Cisco Certifications - CCVP Certifications

Cisco CCVP Certification

(Please note that this is a Professional Level certification as per the levels defined by Cisco for its certifications. These are Entry, Associate, Professional, Expert, Specialist and Architect.)

What is this Cisco CCVP Certification all about?

The Cisco CCVP certification is part of the ‘Professional Level’ of Cisco Certifications. Starting from the Cisco CCENT certification (which was an Entry Level certification) we move on to the Cisco CCDA and CCNA Certifications (which were Associate Level certifications) and now the Professional Level certifications. These Certifications can be thought of as a build up on the Associate Level certifications.

The Cisco CCVP (Cisco Certified Voice Professional) Certification is a Professional Level certification that can be thought of as the second certification after the Cisco CCNA Voice Certification that deals with Basics of Voice Networks and VoIP – telephony solutions basically. Initially, the Cisco CCNA Voice certification tested a candidate’s skills with regards to basic Voice Network concepts. The Cisco CCVP is therefore the next advanced level in Voice Networks and Telephony Solutions. It tests skills with regards to the creation of transparent, saleable and manageable Telephony Solutions. 

The Cisco CCVP Certification tests the following skills with regards to Advanced Voice Networks:

• Implementing, Operating, Configuring, and Troubleshooting a Converged IP Network

The Cisco CCVP Certification curriculum covers the following with regards to Advanced Voice Networks:

• Cisco Unified Communications Manager (formerly Unified CallManager),
• Quality of service (QoS),
• Gateways, Gatekeepers, IP phones, Voice Applications
• Utilities on Cisco routers
• Cisco Catalyst switches.

What are the Pre-requisites of Cisco CCVP Certification?

According to Cisco, “CCNA Voice or any CCIE Certification can act as a pre-requisite”.

However, we do also recommend that any person who sits for the exam in this certification come fully prepared for the exam. Allot yourself at the very least a few months to prepare for the exam. Additionally, we would recommend any individual who would like to get certified with this Certification to possess the Cisco CCNA Voice Certification (which is an Associate Level certification that deals with Basic Voice (VoIP) Network concepts and skills).

Who is the Cisco CCVP Certification for?

The Cisco CCIP Certification is for those Networking Professionals who are working as Voice Network and VoIP professionals with Cisco Technologies such as the Cisco Unified Call Manager and are certified with the Cisco CCNA Voice Certification.

This is particularly for all Networking Professionals with a career orientation towards Voice Networks and Telephony solutions.

Why should I get certified? What benefits are there?

In case you are a basic Networking Professional who has the Cisco CCNA Voice Certification then this Certification is essential for you to further your career. Networking Professionals require further specialization and advancement of their skills. This Certification will allow you to work with regards to more Advanced Voice Network features and technologies of Cisco such as the Cisco Unified CallManager. Thus, this certification allows you to upgrade your Cisco Certification to a more advanced level – a professional level.

All in all, this certification is important for all the Networking Professionals who would like to create flexible and transparent Telephony Solutions based on Cisco’s Voice Infrastructure.

The benefits will be that you will now have a broader selection of career paths that will be higher paying than your existing job. Additionally, you will have that edge that is required during job selections – since employers look for what makes you as a networking professional unique.

Cisco Certification Exams in General

What Are the Exams Like?

• The duration of most theoretical exams is one to two hours. Lab (practical) exams typically last eight hours.
• Questions include multiple-choice single answer, multiple-choice multiple answer questions, drag and drop, fill in the blank and simulations.
• Exams other than CCIE lab exams are delivered online

What Do They Cost?

• Computer-based certification exam prices range from $80 to $325 US dollars or equivalent worldwide. The ICND1 and ICND2 exams are $125 USD, the CCNA exam is $250 USD and the professional level CCNP and CCDP Composite exam is $300 USD, and CCIE written exams are $350 USD. Payment is made directly to the authorized test delivery partner Pearson Vue.
• CCIE lab exams are $1,400 USD. Payment is made online via credit card or wire transfer

How do I take the exams?

Exams are regularly administered worldwide by Pearson VUE http://www.vue.com/cisco which is Cisco’s examination delivery partner (just as Prometric is Microsoft’s partner). Pearson VUE routinely organizes exams on various dates

How do I prepare for the exams?

1. Training through Institutions – The authorized source for Cisco IT training delivered exclusively by Certified Cisco Instructors. For a list of Cisco Learning Partners, use the Learning Partner Locator.

2. Training through Books – A variety of Cisco Press titles may be available for this exam. These titles can be purchased through the Cisco Marketplace Bookstore, or directly from Cisco Press.

3. Resources, Assistance and guidance through the online Cisco Learning Network 

4. Exam Cram Books - Exam Cram has a wide array of preparation tools for the popular CCNA, CCNP, and CCSP certifications, including simulation-based practice questions along with other late-stage study vehicles to get you ready for test time.

5. Safari Bookshelf - The premier electronic reference library for programming and IT professionals with more than 1,200 titles.

6. Cisco Networking Academy - http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/netacad/index.html

7. Cisco Certification Study Groups – https://cisco.hosted.jivesoftware.com/groups

What certifications and exams come under Cisco CCVP Certification?

There are two “paths” based on the two different Cisco Voice Solutions (although the second solution is inactive as of December 31st 2009). These are:

1. For individuals using Cisco Unified Communications Manager - 642-436 CVOICE , 642-446 CIPT1 , 642-642 QoS , 642-456 CIPT2 and 642-426 TUC
2. For individuals using Cisco Unified CallManager - 642-642 QoS , 642-436 CVOICE , 642-426 TUC ,  642-444 CIPT 4.1 and 642-453 GWGK

Path 1 (Cisco Unified Communications Manager):

AND

AND

AND

AND

Path 2 (Cisco Unified CallManager)

AND

AND

AND

AND

Validity of the Cisco CCVP Certification

This Certification is valid for upto 3 years after the certification has been awarded. After 3 years any and every networks professional will have to re-sit an exam in the Professional Level category of Cisco Certifications so as to be re-certified. Cisco has created this system to ensure that all network’s professionals stay up to date with latest trends and changes in networking technologies and standards.

Resources for the Exams

1. Several Resources are available at the Cisco Learning Network - https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/community/certifications/ccvp
2. Cisco Certification Exams Tutorial -http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/le3/learning_certification_exam_tutorial.html

Link to Official Cisco CCVP Website

http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/le3/le2/le37/le65/learning_certification_type_home.html