2/3/2004 -- Cisco Systems announced two changes for its Qualified Specialist program this week: a reintroduced Cable specialization and new recertification options for its IP Telephony title.

The new Cable exam, 9E0-701, is now live. This exam plus Cisco's Certified Network Associate (CCNA) title earn candidates the Cisco Cable Specialist credential, which has been brought back after a "brief absence," the company said. Cisco did not elaborate on the absence.

In other Specialist news, the company just announced a new cross-recertification program for its three IP Telephony specializations. With it, holders of Cisco's IP Telephony Design Specialist, IP Telephony Operations Specialist or Cisco IP Telephony Troubleshooting Specialist can now recertify by taking any of the specialization exams for these three titles (9E0-412, 9E0-422 and 9E0-441). According to Cisco, passing any one of these exams renews your Telephony specialization (expires every two years) as well as your CCNA and/or Cisco Certified Design Associate (CCDA) (expires every three years).

More information about both of these announcements can be found here. More on Cisco's Qualified Specialist certification program can be found here. -Becky Nagel