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These are not necessarily mutually exclusive.

No training?  If they're requiring the certification, they should pay for training. 

First, stop panicking.  You can do anything you set your mind to do.  Windows Certifications, to my mind, are all about Microsoft earning more money through their licensed training products.  That said, you do learn a whole lot about how Microsoft applications work, which is useful information.  I'd say that if the company is willing to pay for you to get the certification, that's a good thing.  Do a little looking around to see whether it is YOU or the YOUR COMPANY that receives the certification.  If it's YOU, then having that certification gives you a leg up with your employer and you can take it with you when you go.  If it's YOUR COMPANY, then see what's in it for you for going through that pain.  Does certification get you a promotion, or an increase in pay, or allowed to keep your job, or what exactly is in it for you for all that increased effort. 

Then once you understand your situation, have a frank and open conversation about the likelihood of passing the certification without prepatory training.  Before that, be sure to have looked up some training organizations that offer training, have the rates and times at your disposal, and also call the trainers and ask them for their pass rate on the certification testing.  Call Microsoft and ask them what the pass rate is for folks without training.  Contact a recruiter who specializes in IT (I can turn you onto one) and ask him/her what the value of that particular certification is in the market place.  Placements of those without the certification and average wage/salary compared to placements of those with the certification and average wage/salary. 

This homework will give you the information you need to allow you and your employer to have a frank and open conversation about the benefits the employer expects for you being certified, the benefits you expect to receive for being certified, and the costs of becoming certified - both in the time and effort perspective but also in the dollars and cents perspective. 

But bear in mind, you CAN pass the certification.

Here's a cute story on my daughter.  She's a whiz with memorizing lyrics, which I didn't know at first.  When she was very young, two and three years old, she'd ask for the same song night after night.  What I didn't know is that was her way of memorizing the lyrics.  When she was four, she declared that she didn't want a bath that night, but a shower - by herself.  OK, so we put her in the shower and left the door open so we could keep an eye on what she was up to.  Well, here she was a four year old suburban kid who has never been hungry and never had to worry about where she would lay her head down that night bellowing out loud as she can some 60's soul - "Looks like nothin's gonna change, Everything still looks the same, I can't do what ten people tell me to, so I guess I'll remain unchanged..."

She still sings in the shower, but now it's Taylor Swift and Hannah Montana.  I'm glad she's found her own style that she likes.

Unscrupulously stolen from a fishing site:

C, E-flat, and G go into a bar. The bartender says, “Sorry, but we don’t serve minors.â€

So the E-flat leaves, and the C and the G have an open fifth between them. After a few drinks, the fifth is diminished; the G is out flat.

An F comes in and tries to augment the situation, but is not sharp enough. A D comes into the bar and heads straight for the bathroom saying, “Excuse me. I’ll just be a second.â€

An A comes into the bar, but the bartender is not convinced that this relative of C is not a minor.

Then the bartender notices a B-flat hiding at the end of the bar and exclaims, “Get out now! You’re the seventh minor I’ve found in this bar tonight.â€

The E-flat, not easily deflated, comes back to the bar the next night in a 3-piece suit with nicely shined shoes. The bartender says: “You’re looking sharp tonight, come on in! This could be a major development.† This proves to be the case, as the E-flat takes off the suit, and everything else, and stands there au naturel.

Eventually, the C sobers up, and realizes in horror that he’s under a rest.

The C is brought to trial, is found guilty of contributing to the diminution of a minor, and is sentenced to 10 years of DS without Coda at an upscale correctional facility.

On appeal, however, the C is found innocent of any wrongdoing, even accidental, and that all accusations to the contrary are bassless. The bartender decides he needs a rest - and closes the bar.

- Zurf

As if C#m is better...

- Zurf

You can't spell Badeye without B!

Just be glad they didn't put me in the song-writing section or I'd remove every song with a B chord.  (tongue firmly planted in cheek as I write this)

Thanks Zguitar.

- Zurf

Hillbilly Hoot.  One more reason to visit Austrailia.  As if more were needed...

I'd like to support what dguyton has said about recording yourself.  It's so hard to pick up little problems and issues with your sound when you're concentrating on playing and singing and what's coming up on the chart and is that danged Bm on this line or the next.  But when you listen to yourself, it's a lot easier to pick up on things like your voice dropping off at the end of each line or that you throw in extra strums in a certain transition and throw off the timing or all sorts of things like that. 

When I first recorded myself singing, I was astounded at how poorly it came out.  I like Russell Harding's voice, and so sent him a copy of the recording asking for any advice.  He gave good advice, and I also used some on-line lessons, recording myself doing the same songs over time.  Now this past weekend, Topdown gave me an unsolicited complement on my voice, which was nice to hear.  Recording, listening for errors, being constructively critical of yourself and getting the advice of people whom you respect will take the place in some small way for having the immediate feedback of a live instructor. 

dguyton also gave some other excellent advice in doing what you want to do eventually slowly and accurately and keeping time now, and by the time you've done it 1,000 times a dozen times a day over the course of months, it's going to be smooth and accurate at any speed.

The only criticism I have of his message is the suggestion that B is possible by anyone other than a mutant. 

- Zurf

1. The energy is love.  I can back that up, but my backup will only matter to you if you believe what Scriptures have to say.

2. It's good that you recorded this line of thinking.  But now that it is recorded, another cup of coffee is probably in order.  Or perhaps a walk in the rain and a stick of Juicy Fruit. 

- Zurf