7/9/2003 -- As part of an upcoming revamp of the Cisco Certified Network Professional title, Cisco has announced a new exam: Composite (COMP 642-891).

The exam will debut August 7. It will replace the current CCNP and CCDP Recertification and CCNP Foundation exams, as well as serve as an option for candidates who want to "consolidate" the BSCI and BCMSN exams, the company said.

The existing Foundation 640-841exam, CCNP Recertification 640-589 exam, and CCDP Recertification 640-529 exam will retire on September 7, 2003, matching the recently announced extended deadline for the other retiring CCNP exams. Corresponding courses will retire August 7.

More information on the new exam and how it fits in to the CCNP certification requirements can be found here. More information on how it applies to the CCDP can be found here. -Becky Nagel