I took my last test in Jan. of 2001. I didn't take any classes just read a book to prep me. But that was the last month of that revision of the test. Feb. of 2001 rolled out a new standard that includes Linux in the test. I'ld buy a book and read up on it. If you understand it pretty well take the test. If you get lost on the table of contents, take the class. I didn't think the test was very hard.