Interview: Julieann Scalisi, Director of Citrix Education for Citrix Systems, Inc. - continued
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GoCertify:
What does the CCEA 4 certification cover, and what areas are updated?
Julieann Scalisi:
The CCEA 4 certification enables (senior) system administrators to learn, apply and demonstrate critical skills required to integrate all Citrix Access Suite products into a single optimally configured environment, as well as sustain this environment using comprehensive troubleshooting and maintenance techniques. As the most extensive certification available for building and administering Citrix environments, the CCEA 4 requires knowledge of all three products in the Citrix Access Suite and focuses on the build, test, rollout and support of Citrix Access Suite implementations. The previous version of the CCEA focused primarily on MetaFrame Presentation Server 3.0, with a choice of electives focusing on MetaFrame SecureAccess Manager or MetaFrame Password Manager.
GoCertify:
How will organizations benefit from having their people learn what is encompassed in these new training programs? Examples?
Julieann Scalisi:
Companies that invest in CCIA 4 and CCEA 4 certifications for their staff will benefit significantly from the in-depth preparation and testing of skills and knowledge. Certified staff will have mastered the skills needed to implement Citrix environments more efficiently and keep them running optimally, resulting in less down time, more satisfied end-users, and a better return on their IT investment. For example, with the advanced troubleshooting techniques learned through the CCEA, candidates are exposed to new product functionality and ways to resolve problems that they may have previously encountered but not known how to resolve. Having the knowledge and skills to resolve issues with in house IT staff will ultimately save time and reduce support costs.
GoCertify:
Who would typically pursue these certifications within an organization?
Julieann Scalisi:
Typically, within an organization, experienced IT staff will pursue these advanced certifications. The CCIA is designed for system architects and designers as well as others (for example, consultants) who are responsible for analyzing, designing, building and testing environments. The CCEA is designed for senior system administrators who are responsible for building, testing, and administering their IT environment. In addition, help desk personnel, systems engineers, trainers, and Citrix Solution Advisors are all ideal candidates for these certifications.
GoCertify:
How much training or on-the-job experience is needed to obtain the certifications?
Julieann Scalisi:
In order to ensure that candidates are prepared to take our certification exams, they should complete the recommended training courses and obtain the recommended experience. While preparing for the certification exams, candidates are strongly encouraged to review the associated exam enablement guide. These guides highlight the recommended knowledge, skills, experience and training. Exam enablement guides can be downloaded from the Citrix Education web site.
GoCertify:
What would be a typical path to obtain these certifications, including a typical timeline?
Julieann Scalisi:
The certification path and requirements for the CCIA 4 and CCEA 4 are shown in the following graph. The timeline to complete either certification varies and depends primarily on the candidate's schedule. We highly recommend that candidates pursuing these advanced certifications first obtain the foundational CCA certifications, then build upon and test that knowledge with the advanced courses and exams.
GoCertify:
Please explain the benefits of the new modular exams.
Julieann Scalisi:
Innovations in the new CCIA 4 exams make them more modular than previous exams, allowing candidates to complete them in logical segments rather than all at once. Although more flexible, these exams maintain the difficulty level by increasing the testing of hands-on experience, practical knowledge, and overall expertise of the candidate. As a result, fewer questions are needed to test knowledge and skills than in a more traditional multiple choice exam. For example, the Design exam (614) employs a conditional format that requires candidates to make design decisions for an environment based on an existing and realistic analysis, the results of which are provided for reference during the exam. Documentation such as network diagrams, application tables, and customer requirements/desires are provided throughout the exam. The question pool is then customized based on candidates' responses.
GoCertify:
How do the CCIA 4 and the CCEA 4 tracks fit into the full range of certifications for the Citrix project lifecycle?
Julieann Scalisi:
All of the latest Citrix certification tracks were designed to map to the phases of the Citrix Project Lifecycle as shown graphically below. In particular, the CCIA 4 advanced certification focuses on the front end phases of analysis, design, build and test. The extensive curriculum included in the CCEA 4 focuses on the build, test, rollout and support phases of an implementation project. The CCA certifications focus on supporting and maintaining a single product environment once it is established.
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