Interview: Julieann Scalisi, Director of Citrix Education for Citrix Systems, Inc.

Page 1 of 2     1  2 

Published 6/30/2006
By GoCertify Staff

GoCertify: What led Citrix to the belief that the 2 new training programs (CCIA and CCEA) and redesigned certifications were needed?

Julieann Scalisi: The CCIA 4 and CCEA 4 certifications were redesigned to support the product features and functions, and the tasks performed by IT professionals that support the latest release of products included in Citrix Access Suite 4. In addition, the programs were redesigned in response to feedback from our customers and partners and to reflect industry best practices. For example, our students have requested that we include more hands on practice time in our instructor-led training courses. In response to this we developed a Build/Test Workshop (CTX-1456) that provides students with opportunities to practice performing job-related tasks in a classroom environment. Over 80% of class time in this 3-day course is spent actually practicing these tasks. This workshop-style course is included in both the CCIA 4 and CCEA 4 tracks. These skills are then tested in an exam (456) that contains over 75% simulations.

The best exams in the industry not only test candidates' knowledge but also their skills. Another example of how we accomplished this in our redesigned programs is with the conditional format of the Design exam (614) that is included in our CCIA 4 track. During this exam, candidates are expected to make real-time design decisions. A series of questions were developed to test each design-related decision that architects need to make when designing a solution. Based on answers to each question, the candidate is asked relevant follow up questions that provide the justification for each decision. The best way to determine if candidates have the knowledge and skills necessary to be successful on the job, is to test their ability to respond to situations that will be presented to them in a real environment. We have achieved this in our redesigned programs.

In addition, we identified the core set of skills that are required for CCIAs and CCEAs to be successful. These foundational skills are provided in our three CCA programs which are now included as requirements in both the CCIA 4 and CCEA 4 tracks. In addition, being able to successfully build and test an environment comprised of all products in the Citrix Access Suite 4 is required of CCIAs and CCEAs. As such, the Build/Test Workshop course (CTX-1456) and exam (456) are included in both of these redesigned certification tracks. A candidate who has completed all requirements for a CCEA 4 must pass only two additional exams to achieve CCIA 4 certification, and a candidate who completes the requirements for a CCIA 4 is only one exam away from CCEA 4 certification. These changes are the result of us working closely with our customers and partners to better understand their training needs.

GoCertify: When will these be available?

Julieann Scalisi: All instructor-led training courses associated with both the CCIA 4 and CCEA 4 certification tracks are currently available as are most of the exams. The only two exams that have yet to be released are our innovative Build/Test simulation (456) and conditional Design (614) exams. While these exams will be in beta in early July, they are expected to be released for general availability later in the 3rd quarter of 2006.

GoCertify: Where can the potential candidates get the training and take these certification exams?

Julieann Scalisi: The associated e-Learning courses can be taken online through our Citrix Learning Management System (LMS). Instructor-led training courses can be taken at over 250 Citrix Authorized Learning Centers (CALCs) worldwide. All required exams will be available at Prometric testing centers and can be taken at any one of their testing locations. To find our courses or CALCs, and register for eLearning courses and exams, please visit our website.

GoCertify: How does Citrix balance the testing of knowledge versus the testing of the ability to use the knowledge in practical situations?

Julieann Scalisi: Citrix Education understands the importance of ensuring that our candidates can apply their knowledge and perform those skills that are most important to success on the job. Our courses provide the knowledge and then the ability to practice skills in a controlled classroom environment. One of the more significant changes to the structure of the new CCIA 4 and CCEA 4 addresses the need for more realistic, simulated environments in testing to better ensure candidates' success with Citrix implementations. Two examples of this are the new Build/Test Workshop (CTX-1456) and Build/Test Exam (456), which are part of both the CCIA 4 and CCEA 4 tracks. The preparatory 1456 course is the entry point to advanced certification, with over 80% of class time dedicated to hands-on exercises. In the 456 exam, robust simulations from various environments are utilized over 75% of the time, requiring candidates to think on their feet and adjust to new environments and systems on a question-by-question basis instead of depend on memorization. Another example is in the CCIA 4 Design exam (614). During this exam, candidates are provided with the results of an analysis and they are then expected to make critical design decisions based on this information. The format of this exam tests not only candidates' knowledge but also their ability to use this knowledge to make important decisions and then justify these decisions.

GoCertify: Starting with CCIA 4, what will it enable the successful candidate to do, and what can be done beyond what could be done before?

Julieann Scalisi: The CCIA 4 enables the successful candidate to lead a company though the analysis, design and build/test phases of a Citrix Access Suite 4 implementation into an IT environment. In the instructor-led training courses, candidates learn how to understand business needs, analyze an existing environment, design a solution that meets the needs, and then build and test the environment. With this certification, candidates have mastered the skills needed to help organizations reduce costs, increase implementation success rates and shorten implementation time. With the CCIA 4 candidates will now be able to integrate all of the most recent Citrix Access Suite releases (Citrix Presentation Server 4, Citrix Access Gateway 4, and Citrix Password Manager 4) into an environment; the prior version of the CCIA only covered MetaFrame XP Presentation Server. In terms of benefits, CCIA 4 candidates are also offered the added convenience of being able to take all exams at the Prometric testing location nearest to them. Previously, one of the exam requirements was the 612 lab, which required candidates to travel to Citrix offices to complete it and wait approximately 45 days for final scores.

Page 1 of 2     1  2