US and Australian Training Facilities Race to Offer Sair Linux and GNU Certification.

OXFORD, Miss.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 19, 1999--

To meet the growing industry demand for Linux certified trainers, Sair, Inc. recently hosted a week-long "train-the-trainer" session to assist in the international launch of its Sair Linux and GNU Certification program. The Sair Linux and GNU Certification tests have been available through Sylvan Prometric testing facilities since June. Sair Linux and GNU Certification is the first comprehensive, in-depth, and objective certification program to be available world-wide.

Trainers representing corporate and independent training facilities from around the country attended the session held on the University of Mississippi campus in Oxford, Mississippi. Sair hosted a similar session in May for training facilities from Australia.

"I was impressed by the thoroughness of Sair's materials and the scope of its program," said Evan Bloomquist, training director at Viking Systems of Phoenix, Arizona. "Sair's program is vendor neutral, and I was pleased to see how they addressed the various intricacies of each distribution. Overall, I think this certification program will be very useful for any level IT. It can provide beginners with a strong foundation in Linux and GNU or challenge even the most experienced IT pros."

"I expect the Sair Linux and GNU Certification to be very popular throughout the world," said Gramne Newey, director of education at EXCOM Education Pty. Ltd. of Melbourne, Australia. "Certification is important in the high-tech industry and Sair has set an international standard for Linux and GNU certification."

Sair's Linux and GNU Certification will be offered in three levels, each consisting of four tests.

"The strength of any certification program will be based on three things," said Dr. Tobin Maginnis, president and founder of Sair, Inc., "the thoroughness of the training materials; the ability of the trainers to transfer that knowledge; and the capability of the certification exam to judge a person's level of competency."

"Sair is a Linux and GNU education and certification company. We're not a training company, and don't want to become one," said Maginnis. "The train-the-trainer sessions, however, enable us to build strong ties and working relationships with the finest professional trainers and training facilities across the world. Together, it is our goal to offer the most comprehensive and effective Linux and GNU certification program available."

Trainers and training facilities that have participated in Sair's training sessions include: New Horizons - Memphis, Bailey Computing Technologies, Cascom, Roane State Community College, Texana College, Keane Tech, Viking Systems and Excom, Ltd.

Information on future train-the-trainer sessions, certification testing and related training materials and sample certification exam questions is available through Sair's website at www.linuxcertification.com or by calling [phone]. Locations of Sylvan Prometric Testing Centers (APTCs) are available at www.sylvanprometric.com or www.2test.com.

Sair, Inc., provides high-quality customer-programmed computer applications to companies, institutions and organizations including Abbott Laboratories, Siemens Medical Systems, Dade International, Illinois Superconductor, Baxter Laboratories, Kraft General Foods, and Arthur Anderson.

Sylvan Learning Systems and Sylvan Technology Centers are registered trademarks and Sylvan Prometric and Authorized Prometric Testing Centers are trademarks of Sylvan Learning Systems, Inc., in the U.S. and Canada. Linux is a trademark of Linux Torvalds. Other trademarks are properties of their respective owners.