3/19/2003 -- In an undated post on its Web site, Novell has announced that it is discontinuing its Specialist certificate program.

The company gave no reason for the decision.

According to the post, the seven exams currently in the program will no longer count toward a Specialist certificate after August 31 of this year (July 10 for the ZenWorks exam).

The company added that many of the exams will still be available within Novell's Certified Novell Engineer (CNE) and Master CNE program.

The Specialist program was originally announced in 2001 along with the company's plans for a new streamlined CNE program. The Specialty designations were designed to allow candidates to show proof of a specialized skill by passing one exam. It officially launched later that year.

Novell did not say how the decision would affect current title holders.

To view the official announcement, click here. -B.N.