Cisco Channel Programme Specialisation Requirements &
Recommended Training
Certification level directly reflects Partner’s
technology skills breadth across key technologies and Certification
is no longer based on a point’s model. The key points of the
programme are:
- Cisco Partners are required to meet specific
Specialisation requirements based on their
certification level (i.e. Gold, Silver, Premier)
- Specialisation requires a number of
individuals to satisfy Job Role requirements
(Account Manager (AM), Field Engineer (FE), Sales Engineer
(SE)
- Job Roles require individuals
to pass one or more Certifications and/or Cisco Qualified
Specialists (CQS) Exam(s)
- Certifications and CQS's are made up of one or
more courses that prepare an individual for one or
more exams
Specialisation Levels
To support the certifications there are three specialisation
levels:
Express
Specialisation:
Two Express
Specialisations are available to partners:
- Express Foundation Specialisation provides
integrated training in routing and switching, wireless LAN, and
security technologies. This training is required for all Premier
and Silver Certified Partners.
- Express Unified Communications Specialisation
qualifies partners in the area of converged data, voice, and video
networking.
Advanced
Specialisation:
Partners can
achieve Advanced Specialisation in four technology areas:
- Unified Communications
- Security
- Wireless LAN
- Routing and Switching
The number of specialisations required is determined
by the Partners' required level of certification.
Master Specialisation:
Partners with a highly qualified practice in
a given technology can achieve Master Specialisation, regardless of
certification level. This enables Partners to deliver more complex
and specialised business solutions and provides greater
opportunities for differentation.
Master Specialisation is currently only available in two
technology areas:
- Unified Communications
- Security
The click on the following links for details
of the certification tests required by Job Role and the recommended
training to achieve the specialisation.
When do the changes happen?
- Channel Partners can apply for, or renew existing
qualifications in retiring specialisations until 14 June 2006
- During the first year of the transition (March 2006 to March
2007), certifications will be renewed under the current program,
however Channel Partners can achieve new specialisations instead as
their retired specialisations expire.
- From October 2006, new Advanced Specialisation discounts will
be implemented, allowing six months for Channel Partners to
qualify.
- Commencing 1 March 2007 the new certification &
specialisation requirements will apply to Channel Partners on the
next certification anniversary that falls on or after this
date.
- By March 2008 all partners must be fully certified under the
new programme.