Cisco changes CCIP

Cisco last week announced changes to its Cisco Certified Internetwork Professional certification. The vendor is adding new guidelines and requirements to ensure techies are well versed in the latest core IP technologies for service provider networks.

CCIP certification holders have detailed understanding of IP routing, IP quality of service (QoS), Border Gateway Protocl (BGP) and Multi-protocol Label Switching (MPLS). The certification is designed to let candidates demonstrate the skills needed to plan, install, and troubleshoot service provider networks.

Under the new program, CCIP candidates may earn certification by earning a Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) and passing four exams. The exams and related courses are as follows:

* BSCI (640-901) Exam – Building Scalable Cisco Internetworks

* QoS (643-641 Beta) Exam — Implementing Cisco Quality of Service

* MPLS (640-910) Exam — Implementing Cisco MPLS

* BGP (641-661 Beta) Exam — Configuring BGP on Cisco Routers

Cisco previously offered an elective exam approach. New to the program are the BGP and QoS exams, while the MPLS has been elevated from an elective to a requirement. Candidates who are currently pursuing the CCIP plus an elective have up to six months to complete the program under those guidelines.

For more information about the CCIP, go to www.cisco.com/go/training. Training is available from a global network of authorized Cisco Learning Partners and the Partner E-Learning Connection, and you can also find it from Network World’s own NetSmart at www.nwnetsmart.com. VUE and Prometric offer the CCIP certification exams.