7/21/2004 -- Just weeks after stating that it would most likely drop the name SuSE from its newly acquired SuSE Certified Linux Professional designation, Novell has announced that it will be dropping the underlying exam, as well.

According to Novell's Web site, the SuSE Certified Linux Professional (SCLP) exam -- which was developed by SuSE before Novell acquired it -- will be retired at the end of this year.

The exam will be replaced by a new Novell hands-on simulation (a.k.a. "practicum") exam, similar to the one used for its new Novell Certified Linux Engineer (Novell CLE) title.

The SuSE exam debuted last month at Prometric and Pearson Vue testing centers worldwide. Candidates must pass this traditional-format exam plus hold the Linux Professional Institute's Level I certification in order to earn the SuSE title. Those who do will have their title renamed to Novell Certified Linux Professional (Novell CLP) beginning in 2005.

The revised Novell CLP program, featuring the new exam, will not require that candidates hold LPI certification.

Novell Spokesman Bruce Lowry was unable to respond by press time to CertCities.com's request for comment on why the exam was being dropped, but was able to confirm that the upcoming exam will have the same price as the Novell CLE exam: $195.

According to Lowry, the "first glimpse" of the new exam will be available at LinuxWorld, San Francisco in August as part of the Novell CLP Challenge, with an official debut at BrainShare Europe in September. An official live date for worldwide delivery has not yet been announced.

CertCities.com will bring you more information about this story as it becomes available. In the meantime, to learn more about the new Novell CLP exam and how the transition from the SuSE exam will work, go here. More information on Novell's CLE title can be found here. -- Becky Nagel