Ed,

>Can I make a suggestion? The various branches of the medical field administer a set of standards which practioners must meet in order to qualify for certification in various specialties, and doctors must meet certain standards of academoc excellence and ethical behavioir to become MDs at all. I don't pay to get JRandomPerson certified as a neurosurgeon - I hire someone who has proven competence in the field of neurosurgery, and that means a board-certified neurosurgeon. It's the responsibility of the professional to acquire certification if there's some value to it - I'd ROFLAPMP if someone came into my office for an interview and said I should pay to have them take the 155 or 156 find out if they were qualified. I wouldn't hire them, or bother to continue the interview, either; just kick them out the door and say "Next!"

Some thoughts (points):

- If a test was available on the internet and was paid by advertisement or other means, why should anyone have a problem with free testing. On the internet the number of users running don't count (other than arguments about hardware and software)

- I'll bet that the large part of the money involved in testing is about hiring a location, pruchasing and maintaining the hard- and software and hiring the personel. If in some way such a test (note than i'm not talking about a MS test specificially) was available, the costs (to persons who takes that test) of such a test would drop significantly (Let's say from about $100 to $10). For the company who owns the test it would cost virtually nothing (compared to the number of people taking that test).

- If a company requires some money, why can't it use a credit card transaction ?

- I know some cases where universaty graduations were done over the internet, I clearly can't see why this new concept would not work.

Ed, you're stuck with the old economy: it's time to explore the opportunities of the new economy.

>Back down the rabbit hole, Alice...and please stop copying me when you annoy people with your posts. I won't have any reason to respond if you don't.

To my best knowledge I didn't copy you this last message. Besides, that you feel I'm annoying you, doesn't say much about other people, sorry. That you don't agree with anything I say (or better: not WANT to agree with anything I say, even in the unlikely case that I am) is YOUR problem, don't reflect this on other people. you're not GOD !

Have a life.

Alice,