Certification Watch Volume 10 #10

Certification news regarding a new entry-level Cisco certification, CCNA changes, i-Net+ retirement, Microsoft MCDST upgrade discounts.

Published July 6, 2007
By Anne Martinez

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Cisco Launches New Entry Level Certification, Updates CCNA

Last week Cisco Systems announced the addition of a new, entry level certification to its career certification lineup, offering a stepping stone approach to achieving Cisco's CCNA designation. The Cisco Certified Entry Network Technician (CCENT) requires passage of the Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices, Part 1 (ICND1 640 822) exam which is also one of two exams that count toward CCNA certification. The CCENT is intended for those with little or no networking experience, while the CCNA is aimed at candidates with some work experience under their belt. It is not required to earn CCENT certification before earning CCNA.

In tandem with this addition, Cisco is updating the CCNA coverage to include basic mitigation of security threats, introduction to wireless networking concepts and terminology, and performance-based skills, including the use of IP, Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (EIGRP), Serial Line Interface Protocol Frame Relay, Routing Information Protocol Version 2 (RIPv2), VLANs, Ethernet, access control lists (ACLs), among other topics.

As part of these program changes, the new CCNA exams will be renamed ICND1 and ICND2, and the prices will increase to $125 each . The new exams will become available August 1, 2007. The current exams will remain available until November 6, 2007. As before, CCNA exams you pass remain valid for 3 years.

CompTIA i Net+ Retiring December 31, 2007

The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) has announced the retirement of its i Net+ certification, which has been earned by over 20,000 individuals to date. CompTIA reports that market research has revealed that this program is no longer relevant to current IT professionals and jobs, and thus other CompTIA certifications are more appropriate for Internet professionals. The exam will no longer be administered after December 31, 2007. Individuals who already hold i Net+ will remain certified.

Microsoft Offers 40% Upgrade Discount to MCDSTs

Current MCDSTs who register before September 30, 2007 to take Exam 70-621 UPG: Upgrading Your MCDST Certification to MCITP can receive 40% off. Use promotion code DCAUPG when you register at Pearson VUE or Prometric. For full details visit Microsoft's Vista upgrade page.

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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