10/10/2007 -- Novell recently announced on its Web site that it will be launching a new high-level cert for Linux professionals, the Novell Certified Engineer (NCE), next year.

Although it's name is similar to the company's longstanding Certified Novell Engineer (CNE), the NCE is a new title for Linux IT pros.

While the title's exams won't debut until "spring 2008," the company has posted a roadmap for the first track of the new credential, the NCE Enterprise Services, which will certify "engineer-level skills for Novell's file and print solutions and for the platform that hosts the solutions." According to the information posted, candidates will be required to pass one exam: NCE Enterprise Services (050-709).

Though objectives for the exam have yet to be released, according to information on the company's Web site, the exam will be a hands-on exam like Novell's other Linux-related certification exams. These exams typically cost $195, and are available only through Novell's testing network.

Nothing on the Web site indicates that the NCE will affect the CNE, at least for now: Both CNE tracks, the CNE Open Enterprise Server and the CNE NetWare 6, remain available.

To view the official announcement of this new title, go here. For more on Novell's overall certification program, go here. -Becky Nagel