>>http://www.showmelinux.com/072000/article7.html
>
>This is good news. You won't get stuck with one vendor and the cert is cheaper. "Level 1 requires completion of two exams, at a cost of $100(US) each"

Yup, it's independent AND proctered... Also, I understand that at certain levels fixing actual hardware-software problems is required.

There are several sites on the internet that include examples of exam questions, but I doubt if site would mess up their box so one could try to fix it ;)