6/9/2004 -- The Storage Networking Industry Association (SNIA) announced a new certification program Monday that will, among other changes, extend its credentials' reach beyond its previous Fibre Channel focus to encompass all major storage methods.

This program's vendor-neutral exams are now organized around four separate "domains": concepts, standards, solutions and products. Five new credentials -- aimed at storage managers, implementation specialists, systems integrators and solutions architects -- require passing a combination of exams from these domains. The titles are:

• SNIA Certified Professional (1 concepts exam)
• SNIA Certified Systems Engineer (1 concepts exam, 1 standards exam)
• SNIA Certified Systems Engineer – Master (1 concepts, 2 standards exams)
• SNIA Certified Systems Architect (1 concepts exam, 1 solutions exam)
• SNIA Certified Storage Networking Expert (1 exam from each domain, plus one of several vendor credentials yet to be determined).

According to SNIA Director of Education Peter Manijak, the organization is also considering developing titles for sales professionals and developers.

The only new exam currently live is the concepts exam, SNIA Storage Network Foundations (#S10-100), now available at Prometric testing centers worldwide for $200 (U.S.). Two Fibre Channel-focused exams from the previous program have been transitioned into the standards and solutions domains, with more exams focusing on other storage methods coming soon, Manijak said.

Those interested in achieving the organization's previous certifications will have until the end of this month to do so. After June 30, the FC SAN professional exam will be retired, and the higher-level exams will be applicable to the new program when combined with the Foundations exam. Those already certified can pass the Foundations exam to update their credentials.

The change comes as part of a larger SNIA Education Continuum initiative, also announced Monday, featuring new SNIA-sanctioned hands-on curriculum. This optional training will be offered by partners as well as SNIA through its Colorado Springs, Colo.-based Technology Center Institute, a hands-on lab facility featuring millions of dollars in multiple-vendor storage hardware and software solutions, the organization said.

More information on the new certification program as well as other aspects of the SNIA Education Continuum can be found here. -Becky Nagel