Certification Watch Volume 8 #12

Certification news regarding CCIE lab updates, CIW beta, CDIA+ beta, e-Biz+, new Avaya certifications, SAS Updates, Zend anniversary, and CWNP exams.

Published August 16, 2005
By Anne Martinez

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Cisco to Update CCIE Lab Exams

Effective January 1, 2006, Cisco will implement updates to CCIE lab exams to reflect current technologies. No new technologies have been added, but several older technologies will be removed. The changes are as follows:

CCIE Routing and Switching written and lab exams will no longer include the following protocols or media types: DLSW, IS-IS, ISDN, PPP over Ethernet, and ATM.
CCIE Security lab exams will no longer test on ISDN technology, and ATM will no longer be used as a Layer 2 transport protocol for WAN connectivity.
CCIE Voice lab exams will no longer use ATM as a Layer 2 transport protocol for WAN connectivity.

Please note, however, that CCIE Service Provider lab exams will continue to test ATM and IS-IS, as they are widely deployed in service provider networks.

Prosoft looking for test takers for CIW v5 Site Designer beta exam

Prosoft Learning Corporation is inviting interested individuals in the United States and the United Kingdom to take the CIW v5 Site Designer beta exam (1D1-520) for free anytime August 29 - September 16 at Prometric testing centers. Those who pass the beta exam can potentially earn CIW v5 Professional certification at no charge; however, they must already have their CIW Associate certification and meet all other requirements. The final exam is scheduled for release in late 2005. The beta exam can be taken only once. Interested individuals can register by September 14 for the beta exam at the CIWCertified web site. Details and voucher code will be sent via e-mail (vouchers void after September 16).

New CompTIA CDIA+ beta Available, English Version of e-Biz+ to Retire

A new beta version of the CDIA+ exam, which was last revised in April 2002, is now available. The new beta exam (226-030) reflects new technologies, as well as changing job tasks and knowledge requirements for professionals in the document imaging and management field. Participants will find the items on the beta test to be more indicative of the challenges faced today by those professionals.

New items in the beta test are based on the current objectives for CompTIA CDIA+ certification, so existing study materials will prepare individuals for the beta exam. The beta exam includes 95 questions, which must be completed in 120 minutes. Test takers who pass the beta exam will be recognized as in CompTIA CDIA+ certified.

In other CompTIA news, the English-language version of its CompTIA e-Biz+™ certification examination will be permanently retired on December 31, 2005. A Japanese-language version of the CompTIA e-Biz+ certification exam will continue to be available.

Avaya Adds New Certs

Avaya has announced two new certifications for voice and contact center managers. The new programs complement Avaya's existing technical certification programs and are comprised of courses specifically designed for managers. The new certifications include "associate" and "specialist" credentials in voice services and in contact centers. To achieve credentials at the associate level, participants pass a curriculum assessment and either an Avaya communications networking exam or the Convergence Technologies Professional exam administered by the Telecommunications Industry Association. At the specialist level, participants must hold the associate level credential and pass the specialist level exam in order to attain the credential. Avaya plans to launch an "expert" certification in both disciplines during 2006. For more information visit the Avaya web site.

SAS Certification Updates

Beginning January 1, 2006 the following policy updates will be in effect:

Those holding a Version 6 or Version 8 credential will no longer be maintained in the SAS Certified Professional directory.
The SAS Certified Professional V8 credential will no longer be accepted as a prerequisite for the SAS Advanced Programming exam.

In the interim SAS encourages those holding Version 6 credentials to sit for the SAS Base Programming exam. For those holding a Version 8 credential SAS encourages you to sit for the SAS Advanced Programming exam.

Zend Celebrates 1 Year Anniversary

Zend has announced that to celebrate its one year anniversary, for the month of August, Zend PHP certification exams will cost on $125 instead of the usual $200. There will also be a free special 45 minute webcast "The PHP Job Market" on August 24th. To sign up for the webcast visit http://www.zend.com/webcasts/

CWNP Exams Now Available at Pearson VUE

Pearson VUE has announced an agreement with Planet3Wireless to administer Planet3Wireless certification exams, effective immediately. This adds substantially to the number of places you can take these wireless exams.

That's all for this edition of Certification Watch. Please keep your certification news and tips coming to news@gocertify.com.

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