please be patient while this data is transmitted. If more than two weeks have passed since you took your CIW exam, and your results are still not available, notify us using the Program Information Request form. Be sure to include complete information from your Official CIW Exam Score Report, including your name as it is spelled on the score report, registration ID, testing ID, site ID, etc. This information will help us locate your record and determine the status of your certification.

15. I took CIW exams several years ago. I recently tried to log in to the CIW Candidate Information Center, using the information on my Official CIW Exam Score Reports from the time I took the exams. Why am I unable to log in?

Older exam data has been archived and is not readily accessible to candidates. Contact us using the Program Information Request form. Be sure to provide complete information (address, exam score information, registration ID, current and former e-mail addresses) so that we can locate your certification record. Once we have located your record, we will have an automated account recovery message sent to you. This message will provide instructions and a one-time access code. Follow the instructions in that message to create your login in the CIW Candidate Information Center.

16. I passed my CIW certification exam, and I successfully logged in to the CIW Candidate Information Center, but my status does not yet show that I earned the certification. Why?

A CIW certification is awarded only after ALL requirements for that certification have been met. Some CIW certifications require you to pass more than one exam. All CIW certifications require you to complete the CIW Certification Agreement.

Verify that you have completed the CIW Certification Agreement, which is available in the CIW Candidate Information Center. After logging in, click the Candidate Agreement link in the left column. Read the agreement, select Yes at the bottom if you agree to its terms, then click the Submit button. If you require a copy of this document for your personal files, you can also download the PDF version of the Agreement from that location. The CIW Certification Agreement is required for eligibility for any CIW certification.

If you have completed all required exams and the CIW Certification Agreement but your certification still has not been awarded, review your status in the Certification Progress page. Each program is listed, and indicates your status in each of the requirements for certification. If you have completed all listed requirements, but certification has still not been automatically awarded, contact us using the Program Information Request form so we can investigate. Be sure to include your CIW ID (shown at the top of all pages in the system).

17. My History record in the CIW Candidate Information Center says that my certificate has been "Created" and/or "Processed." What does this mean?

This message means that your certificate has been queued for printing and processing. Certificates may be distributed either electronically as PDF files or as hard-copy paper certificate mailed via U.S. Postal Service. Certification Partners reserves the right to distribute certificates in either manner (electronically or hard copy). PDF certificates will be sent to the primary e-mail address in the candidate's certification record. Hard-copy certificates are normally mailed within one business week after the certification is awarded. If you must change your address, contact us using the Program Information Request form so we can redirect your certificate properly. Be sure to include your CIW ID (shown at the top of all pages in the system).

18. Why does my record in the CIW Candidate Information Center say "Enrolled in Master CIW Web Developer"? I did not enroll in this program.

You can ignore messages about enrollment history. This message is a technical requirement of the database that powers the CIW Candidate Information Center. Some requirements, such as the CIW Certification Agreement and certain exams, contribute toward some or all certification tracks. Completing one such requirement automatically sends a message to the database that you have satisfied a requirement for, or "enrolled" in, other related tracks, regardless of your plans to pursue them. This message does not indicate that you are scheduled for any courses or exams.

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Certificates and Logos

20. I logged in to the CIW Candidate Information Center, verified that my address is correct, and verified that I have met all requirements for certification. But I still have not received my certificate in the mail. Why?

After completing these steps, if you have still not received your certificate, contact us using the Program Information Request form so we can investigate. Include your CIW ID, and the complete information from your Official CIW Exam Score Report, including your name as it is spelled on the score report, registration ID, testing ID, site ID, etc. This information will help us locate your record and determine the status of your certification.

Certificates may be distributed either electronically as PDF files or as hard-copy paper certificate mailed via U.S. Postal Service. Certification Partners reserves the right to distribute certificates in either manner (electronically or hard copy). PDF certificates will be sent to the primary e-mail address in the candidate's certification record. Hard-copy certificates are normally mailed within one business week after the certification is awarded.

21. My employer needs immediate proof that I have earned my CIW certification, but it may be weeks before my certificate arrives. How can I prove that I am CIW certified now?

Log in to the CIW Candidate Information Center, and click the Publish Credentials link in the left column. Select the credentials you want included, and enter your employer's e-mail address. You can also include a brief message. Check the appropriate boxes. Then click the Submit button. An e-mail message will be sent to the address you supplied; it will include a URL and security code that your employer can use to verify your CIW certification status directly. Your employer will see only the certifications you have earned and the award dates; no history of your exam attempts or scores will appear.

