3/30/2004 -- Cisco recently renamed the CCIE Communications & Services track to CCIE Service Provider.

Cisco gave no reason for renaming the certification. It did, however, announce this week that it will be releasing a beta version of an updated Optical written exam -- one of several written exams that qualifies candidates to take the Service Provider lab -- on April 12.

The beta will be available at Vue and Prometric testing centers worldwide for $50. Candidates will have only one chance to take the exam, but those who pass will receive credit toward certification.

The beta is scheduled to close May 3.

For more information on this beta, go here. For more information on the CCIE Service Provider lab exam, go here. -Becky Nagel