Free Exams for CS Credentials from Washington Libraries
As most computer science courses in Washington are taught as CTE (Career and Technical Education) courses, computer science teachers are often asked about what IRC (industry recognized credentials) are available for their courses. While obtaining these IRC can help students find employment, there is usually a cost to taking the exams to obtain these IRC.
The Washington State Library system provides vouchers to take the exam for several computer science-related IRC for free. See Why Earn a Certification? – Digital Skills Resources for Washingtonians.
The list of certifications that the Washington State Library System provides free exam vouchers(*) for as of Sep 30, 2026 is as follows:
| Certification family | Exams currently offered through WSL | Normal exam cost(*) | Savings through WSL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) | Cybersecurity, Networking, IT Support | $125 each | $125/exam |
| CompTIA | A+ (Core 1 & Core 2), Security+, Network+, Tech+ | ~$135–$425+ per exam | Up to $400+/exam |
| Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) | Access/Access Expert, Excel/Excel Expert, Outlook, PowerPoint, Word/Word Expert | $104 each | $104/exam |
| Microsoft Certifications | Microsoft 365 Fundamentals, Azure Fundamentals, Azure AI Fundamentals, Azure Data Fundamentals, Power Platform Fundamentals, Security/Compliance/Identity Fundamentals, Azure Administrator, Azure Security Engineer, Microsoft Endpoint Administrator | $99–$165 each | $99–$165/exam |
| Intuit / QuickBooks | QuickBooks Online Certified User, Certified Bookkeeping Professional, Personal Finance | ~$100–$130 | ~$100–$130/exam |
(*) Certification exams are available at no cost through participating Washington libraries. Eligibility, preparation/readiness requirements, scheduling, and availability may vary by library.
For a CS student or educator, the Washington program can waive hundreds of dollars in exam fees. The most dramatic example are the CompTIA exams as discussed in the blog post Free Exam Vouchers for Cybersecurity IRC’s through the WA State Library System.
Further the Washington state library program doesn’t merely hand out exam vouchers. Participating libraries describe access to self-paced preparation, practice tests, and proctored certification exams, with the exam voucher free after satisfying the program’s readiness requirements. See Learn, Practice & Test for FREE – Digital Skills Resources for Washingtonians to get started.
