Many certifications touch on
voice over IP (VoIP) topics tangentially, but numerous
credentials now focus a fairly substantial portion of their
coverage on this subject matter. In this certification survey, we
take a look at
available
certifications that include VoIP coverage, distinguishing
between those credentials for which VoIP is a primary topic and
those for which it is secondary/incidental (but by no means trivial
or insignificant). For each certification, we include a link to a
web site where more information is available, along with a brief
description of the credential itself. This is the second update for
this material, originally compiled in late 2006, updated in October
of 2007.
Primary VoIP certifications
Avaya Certified Associate Design, Implement and
Voice Services tracks: IP telephony and more (including voice
services management)
This collection of programs includes significant vendor-neutral
introductory to intermediate content on VoIP, IP telephony, voice
services, IP Office and other related tools and technologies. The
program includes both vendor-specific and vendor-neutral
components.
Avaya Certified Expert Implement Design and
Implement tracks: IP telephony and more (include voice services
management)
This program includes advanced coverage of Avaya and third-party
products and services related to IP Office systems, including
Compact Contact Center, multimedia modules, Microsoft CRM, and
interworking with Cisco or other third-party solutions. The program
includes both vendor-specific and vendor-neutral components.
CCNT (Certified in Convergent Network
Technologies)
This Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) credential
covers telecommunications, data communications and networking
technologies, all in the context of voice communications. A
significant module in this exam is devoted to VoIP topics. Coverage
is introductory to intermediate in nature, but this is a widely
recognized and useful industry certification for VoIP
professionals. This program is vendor-neutral by design.
CTP (Convergence Technologies
Professional)
This TIA-sponsored credential aims at enterprise IT professionals
who support voice and data applications, as well as those who sell
to and develop for this specific user base. Coverage is
introductory to intermediate in nature, but somewhat less
comprehensive and deep than the CCNT certification. This program is
vendor-neutral by design.
Convergence+
An emerging CompTIA certification (the initial exam offering went
beta in October 2006), this credential aims to identify individuals
who possess basic VoIP knowledge and skills. As with most CompTIA
certifications, it is meant to establish a standard benchmark for
entry-level VoIP, data communications, video and broadcast
multimedia technologies skills and knowledge. It is specifically
vendor-neutral in design and coverage.
RCDD (Registered Communications Distribution
Designer)
This high-level professional certification from BiCSi demonstrates
advanced knowledge and skills in the design, implementation and
integration of information transport systems and related
infrastructure, including IP telephony and VoIP services. This is a
highly sought-after, advanced professional credential for those
involved in the design and delivery of convergent networks,
especially for those who work at the intersection of voice and data
communications. It is specifically vendor-neutral in design and
coverage.
CCVP (Cisco Certified Voice
Professional)
This is Cisco's professional-level voice-oriented certification
that includes significant VoIP and IP telephony content at its core
and as a primary motivation. This program includes primarily
intermediate- to advanced-level material and is vendor-specific in
its product coverage, but it also includes a large amount of
standards- and industry-oriented vendor-neutral content.
CCIE (Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert)
Voice
This is Cisco's highly coveted capstone senior professional
certification, aimed at high-level voice tools and technologies.
Tested tools and platforms include Cisco Unity and Unity Express,
Cisco Call Manager, Customer Response Server and IP Contact Center
Express. This program is vendor-specific in its product coverage
but includes a large amount of standards- and industry-oriented
vendor-neutral content as well.
Cisco IP Communications Express
Specialist
This seeks to identify individuals who possess basic VoIP
technology skills needed to install and maintain multi-service
network solutions. This credential puts special emphasis on the
Cisco Call Manager Express (CCME) and Cisco Unity Express (CUE)
solutions, and provides a basic grounding in VoIP tools and
technologies.
Cisco IP Contact Center Express
Specialist
This credential focuses on validating a comprehensive set of skills
and knowledge needed to plan, design, implement and operate a
contact center built around the Cisco Unified Contact Center
Express solutions.
Cisco IP Telephony Design Specialist
This aims to identify individuals who can design IP telephony
multi-service network solutions around Cisco platforms and
technologies. This is an intermediate to advanced vendor-specific
program by design, but it also includes vendor-neutral content.
Cisco Unity Support Specialist
This program specifically targets the Cisco Unity product platform,
which integrates voice services with the Microsoft Exchange
platform, and focuses on those who support users in this
environment. This is an intermediate to advanced vendor-specific
program by design, but it also includes vendor-neutral content.
