We have exciting news to share regarding three new associate-level Cisco career certifications.

Why is Cisco expanding its career certifications portfolio?
According to a commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of Cisco, there is a growing need for networking skills throughout multiple functions of IT organizations. To help meet this demand, Cisco is introducing new CCNA Security, CCNA Voice, and CCNA Wireless concentrations. These role-based, technology-specific concentrations provide a learning path for networking professionals to advance their careers.

Building on CCNA, Cisco’s most popular career certification, these highly-specialized, associate-level concentrations offer a career stepping stone toward the converged technologies that make up today’s sophisticated networks. These specializations can help IT professionals broaden their technology expertise or gain specialized skills to differentiate themselves in the marketplace.

CCNA Wireless

CCNA Wireless recognizes the critical importance of the professionals who support wireless LANS, including networking associates and administrators, wireless support specialists, and WLAN project managers. CCNA Wireless validates a candidate’s skills in the configuration, implementation, and support of wireless LANs, specifically for networks using Cisco equipment.

CCNA Security

The CCNA Security certification meets the needs of IT professionals who are responsible for network security. It confirms an individual’s skills for roles such as network security specialists, security administrators, and network security support engineers. This certification validates skills including installation, troubleshooting, and monitoring of network devices to maintain integrity, confidentiality, and availability of data and devices, and develops competency in the technologies that Cisco uses in its security structure.

CCNA Voice

The CCNA Voice certification validates skills in VoIP technologies such as IP PBX, IP telephony, handset, call control, and voicemail solutions. Candidates also gain exposure to the Cisco Unified Communications architecture and design, mobility, presence, and TelePresence applications.

How do the CCNA concentrations relate to the CCNA certification?

In order to meet the prerequisites for one of the new CCNA concentrations, individuals must first pass the CCNA certification through one of two exam paths; either the 640-822 ICND1 and 640-816 ICND2 exams or the 640-802 CCNA composite exam.

After you have completed your CCNA certification, you can choose one of the three new CCNA concentrations. While CCNA remains the certification of choice for individuals who want to demonstrate a solid foundation in core routing and switching skills, the new CCNA Wireless, CCNA Voice, and CCNA Security certifications build on core CCNA skills and provide a clear path to prepare for a specialized job role in wireless, security, or voice technologies.

When will the new CCNA concentrations be available?

Cisco will introduce the new CCNA concentrations globally on June 24, 2008. The CCNA Voice and CCNA Security exams and Cisco Learning Partner courses will be available that day. The CCNA Wireless exams and Cisco Learning Partner courses will be available on July 25, 2008. Please review the CCNA Concentrations presentation to learn more about these new certifications.

For more information, visit http://www.cisco.com/go/learnnetspace .