Cisco Certification Changes 2013 [Press Release inside]

[Yuu]

PRESS RELEASE
Cisco Evolves Associate-Level Certifications, Redesigns CCNA Routing and Switching Certification to Support Next-Generation Job Roles
Certification and Training Updates Meet Market Demand for Networking Talent Aligned With Changing Business Requirements

[video=youtube;tdeuArqolpU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=tdeuArqolpU[/video]
Jeanne Beliveau-Dunn: Staying Ahead of the Curve – CCNA Refresh Provides Next Gen Skills​

SAN JOSE, Calif., March 26, 2013 – Continuing its commitment to deliver job-ready training, best practices and the most up-to-date information on the latest networking solutions, Cisco today announced a redesign of the Cisco® associate-level certification programs and the evolution of the CCNA® certification to CCNA Routing and Switching certification.

While more than 99 percent of things in the physical world today are still not connected to the Internet, the phenomenon called "the Internet of Everything" will soon wake up everything imaginable. As the network evolves and changes, becoming more sophisticated, the job roles of network engineers also continue to change. The CCNA Routing and Switching refresh aligns certification and training curricula with evolving industry job roles and provides the skills that networking professionals need to successfully manage cutting-edge network solutions.

Key Facts

The redesign enables the associate-level concentration certifications such as CCNA Routing and Switching, CCNA Voice, CCNA Security, CCNA Wireless, CCNA SP Operations and CCDA® to better align with the industry job roles of today and the future.
Specifically for the CCENT® and CCNA Routing and Switching certifications, Cisco has redesigned the training curriculum for the ICND1, ICND2 and CCNAX exams and has introduced new exams for ICND1, ICND2 and CCNA Composite. The updates include comprehensive troubleshooting, technologies such as IPv6, and updated software on Cisco routers and switches.
With the associate-level program redesign, candidates now need to pass only two exams to achieve advanced technology certifications in an accelerated manner with the right job skills. These certifications include:
CCNA Routing and Switching
CCNA Security
CCNA Voice
CCNA Wireless
CCNA SP Operations
The following certifications currently require two exams:
CCNA Data Center
CCNA Video
CCNA Service Provider
CCNA SP Operations

For CCDA certification, a valid CCENT certification will be a prerequisite beginning October 1, 2013. Basic knowledge of routing and switching is becoming increasingly essential to meet the industry job role requirements of a CCDA.

Supporting Quotes

Jeanne Beliveau-Dunn, vice president and general manager at Learning@Cisco, said: "We are entering a new realm: the Internet of Everything, where things will gain context awareness, increased processing power and greater sensing abilities as everything is connected to the network. The network drives productivity. The network provides the services you need when you need them. As business solutions evolve, the network evolves and grows in its complexity. It has gotten to the point where basic knowledge of networking fundamentals is no longer sufficient. Now, network professionals have to understand networking systems with integrated security, wireless, voice capabilities and data center as well as business applications. At Cisco, we are committed to meeting the highest standards for learning programs and delivering the best certification programs possible. The evolution of the CCNA Routing and Switching certification will provide learners with skills and knowledge that are in demand today, adding substantial value for themselves and their employers."

Tobias Caldwell, lead network engineer, Gap Inc., said: "After securing my CCNA certification, I was in a position to guide Gap network engineering projects, not just support them. What I like about the Cisco certifications path is that you really learn to think about how they are relevant. It's not just ‘this is a Cisco router, and this is how you configure it.' It very much goes into ‘this is why it's done this way.' It is critical to stay up-to-date with the latest technologies in order to remain relevant in a fast moving industry. I am confident the new CCNA Routing and Switching validates the skills necessary to support today and tomorrow's advanced networks. "

Availability

The new exams and training will be available March 26, 2013. Candidates can register for the exams through Pearson VUE, the primary test delivery partner for Cisco. Training courses are offered by Cisco Learning Partners, the only authorized source for Cisco IT training delivered exclusively by Certified Cisco Instructors.

Supporting Resources

Find out more about the redesigned associate-level certification program and training products today at: http://learningnetworkstore.cisco.com
Cisco will continue to offer instructor-led training curriculum delivered through their authorized learning partners in order to help candidates prepare for the new exams.
Three self-study products are now available on the Cisco Learning Network Store for the all-new Cisco CCNA Routing and Switching certification: Cisco Learning Labs for ICND1 v2.0, Cisco Certification Practice Exam for ICND1 (100-101), and the introduction of Cisco E-Learning for ICND1 v2.0. In addition, labs, practice exams and e-learning for ICND2 v2.0 are expected to be released on the Cisco Learning Network Store in late May 2013.
Cisco Press has a comprehensive suite of official products to enhance classroom study or self-study exam preparation. New products include:
Foundation and Certification Guide books and eBooks
Premium Edition eBooks & Practice Tests
Video Tutorials
Network Simulators
Visit http://ciscopress.com/ccna for more information.
Watch: Jeanne Beliveau-Dunn: Staying Ahead of the Curve – CCNA Refresh Provides Next Gen Skills

Social Media Destinations:

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Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cisco-Career-Certifications/111552132193668
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/groups?mostPopular=&gid=3443017
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/cisco

Technorati Tags: Talent Development, Cisco Certified, Network, Certifications, IT Certifications, Cisco, Cisco Learning Network, Education, Learning@Cisco, CCNA, CCNP, Routing and Switching

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About Cisco

Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in IT that helps companies seize the opportunities of tomorrow by proving that amazing things can happen when you connect the previously unconnected. For ongoing news, please go to http://thenetwork.cisco.com.

