Cisco Announces CCNP Update
05/07/2003 -- Cisco Systems officially acknowledged today that
it is revamping its Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP)
title.
The news is not unexpected: New versions of title's four core exams
have been in beta testing for several weeks. However, today's announcement
was the first time Cisco has commented publicly on the upgrade.
The same four core exams will still be required to earn the CCNP
(as shown in the chart below):
|
New Exams
(Currently Betas Only)
|
Old Exams (Registration Available Only Through August
7, 2003)
|
|
#643-801 BSCI (Beta) Building Scalable Cisco Internetworks
(#642-801 when live)
|
#640-901 BSCI Building Scalable Cisco Internetworks
|
|
#643-811 Switching (Beta) Building Cisco Multilayer Switched
Networks v2.0 (BCMSN) (#642-811 when live)
|
#640-604 Switching Building Cisco Multilayer Switched Networks
(BCMSN)
|
|
#643-821 BCRAN (Beta) Building Cisco Remote Access Networks
v2.0 (#642-821 when live)
|
#640-605 Remote Access Building Cisco Remote Access Networks
(BCRAN)
|
|
#643-831 CIT (Beta) Cisco Internetwork Troubleshooting Support
v5.0 (CIT) (#642-831 when live)
|
#640-606 Support Cisco Internetwork Troubleshooting Support
(CIT)
|
However, the content has been upgraded to reflect today's "greater
focus of the converged network" in the enterprise, commented
Nader Nanjiani, marketing programs manager, Cisco Internet Learning
Solutions Group. Topics with more emphasis include security, converged
networks, quality of service (QoS), virtual private networks, and
broadband technologies.
"The CCDP and CCDA have changed in response to converged networks...and
the CCNP brings that all together," Nanjiani explained in an
interview today. "We want to embed convergent technologies
in the knowledge base of our certified professionals."
A press release announcing the revamp also said that the exams
will feature additional simulation questions. Cisco declined our
request for more details regarding this portion of the announcement.
Nanjiani told CertCities.com that the betas above are targeted
to go live in July. As for the current versions, while registration
will end August 7, those who register before that date can take
the exam up to six weeks later, Nanjiani said. Candidates can mix
and match 640- and 642-/643- exams to earn the title.
More details on the CCNP revamp can be found here. Although the
site currently makes no mention of revising the CCNP Foundations
or recertification exam, Nanjiani said that new versions will indeed
be coming and that an official announcement will be made in approximately
one month
|