Nortel Certified Design Specialist (NCDE) –
various*
Cover numerous Nortel platforms and products with substantial
involvement of converged networking and VoIP tools and technologies
as they apply to the company's CallPilto, Communications Server
1000, Carrier VoIP Solution, and Contact center platforms.
(* multiple certifications appear under the NCSE heading on the web
page linked above)
Nortel Certified Support Expert (NCSE) --
Unified Messaging & Communication Server*
Covers multiple Nortel platforms with substantial involvement of
converged networking and VoIP tools and technologies as they apply
to the company's CallPilot and Communications Server 1000
platforms. (* multiple certifications appear under the NCSE heading
on the Web page linked above)
Nortel Certified Support Specialist (NCSS) –
various*
Covers multiple Nortel platforms with substantial involvement of
converged networking and VoIP tools and technologies as they apply
to the company's CallPilot, Communicatons Server 1000, Carrier VoIP
Communication Server 2000, Contact Center Manager and VoIP
Multimedia Communication Server platforms.
(* multiple certifications appear under the NCSS heading on the Web
page linked above)
Nortel Certified Technology Expert (NCTE) --
Converged IP Networks
This credential affirms an individual's ability to plan, design,
and deploy VoIP and multimedia applications on a converged network.
This is an intermediate to advanced technical certification
designed as a vendor-specific credential, with a primary emphasis
on Nortel platforms and technologies, but it also includes
substantial vendor-neutral content and coverage.
Nortel Certified Technology Specialist (NCTS) –
Coverged IP Telephony Solutions
Designed to validate an individual's understanding of the protocols
and standards associated with planning, designing and deploying
converged IP solutions, including VoIP network architecture, packet
telephony, voice quality, traffic convergence, VoIP standards and
signaling protocols and assessing data networks for VoIP
suitability.
Academic certificate programs in VoIP
Illinois Institute of Technology VoIP Certificate
Program
This academic certificate program requires candidates to take
concepts and fundamentals classes, as well as related
implementation and software development topics. The program is
vendor-neutral in design, with introductory to intermediate topical
coverage, but it also includes exposure to leading vendor platforms
and tools (especially Microsoft and Cisco).
Madison Area Technical College
IT-VoIP/Convergence
A program designed to prepare IS/IT professionals to work with VoIP
tools and technologies and converged networks. Topics covered
include VoIP analysis, design, implementation and operation, with
courses on VoIP Convergence Fundamentals, Intermediate
VoIP/Convergence, and advanced topics in VoIP convergence.
Collin College Convergence Technology
Two-year AAS degree program with courses in computer networking and
maintenance, networking, routers and router basics, switching and
routing, WAN technologies, server handling, VoIP protocols and
technologies, Windows and Linux operating systems and more. Several
very interesting and well-architected programs are available under
this umbrella.
Secondary VoIP/voice certifications
CCNA (Cisco Certified Network
Associate)
A leading introductory to intermediate networking-fundamentals
credential, the CCNA now includes coverage of VoIP and IP telephony
topics, primarily because these are becoming so common on most
networks nowadays (and also because the CCNA is a prerequisite for
the CCVP certification). This material is vendor-specific by
design, but it includes substantial standards- and vendor-neutral
content as well.
Cisco Rich Media Communications
Specialist
Validates an individual's ability to design, implement, and support
integrated voice, video and web collaboration in a converged
network environment. The two exams for this credential show the
split in focus between voice and media: 642-481 Implementing Cisco
IP Video Rich Media Communications, and 642-432 Cisco Voice over IP
and Cisco Voice over IP fundamentals.
There is a lot to choose from among these various offerings,
where vendor allegiances will usually dictate one's choice (or
choices) within the vendor-specific space. Those interested in
establishing basic competence in VoIP should definitely consider
the TIA credentials (CTP and CCNT) and keep an eye on the CompTIA
Convergence+ credential. As it was the last time we covered this
ground, it remains too early to tell whether CompTIA will succeed
in putting itself on the short list of "good VoIP introductory
certs." Though it succeeded admirably with A+ and Network+, its
track record in other areas has been somewhat less stellar.
About the author:
Ed Tittel is a freelance writer and trainer based in Austin, Texas,
who's been writing and teaching about networking topics since the
late 1980s. A regular contributor to numerous TechTarget.com web
sites, Ed also writes for Certification Magazine,
DigitalLanding.com, and Tomshardware.com.