You can find a great overview of the certification and its benefits by watching this training seminar.  You can also check out each area below:

Enterprise
Enterprise Administration
Associate
Enterprise Geodatabase Management
Associate
Professional
Enterprise System Design
Associate
Professional

If you are a bit leery about taking the exam, Esri provides a refresher course to prepare for the exam.  These courses do not teach specifically to the exam, but they cover keys areas.  The courses are instructor-led for in-person or on-line.

Esri Certification Exam Prep Courses

Also find a great inside scoop from the writer of the prep course in Training Spotlight: ArcGIS Desktop Professional Certification.

With ArcGIS 9.3.1, Microsoft Virtual Earth maps are seamlessly integrated into ArcGIS products. ArcGIS users who are current on maintenance and have an Internet connection will have access to Virtual Earth for a variety of up-to-date mapping content.

See the appropriate section below and follow the instructions to get started using Microsoft Virtual Earth in your ArcGIS 9.3.1 application:

• ArcGIS Desktop and ArcGIS Engine
• ArcGIS Server

I followed the ArcGIS Desktop process to gain access to Microsoft Virtual Earth.  This may vary from what you encounter, but it will give you a general idea for access.

Go to this website to request a new license file:

https://service.esri.com/index.cfm?fa=requestForms.requestLFileShowForm

1. Request a New License File

2. Select: Add newly purchased licenses to a new or existing license server

3. Enter Software Version

4. Enter Customer Information

5. Enter License Server Information

6. Enter number of licenses for Virtual Earth (bottom)

7. Submit Request

8. Agree to the additional terms

9. Submit Request

A new license file will be sent to you by email.  (Mine came within 30 minutes although the site says it could take one business day.)  Then update your license file.

On the Using premium Microsoft Virtual Earth Maps with ArcGIS 9.3.1 page there is an ArcMap document that can be downloaded that has the Virtual Earth service added.  There are Layer files and a ArcGlobe document (3DD) file on this website as well.  Open the downloaded map document and explore Microsoft Virtual Earth.