Certification Watch: CompTIA To Add Wireless Exam

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The next addition to the CompTIA portfolio of vendor-neutral computer certifications will cover wireless technology.

The newly announced program, which has yet to be named (though Wireless+ is the likely title), will certify foundation-level knowledge of technicians working in the wireless sector of the IT industry.

This designation is still very much in the planning stages. CompTIA is soliciting industry members to participate in a committee that will develop the exam. Individual subject matter experts (SMEs) are also needed. To participate in either role, contact CompTIA through its Web site.

New Oracle Associate Level Certification

Oracle is adding a new option to the associate level of its professional certification program. The Oracle9/iAS Web Administrator Certified Associate requires passing a single, comprehensive exam covering the ins and outs of administering, monitoring, and maintaining a secure Oracle9iAS environment. There is no instructor-led training requirement associated with this Oracle certification.

The exam will be available in beta format beginning Oct. 1. To receive information on how to register, send an email to ocpbeta_ww@oracle.com with the subject Oracle 9iAS Beta Exam.

Certified XML Expert Discontinued

The Certified XML Expert (CXE) program, launched by Active Education last year, has been discontinued. According to Active Education, the program was ended due to a “strategic shift” by ActiveEducation. Individuals who already hold the CXE title may continue to use it.

Apple Changes Certification Requirements

With the updating of Mac OS X to v10.2, Apple has updated the certification program as well. The number of exams required to earn Apple Certified Technical Coordinator (ACTC) certification has been cut from two to one. The number of exams required to earn the Apple Certified System Administrator (ACSA) title has been reduced from four to three.

Because Apple certifications are version specific, currently certified individuals are not required to upgrade to the new path/operating system version. ACTCs who want to upgrade will have to pass the new ACTC exam. Current ACSAs who wish to upgrade to v10.2 will be able to take a single upgrade exam when it becomes available in spring 2003. The exams will still cost $150 each and are offered through Prometric test centers. Individual who wish to earn certification on Mac OS X v10.1 (instead of the new v10.2) will be able to do so, as those exams will continue to be available for a while longer.

More details on Apple certification are available on GoCertify.com.

Cisco Replaces Several CCNP/CCDP Exams

Two of the core exams for both CCNP and CCDP certification have been replaced. Exam 640-603 (Building Scalable Cisco Internetworks/BSCI) was retired September 13th and replaced with BSCI 640-901. The alternate combined foundation R/S exam (formerly 640-509) has been replaced by a new foundation exam: 640-841. Finally, the CCNP recertification exam (640-519) has been replaced with a newer exam as well: (640-851). The number of exams required in order to obtain certification remain the same.

Juniper Networks Certified Internet Associate (JNCIA) Released

The newest level of the Juniper Networks program is now up and running. Juniper Networks Certified Internet Associate (JNCIA) is designed for experienced networking professionals with beginner-intermediate knowledge of the Juniper Networks M-series and T-series platforms. Earning it requires passing a single exam (JN0-201), available through Prometric testing centers. The beta version of this exam had a slightly different name: Juniper Network Certified Internet Professional (J NCIP).

5 New Betas from Nortel Networks

Nortel Networks has beta opportunities for five new Symposium certification exams. The first 50 candidates registered for each exam take it for free. Two betas – Symposium TAPI/Agent Field Specialist and Symposium TAPI/Agent Support Specialist – are in progress, but still have space available. Three other betas – Symposium Call Center Field Specialist, Symposium Call Center Support Specialist, and Symposium Web Center Portal Support Specialist – are open for registration and will begin soon. More details and registration information are available on the Nortel Web site.

Merge of HP, Compaq Certification Program Underway

According to HP’s Certification Web pages, the HP and Compaq certification programs will be merged into a single professional certification program called the HP Certified Professional Program. This includes Compaq Accredited professional/ASE, HP Star, and HP Certified IT Professional programs.

Although details are still sketchy, information that has been released so far tends to indicate a a three-part certification structure: sales certification, system integration certification, and operating systems (i.e. systems administration) certification. Implementation of the new program, which is still under development, is slated for early November. Meanwhile, the current HP and Compaq programs will continue to operate. We will report further details as they become available.

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

Anne Martinez is the author of Cheap Web Tricks: Build and Promote a Successful Web Site Without Spending A Dime and Get Certified and Get Ahead. She also is the founder of GoCertify.com.