Cisco Launches Security, Voice, Wireless Specialties for CCNA
6/24/2008 -- On Tuesday Cisco Systems announced three new specialties -- Security, Voice and Wireless -- that can be added on to its popular entry-level certification, the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA).
Each of the specialties, which Cisco calls concentrations, requires CCNAs to pass one additional exam. The Security (640-553) and Voice (640-460) exams are now live at Pearson Vue testing centers worldwide for $250 each -- the same price as the standard CCNA exam. The Wireless (640-721) exam will debut July 26.
In an interview today, Senior Manager of Learning Product Development Christine Yoshida explained that Cisco created these concentrations based on a survey of 1,500 hiring managers around the word. Yoshida said that the data showed that employers -- especially those in "emerging" countries -- are looking for specialized employees earlier in their careers, and that these areas are the most sough-after specializations by those employers. "We really validated the need for [these certifications] with that survey," she commented.
According to Yoshida, the concentration exams will also play a larger role for those moving up the Cisco certification ladder. For example, the CCNA Security concentration will become a prerequisite for the company's mid-level Cisco Certified Security Professional (CCSP) title once the CCSP's Securing Cisco Network Devices (642-552) exam retires in November. Also, the CCNA Voice concentration will become required for the Cisco Certified Voice Professional (CCVP) in June 2009.
While Cisco does not currently have a higher-level Wireless track, Yoshida said the CCNA Wireless may become a prerequisite one if and when the company creates it.
CCNAs can earn multiple concentrations, if desired. Renewing a CCNA concentration will require taking any concentration exam, or any Cisco professional or Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) written exam.  Becky Nagel
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There are 57  user Comments for “Cisco Launches Security, Voice, Wireless Specialties for CCNA”
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| 6/24/08: Anonymous says: |
nice!!... just want I was hoping for.... now I am motivated to renew my CCNA! |
| 6/25/08: Anonymous says: |
GREAT! I can wait before I take the CCNP and this will help me to prepare for it better! |
| 6/25/08: Anonymous says: |
If the SND is being retired in November, what's taking it's place? |
| 6/25/08: InsiderNotTrading from USA says: |
Double Edge Sword. This will only line pockets of cisco. The whole point of the Professional cert track is to differentiate from the Associate Level to the professional level. There is enough little rewards in the CCSP track to make it tempting, so what have a CCNA Security, little redundant. To say that it will be a prerequisite is a moot point, the material is already covered in the first test of the CCSP. I see this as a cash grab, plus the fact they increased test prices. Yes, its good for CCNA's who want to renew their CCNA and add another paper to their stack, but in the end game the Security is not worth it. Same with the Voice, follows suit as above so why bother, just do the CCVP tracks, once again same material. The only one that sticks out in the crowd is Wireless, they have tried to add it to the NA, and the NP tracks but it really doesn't fit any one place for entry level so I do agree with the Wireless add on to some extent. Anyone with any sense of the cert game and knowledge of the Cisco tracks would really have to look at the facts, they raised the exam prices, and add more exams you can take , wow, that's great. All the newbies young and old, should remember the rules, Never, Never just look good on paper, you have to keep the job you get! Thank You, InsiderNotTrading MCT,MSCE, CCNA, CCSP, and CompTia and a bunch other letters........oh yeah and working on NP and CCIE Sec written. |
| 6/26/08: CiscoFan from USA says: |
i could not disagree with InsiderNotTrading anymore. if you analyse the ccna voice, you will see it is aimed at an intemediary level between ccna and ccvp. it also covers many of the attributes of the new 500 series that cisco are promoting. these are not covered anywhere else. the wireless track looks like an awsome course, covering all of wireless including cisco's new 'n' products. anyone else teaching this at the moment? i will be first inline to ensure i get these three certs... |
| 6/30/08: Jamie says: |
I work for Cisco Press and just wanted to let readers know that Cisco Press products for the new CCNA concentrations are available now. Read sneak peak chapters in the social media release here: http://tinyurl.com/3sw3yp. |
| 9/28/08: BILL from EUROPE says: |
Is a professional level Wireless certification likely in the future? |
| 10/18/08: Matthew from Nigeria says: |
Well, sincerely i really love this idea as it's just perfect for the game. I just wish there are now study materials that has taken this new move into concentration. Because i can wait to get started. |
| 11/25/08: Club from San Diego says: |
Are the Cisco Press books good to study with? I am looking to take the voice exam an am looking for good study guides. |
| 3/11/09: Mr Brock from USA says: |
The concentration paths do not require that you have a ccna to take them, just the ccent. So, if you're just interested in the security path, then you can take the ccent, then the ccna security, then move into the ccsp courses without having to memorize the routing and switching topics of the ccna. Same thing with voice. And the voice stuff deals more with ip pbx topics and telephony than anything else. On a final note, yes it is a cash grab. Many of the larger companies have known that the economic downturn was coming and cisco knew that more unemployment equals higher demand in job training. Duh. |
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