3/5/2003 -- On Monday Cisco Systems officially announced a new Voice track for its high-level, hands-on Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) certification. Voice joins Routing & Switching, Communications & Services and the relatively new Security to become the fourth CCIE track offered by Cisco.

According to the company's Web site, the qualification exam for the CCIE Voice track will begin beta testing on March 17. Candidates can take the beta for $50 at Prometric and Pearson Vue testing sites worldwide through April 7. Those who pass will be allowed to sit the hands-on lab when it debuts later this summer.

To view the official announcement about this new track and the associated beta, click here. More information about CCIE Voice, including exam guides and requirements, can be found here. -B.N.