Expert Reference Series of White Papers

The Scoop on the New

CCNA and CCNP
Specializations

1-800-COURSES www.globalknowledge.com
The Scoop on the New CCNA and
CCNP Specializations
John Pherson, Global Knowledge Senior Instructor and Course Director

Introduction
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 information about these into one concise
reference document.

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 professional-
level 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 imple-
menting 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

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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 wire-
less 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

Copyright ©2009 Global Knowledge Training LLC. All rights reserved. 3

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 Commu-
nications 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 Communica-
tions 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.

CCVP (Cisco Certified Voice Professional)

The tests and corresponding courses for this certification are as follows.

Test: 642-436 Cisco Voice over IP (6.0)*

Course: CVoice (6.0) 5 days GK Course # 5597

Test: 642-426 Troubleshooting Cisco Unified Communications Systems

Course: TUC 5 days GK Course # 5014

Test: 642-642 Quality of Service

Course: QoS 5 days GK Course # 5643

There are two options for completion of the additional requirements for the certification. One in-
volves testing on Cisco Callmanager 4.1. This option will phase out by December 31, 2009, after which the tests
for this software version will be retired.

* If you have previously passed the CVoice 5.0 exam (642-432) it will count towards the Callmanager 4.1 CCVP
option, since the GWGK test requirement covers the new material added to CVoice 6.0. However, this test will
not count towards either the CCNA Voice or the newer CUCM 6.0 CCVP certifications.

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Callmanager 4.1 Option
Test: 642-444 Cisco IP Telephony version 4.1 parts 1 and 2
Courses: CIPT1(4.1) 5 days GK Course # 5635
CIPT2(4.1) 3 days GK Course # 5637
GWGK (Gatekeeper) 5 days GK Course # 5609

Note: Global Knowledge provides the CIPT1 and CIPT2 (4.1) courses upon request, but no longer provides
these as part of the public schedule.

The second option for completing the CCVP involves the following.

Unified Communications Manager 6.0 Option

Test 642-446 Implementing Cisco Unified Communications Manager (6.0) Part 1
Course: CIPT1 (6.0/7.0) 5 days GK Course # 5790

Test 642-456 Implementing Cisco Unified Communications Manager (6.0) Part 2

Course: CIPT2 (6.0/7.0) 5 days GK Course # 5800

Security
CCNA Security
The requirement for the CCNA Security involves passing one additional test.
Test: 640-553 Implementing Cisco IOS Network Security
Course: IINS 5 days GK Course # 5241

You could also have been certified if you had a valid CCNA and had passed the SND (Securing Network Devices)
exam, but this option expired on June 24, 2009.

The IINS course is designed as an introduction to the concepts and planning of a network security policy. It is
focused primarily on security features incorporated into the IOS, such as IOS Firewall services, IPS, and VPNs. It
also includes a discussion of security issues associated with LAN switches, voice, storage networks, and network
nodes.

CCSP (Cisco Certified Security Professional)

This certification requires the CCNA Security as a pre-requisite. It also requires the following.

Test: 642-504 Securing Networks with Cisco Routers and Switches

Course: SNRS 5 days GK Course # 5733

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Test: 642-524 Securing Networks with ASA Foundation
Course: SNAF 5 days GK Course # 5698

Test: 642-533 Implementing Cisco Intrusion Protection System

Course: IPS 4 days GK Course # 5702

In addition to these 3 core requirements, there is also an elective requirement. Candidates must pass one of
the tests listed below.

Test: 642-591 Implementing Cisco NAC Appliance

Course: CANAC 4 days GK Course # 5627

OR

Test: 642-545 Implementing Cisco Security Monitoring, Analysis and Response

Course: MARS 4 days GK Course # 5731

OR

Test: 642-515 Security Networks with ASA Advanced

Course: SNAA 5 days GK Course # 5699

If you have already taken tests for SND, HIPS, or SNPA, or the older versions of the SNRS and MARS tests, these
tests will still count towards certification for 3 years from the date the test was passed. Additional information
on this can be found on the Cisco web site.

Summary
As with anything else in the computer business, these requirements are always subject to change, but are ac-
curate as of August, 2009. For additional information on any of these certifications, tests or courses, the latest
information can be found at www.cisco.com under the Training and Events tab, as well as at www.global-
knowledge.com in the Cisco section of the Course Catalog.

Learn More
Learn more about how you can improve productivity, enhance efficiency, and sharpen your competitive edge.
For more information or to register, visit www.globalknowledge.com or call 1-800-COURSES to speak with a
sales representative.

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About the Author

John Pherson is a senior instructor and course director for Global Knowledge with 30 years’ experience in the
computer field and over 13 years of teaching experience. He is certified to teach over a dozen Cisco courses
in the Routing and Switching, Data Center, and Voice areas. He has also been a Microsoft and Novell Certified
Instructor. In addition to numerous technical certifications, he holds a B.S. in Business Administration and a
Masters degree in adult education.

Copyright ©2009 Global Knowledge Training LLC. All rights reserved. 7