Diagram taken from Todd Lammle's blog ;p.



As you can see, the new CCENT holds alot more weight than ever before. Share your thoughts.

source

Updated books from Lammle and Cisco press are coming in 2 months so keep a lookout on bookdepository.com and amazon. These typically go for about $50 +-

If you are in the industry in any form and have insight to share then please do as every bit of useful information helps. Am looking at you StoneCold . Please share how you went about getting certified and any tips for hardware lab setups that can help. I read alot about how having to play with the hardware makes a world of difference than using simulators (when these are the only option then you take what you can get).

If you want to get started with any of the certifications from MS or Cisco, a great community to join is techexams. The community is really active and whenever i need inspiration to get back into studying, it is the threads that users post about passing and their journey that gets me amped again. I admit, i have been rather lazy and procastination has been like my best friend but time to move on as it feels right for this new direction they (Cisco) are going.

 

[syntax]

I find these bridging exams a money making scam
the additional CCNA exams are ludicrously easy with no benefit besides costing money to do and recertify.

In fact, most of cisco exams are a joke. The industry is saturated with brain dumped idiots who all got 973's or higher on their exams but still cant do the most basic of tasks.

Where I am now, I can say that if you were to study each exam properly, and understand the work 100% from both a theoretical and practical standpoint, the CCIE lab would be so much easier. However, people get to the lab, see just how much work it is to go through, and give up.

As always, getting certified is 1 of two ways.
1. Braindump. You can probably get from ccna to a professional certification in less than 2 months (and even their drake if they wanted to). I like people who do this, they make me look great
2. Study the work properly, lab it with gns3 and packet tracer, join a study group or get real world experience, and actually know what you are doing.

 

[srothman]

I agree with you syntax 100%. Sadly braindumps seem to be at the order of the day, and this obviously impacts the quality of workforce, and worse, it devalues the credential as a whole.

As for the exams being redesigned and updated, I say it's about time. Even up to recently, there's been a lot of "fluff" in the exam content, especially at the Professional level certifications (which I hope they re-look as well), stuff I personally feel isn't particularly relevant in the practical world. The new exam blueprints look good, and having only had a look at the redesigned content briefly, I think they are taking a step in the right direction as far as making the certifications/qualifications more valuable to employers.

 

[syntax]

As for the exams being redesigned and updated, I say it's about time. Even up to recently, there's been a lot of "fluff" in the exam content, especially at the Professional level certifications (which I hope they re-look as well), stuff I personally feel isn't particularly relevant in the practical world.

yeah, there is a lot of legacy stuff (although, thankfully there is very little marketing stuff which other vendors seem to love punting in their "certification training" , im looking at you checkpoint / fortinet)

However, if you look at the reviewed CCIE blueprints (security in particular) i think they are doing some decent refreshes . This will then (hopefully) filter down to the professional and associate certifications.

 

[Yuu]

This is the kind of input i wanted to hear from you guys . No 2 is the only way naturally .

If anyone would like to start a study group where we can share hardware amongst ourselves in the Durban area (am about 1hr away) then please let me know. It will also help motivate each other in the process too.

 

[KleinBoontjie]

I can't tell whether this an April fools joke or not

 

[srothman]

Hehe! Nope, exams have changed

 

[MDKza]

You do realize most IT related exams are brain dumped, thats why they are changing the exams to a certain degree. More sims in exam = less brain dump fools can pass. I have done my CCENT and doing my CCNA at the end of the month. The exam is hard if you do not know what you are doing and you will not pass if you dont understand. There are some questions you just cant dump.

 

[syntax]

You do realize most IT related exams are brain dumped, thats why they are changing the exams to a certain degree. More sims in exam = less brain dump fools can pass. I have done my CCENT and doing my CCNA at the end of the month. The exam is hard if you do not know what you are doing and you will not pass if you dont understand. There are some questions you just cant dump.

Well, actually, the sims etc are in dumps.

As for the exam being hard, i agree, CCNA is difficult. Probably the hardest out of the cisco exams with the exception of the LAB.

 

[eCliPSe]

I found great value from the CCNA studies. I will recommend anyone that wants a solid networking understanding and not just to get certified ( as that should not be your goal ), but to obtain the knowledge needed to go and pass the certification exams. I have see people transform in a short space of time after completing their CCNA track.

If you are a person taking shortcuts using braindumps and so on you will benefit very little from the certification. I started 7 years ago as an desktop engineer and decided on specializing in networks. I have gained so much from my on going studies with Cisco certifications. Working in one of the largest IT companies and within the best Security team in Africa. Where everyday I love going to work... and earn a bit of money for doing what I love.

At the end it is what you make of it. For myself I am grateful to Cisco and the teams that support the certification tracks.

CCIE Security is on my plate for next year

 

[b@nD]

Hardware

If anyone would like to start a study group where we can share hardware amongst ourselves in the Durban area (am about 1hr away) then please let me know.
It will also help motivate each other in the process too.

I have quite a lot of stuff that I need to trade in order to rationalise and consolidate my collection
Give me a shout if interested.
I am hoping that once everything is in order I can put the lab online.
( Still a bit of blood sweat pain and tears to go )