22. I received my CIW certificate in the mail, but my name is spelled incorrectly. Can the certificate be corrected?

Yes, CIW will issue you a new certificate if an error was made on your current certificate. Contact us using the Program Information Request form, and be sure to include your CIW ID and the complete information from your Official CIW Exam Score Report, including your name exactly as it was spelled on your score report, the correct spelling that should appear, registration ID, testing ID, site ID, etc.

CIW issues certificates with names spelled exactly as they are recorded in the CIW Candidate Information Center. Your name is recorded exactly as it was registered at the testing center. If your test center has an incorrect version of your name, contact them directly to request a change.

If your name was registered incorrectly by your testing center, your certificate will be replaced at no charge. However, if you have changed your legal name (for example, due to marriage), you may request a replacement certificate for a $20 fee. Log in to the CIW Candidate Information Center and click the Complete A Form link in the left column. Follow the instructions there to request a replacement certificate. Replacement certificates must be purchased by credit card. You cannot have your certificate reissued with another person's name; documentation of legal name changes is required.

23. I lost my CIW certificate. Can I get it replaced?

Yes, you may request a replacement certificate for a $20 fee. Log in to the CIW Candidate Information Center and click the Complete A Form link in the left column. Follow the instructions there to request a replacement certificate. Replacement certificates must be purchased by credit card.

24. I earned my CIW certified status and received my certificate. Where can I get a CIW logo to put on my business cards?

CIW logos can be downloaded from the CIW Candidate Information Center. Click the Download Center link in the left column.

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CIW Program Specifics

25. CIW touts its curricula as "vendor-neutral." How does this apply to CIW certification exams?

CIW exams are also vendor-neutral and therefore do not include questions relating to the use of vendor-specific applications, such as word-processing, Web design or graphics programs. The CIW certification program tests vendor-neutral Internet job-role skills, rather than computer application knowledge.

Exceptions that should be noted are operating systems and servers, which some CIW exams cover in two general categories: Microsoft Windows Me/2000/XP/2003/NT and Red Hat Linux/UNIX. These two major system types function differently but are widely used and necessary as a basis for most computer skills. Some knowledge of both systems is essential for any practical job-role skills in areas of Internet security, internetworking and server administration.

26. I heard that some CIW exams include "beta items." What are beta items, and will they affect my chances of passing the exam?

Beta items are additional unscored items, or questions, that appear on an exam for the purpose of testing the items' performance and validity.

CIW and other certification programs routinely rotate beta items into live exams to gather statistics and refresh the item pool. Items that perform well are validated and added to the exam's valid item pool. This practice is called "item seeding," and it allows certification programs to continually improve their exams and offer customers a more comprehensive and valuable certification. CIW can add unscored beta items to any live exam at any time without prior notice.

Beta items do not affect your score on a CIW exam. Beta items appear randomly and are unscored, so they present no distraction from the exam or the grading percentage. Further, candidates are given extra time to complete exams that include unscored beta items.

27. Are beta items included on exams to introduce new CIW exam objectives?

No, beta items test only current CIW exam objectives. Beta items are meant to validate and refresh live exam item pools. Beta items are based on the same exam objectives and do not change overall exam content or the skills measured by existing exams, and therefore they require no prior notice before their inclusion in an exam.

CIW exam objectives change only with the release of a new exam version series. CIW will provide at least six months' notice before retiring an exam. Note that exam numbers in the 400 series identify CIW version 4 (v4) exams (e.g., 1D0-420, 1D0-425, 1D0-450). Exam numbers in the 500 series identify CIW v5 exams (e.g., 1D0-510).

28. Are CIW exam objectives updated when CIW courseware is updated?

No, CIW exam objectives are not changed when CIW courseware is updated. CIW exam objectives remain the same throughout the life of the exam. Currently, live CIW exams are numbered in the 400 and 500 series (designating versions 4 and 5, respectively, of the CIW certification program).

Like most high-stakes certification exams, CIW revises objectives (and exam versions) every two years or longer. By contrast, CIW courseware is updated more frequently to include errata corrections and changes to industry standards, technology or application software. However, current CIW courseware always covers the current CIW exam objectives. For information about CIW courseware versions and the CIW exams they support, visit the CIW Courseware and Exam Versions page.

