Certification Watch Volume 6 #4

Certification News regarding Microsoft 2003 tracks, Cisco, CompTIA A+, Novell Specialist, and Citrix.

Published March 1, 2003
By Anne Martinez

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Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Tracks Announced

Although the actual exams are still pending, details of the new MCSA and MCSE Windows Server 2003 tracks have been released. This time there's a reasonable upgrade path as well. For all the details read the full article.

Cisco Modifies CCDP Track, Retires 4 Specialist Certifications

Cisco has announced a revised CCDP certification track that requires one less exam than the current track. Exams #640-605 (Remote Access) and Cisco Internetwork Design (CID) exam #640-025 have been dropped. A new exam, 642-871: Designing Cisco Network Architectures has been inserted in their place. This means that to earn the CCDP candidates must first pass the CCDA and CCNA exams, plus pass 3 additional exams. For the full track info see GoCertify's CCDP page.

In other Cisco news, four of the Cisco Qualified Specialist certifications have been retired. The first, Cisco Security Specialist 1, has been scheduled to retire for some time. The three newly announced retirements are: Cisco SNA/IP Design Specialist; Cisco SNA/IP Support Specialist; and Cisco Internet Solutions Specialist. According to the Cisco Web site, individuals who have earned these certifications will retain their certified status for two years from the time of passing the related exams.

Cisco Amends Recertification Options for CCNA/CCDA Tracks

Recertification options have also changed for individuals holding CCNA and CCDA titles. The original path of retaking the then current CCNA or CCDA exam still applies, but in addition, if a recertification candidate passes any new exam at the professional or Cisco Qualified Specialist level, the candidate will also be considered recertified at the CCNA/CCDA level.

Revised CompTIA A+ Exams To Arrive Later This Year

Minor changes to the objectives of the A+ exams will result in updated exams becoming available later in 2003. The revised exams will incorporate questions covering the latest memory, bus, peripherals, operating systems (Windows ME and XP) and wireless.

Candidates who have already taken one A+ exam using the current objectives can either take the second exam before the upgrade comes out or after - either will count toward certification. During the summer (before the official new release) some new questions may appear on the current exam, but they won't be counted toward the final score. The new objectives are already posted on the CompTIA Web site.

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