The Scoop on the New CCNA and CCNP Specializations
Author: John
Pherson
Abstract
There has been a lot of interest among students lately on the
details surrounding the CCNA specializations and their relationship
with the corresponding CCNP specializations. These specializations
were introduced in the summer of 2008. The purpose of this white
paper is to put all the related information into one concise
reference document.
Introduction
The CCNA specializations were introduced by Cisco to provide a
way of recognizing associate-level expertise in particular
technology areas. They are also designed to provide a
stepping-stone to the pursuit of professionallevel specializations.
Recognizing that the one-size-fits-all approach may not meet the
needs of students with an interest in a particular technology area,
as well as the needs of enterprises for specialized knowledge in
implementing and supporting these areas, Cisco has introduced the
following specialties.
- CCNA Wireless and CCNP Wireless
- CCNA Voice and CCVP (Cisco Certified Voice Professional)
- CCNA Security and CCSP (Cisco Certified Security
Professional)
The foundation for each of these certifications is the basic
CCNA certification, which can involve passing either the
comprehensive CCNA exam (640-802) or both the CCENT exam (640-822),
which tests content from the ICND1 course, and the (640-816) exam
covering content from ICND2.
The preparation for these exams involves attending either
ICND1 5 days GK Course # 5085
And
ICND2 5 days GK Course # 5090
Or, for more experienced students
CCNA Boot camp 5 extended days GK Course # 5031
The following sections will outline the details of each of the
specializations.
Wireless
CCNA Wireless
To achieve the CCNA Wireless certification, there is one
additional test required, and one additional course recommended for
preparation.
Test: 640-721 Implementing Unified Wireless Networking
Essentials
Course: IUWNE 5 days GK Course # 5999
This five-day course introduces wireless topics such as
standards bodies, RF principles, configuration of wireless access
points and controllers, wireless security, configuring wireless
clients, troubleshooting, and the use of management tools such as
the WCS (Wireless Control System). It is focused primarily on
Cisco's Lightweight Access Point technology, but also discusses the
autonomous access points as well.
The CCNA Wireless certification is required as a pre-requisite
for attaining the CCNP wireless specialization.
CCNP Wireless
The tests and corresponding courses for this certification are
as follows.
Test: 642-731 Conducting Cisco Unified Wireless Site Survey
Course: CUWSS 5 days GK Course # 5904
Test: 642-741 Implementing Cisco Unified Wireless Voice
Networks
Course: IUWVN 5 days GK Course # 5901
Test: 642-746 Implementing Cisco Unified Mobility Services
Course: IUWMS 5 days GK Course # 5902
Test: 642-736 Implementing Advanced Cisco Unified Wireless
Security
Course: IAUWS 5 days GK Course # 5903
Voice
CCNA Voice
As of June 2009, Cisco announced two options for completion of
the CCNA Voice certification. The first is called the Commercial
option and is positioned as a standalone certification for
implementing VoIP in Small- and Medium-Sized enterprises, typically
less than 2000 users. The second is called the Enterprise option,
and designed for students who wish to focus on voice solutions for
larger environments involving the Cisco Unified Communications
Manager.
The CCNA Voice Commercial specialization requires a valid CCNA
certification plus one additional test. There is also a 5-day
course available to provide preparation for this test.
Test: 640-460 Implementing Cisco IOS Unified
Communications
Course: IIUC 5 days GK Course # 5711
The target of the 5-day IIUC course is small business and small
site implementations. As such, it provides some fundamentals in
VoIP technology, as well as PST N topics, but the product focus is
on the Cisco Unified Communications 500 Series of appliances for
small business, and the Cisco Unified Communications Manager
Express product that runs on an integrated services router (ISR).
It also includes an introduction to Unity Express, a small-scale,
router-based solution for unified messaging.
The Enterprise option involves obtaining a valid CCNA
certification, and then passing the CCVP test for CVoice (642-436).
This is probably a better option for students who are either
working primarily in Unified Communications Manager environments,
or else planning to continue on to the CCVP certification. Passing
the CVoice test will satisfy both the requirement for CCNA Voice,
as well as counting towards one of the tests required for CCVP.
Related Courses
ICND1 - Interconnecting Cisco Network Devices 1
ICND2 - Interconnecting Cisco Network Devices 2
IUWNE - Implementing Cisco Unified Wireless Networking Essentials
v1.0
CUWSS - Conducting Cisco Unified Wireless Site Survey
v1.0
IUWVN - Implementing Cisco Unified Wireless Voice Networks
v1.0
IUWMS - Implementing Cisco Unified Wireless Mobility Services
v1.0
IAUWS - Implementing Advanced Cisco Unified Wireless Security
v1.0
IIUC - Implementing Cisco IOS Unified Communications
CVOICE - Cisco Voice over IP v6.0
TUC - Troubleshooting Cisco Unified Communications
Systems
QOS - Implementing Cisco Quality of Service
GWGK - Implementing Cisco Voice Gateways &
Gatekeepers
CIPT1 v6.x/7.x - Implementing Cisco Unified Communications IP
Telephony Part 1
CIPT2 v6.x/7.x - Implementing Cisco Unified Communications IP
Telephony Part 2
IINS - Implementing Cisco IOS Network Security
SNRS - Securing Networks with Cisco Routers & Switches
v3.0
SNAF - Securing Networks with ASA Fundamentals
IPS - Implementing Cisco Intrusion Prevention System v6.0
CANAC - Implementing NAC Appliance (formerly Cisco Clean
Access)
MARS - Cisco Security Monitoring, Analysis, and Response System
v3.0
SNAA - Securing Networks with ASA Advanced