29. I am studying for the CIW v5 Foundations exam using the CIW coursebooks I got in class last year. I noticed in the page footers that some of my coursebooks are version 2.0, but I read on the exam info Web pages that the exam is version 5. Will my v2.0 CIW coursebooks prepare me for a CIW v5 exam?

There is no correlation between CIW courseware version numbers and CIW exam version numbers (i.e., v4.0 courseware does not indicate a correspondence to a v4 exam). A courseware version number represents an independent content revision cycle only for that course. Exam version numbers represent a set of technology skills objectives for the entire series of exams.

In the case of CIW Foundations coursebooks, some version 3.07 and 4.07 coursebooks corresponded to the CIW v4 exam, but correspondence varies by course and title. The current CIW v5 Foundations courseware titles are v1.0 or v2.0, corresponding to the CIW v5 Foundations exam. To check the age and applicability of your CIW courseware, or to match courseware versions with current CIW exams, visit the CIW Courseware and Exam Versions page. This page allows you to select a CIW exam title to find all the CIW courseware titles and versions that support that exam.

30. What happens when a CIW exam is retired, and can I still receive credit for having passed a retired exam?

A CIW exam may be retired for various reasons, including the release of a new exam series, changes to related certification programs, or determination by the IT industry that a job role has evolved or become obsolete.

Once retired, the exam is no longer available at testing centers, although in some cases candidates can still apply a previously passed exam result toward a multi-exam certification. For more information about retired CIW exams, see the Exam Retirement page. CIW offers six months' notice for retirement of any exam, so that interested candidates have time to prepare and take the exam while it is still available. Retirement notices are posted on our Web site. You can find information about retirement status for a particular exam by visiting that exam's Certification Series page.

31. I want to take a CIW exam in a language other than English. Does CIW offer translated versions of its exams in other languages?

Yes, select translated CIW exams are available through participating authorized Prometric and VUE testing centers.

Japanese- and Korean-language Foundations exams (1D0-410) are accepted for the CIW v4 Associate and CIW Professional credentials until June 2011. After that time, they will be accepted for CIW Web Foundations Associate certification only.

Japanese- and Korean-language CIW exams can be taken at any authorized Prometric or VUE testing center that has a Japanese-language workstation in its testing facility. These exams cannot be administered on an English- or European-language workstation. Contact your local authorized Prometric or VUE to confirm the availability of translated certification exams.

32. I thought you offered a program for applying my i-Net+ certification toward a CIW Associate certification, but I cannot find any information about it. Do you still offer this program?

No. The i-Net+-to-CIW-Associate equivalency program was retired on Feb. 4, 2005, after the CIW v4 exam was retired. This program was created because the CIW v4 Foundations exam (1D0-410) was considered nearly equivalent to the i-Net+ certification exam from CompTIA. However, the CIW Foundations exam objectives were updated and the new CIW v5 Foundations exam was released in 2004, at which time the CIW Associate certification and the CompTIA i-Net+ certification were no longer similar enough to be considered equivalent.

CompTIA retired the i-Net+ exam and certification in 2007. CompTIA no longer offers any similar Internet skills certification.

33. I have heard that the CIW program will accept Microsoft and Novell certifications toward its Master CIW Administrator certification. Is this true?

No. The CIW i-Accelerate program, which allowed candidates to submit MCSE and CNE certifications for partial credit toward the Master CIW Administrator certification, was terminated in Fall 2004. The Master CIW Administrator track is scheduled to retire in June 2011.

34. What does the CIW acronym stand for?

The CIW brand has come to represent quality standards in IT and Web-based certification, education and skills validation. The program's original name has evolved and is therefore de-emphasized in favor of the simple CIW brand. The acronym "CIW" was adopted to represent a family of professional certifications and associated curriculum originally known as the Certified Internet Webmaster (CIW). Since then the CIW program grew to include job-role certifications that exceed the boundaries of the Internet and the role of the Webmaster. CIW certifications now validate skills and expertise in more advanced and diverse IT disciplines, such as server administration, security, application development, programming languages and enterprise solutions, as well as computer and Web skills practical for every job. As such, the program title was modifed for the 21st century to "Certified Internet Web Professional."

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For more CIW Certification and Curriculum questions, please visit our CIW FAQ page.