Novell Announces Streamlined CNE, Certificate Program and CompTIA Cert Integration
6/12/2001 -- This week at Novell's Edge 2001 education conference, Director of Certification Jim Greene officially announced major changes for the company's certification program, to be implemented when NetWare 6 is released this fall.
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First, the Certified Novell Engineer (CNE) title has been refocused on cross-vendor technology. "Our directory is cross-platform, so we will be teaching directory skills that are cross-platform as well," Greene told CertCities today. "If you look at the [new] CNE, you'll see that 80 percent of the CNE will be generic skills [that will be important] whether you work with Novell platforms or not."
The program has also been streamlined. With CNE 6, Novell will no longer offer electives; instead, everyone will be required to pass the same seven exams. The exams are:
| Exam Name |
Notes |
| eDirectory Administration with NetWare 6 |
Formerly called NetWare Administration. Passing this will earn candidates the Certified Novell Administrator (CNA) certification. |
| Network+ |
This is a vendor-neutral exam from the Computer Technology Industry Association (CompTIA). This exam replaces Novell's previous Networking Technologies test starting with the NetWare 6 CNE. |
| NetWare 6 Advanced Administration |
According to Greene, this is the most Novell-centric of the exams included in the new program, and aside from an updated focus on NetWare 6 technology, will vary little from its predecessors. |
| NDS Design and Implementation |
This exam may be renamed as eDirectory Design and Implementation before the program launches. |
| Service and Support Exam |
Same requirement as previously offered. |
| TCP/IP for Networking Professionals |
Formerly an elective, now a requirement. |
| Desktop Management for ZENworks with Desktops 3 |
Formerly an elective, now a requirement. |
However, for those candidates who might not want to take all of the above exams, Novell is also introducing a Proficiency Certification program, which allows IT professionals to take a training course, pass one exam and receive a stand-alone certificate in that particular specialty.
Four of the above CNE core exams will be offered as certificates: NetWare 6 Advanced Administration, NDS Design and Implementation, TCP/IP for Networking Professionals, and Desktop Management for ZENworks with Desktops 3. Proficiency certificates will also be made available for GroupWise, BorderManager, DirXML integration, Windows NT and eDirectory Integration with Active Directory, and others. According to Greene, these new Proficiency Certifications may be used as stand-alone certificates or in combination with other exams as stepping stones toward Novell certification. "We're the first to offer this kind of program," said Greene. "I believe that others will follow suit."
As for other changes, Novell has announced more integration with CompTIA's vendor-neutral titles. As stated above, starting with NetWare 6 CNEs will be required to pass CompTIA's Network+ certification. For the Master CNE program, Novell has added two more CompTIA exams to its list of requirements: Server+ and IT Project+. Also, Master CNEs upgrading from NetWare 5 will be required to pass IT Project+ as a continuing education requirement. "This is not a money-making opportunity for Novell," said Greene. "We don't deliver the tests, we don't make any money off requiring it. Employers want soft skills, and if IT Project+ will make the program more valuable...[that's] a win situation for Master CNEs as well."
Greene said that the NetWare 5 versions of both the CNE and Master CNE program will be available for quite some time after the NetWare 6 versions are released, giving candidates room to choose between the two tracks. However, Novell will begin offering upgrade exams for NetWare 4 and 5 right away for those interested in upgrading immediately (Note: NetWare 3 and 4 tracks of the CNE have been scheduled to retire in on Dec. 21, 2001).
Complete details on the NetWare 6 versions of these titles will be posted on Novell's Web site shortly. In the meantime, for more information on Novell's certification program as it currently stands, click here. For more on CompTIA and its certifications, click here.  -B.N.
What's you take on Novell's upcoming program changes? Post your comments below!
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