New Cisco Entry Cert + New CCNA + New Academy Courses

FYI - Now it's officially been announced

New CCENT Certification
The Cisco CCENT (Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician) certification
validates the skills required for entry-level network support positions, the
starting point for many successful careers in networking. Candidates should
have the knowledge and skill to install, operate and troubleshoot a small
enterprise branch network, including basic network security. CCENT
certification is the first step toward achieving CCNA, which covers medium
size enterprise branch networks with more complex connections.

Available 01 August 2007 the new cert exam is 640-822 ICND1 (Interconnecting
Cisco Networking Devices Part 1)
http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/le3/current_exams/640-822.html
This replaces the Intro Exam 640-821 INTRO (Last day to test 06 Nov 2007)
Introduction to Cisco Networking Technologies

Media release: Cisco Addresses Global Networking Skills Gap with New
Entry-Level Certification and Updates to CCNA
http://newsroom.cisco.com/dlls/2007/prod_062507d.html?sid=BAC-NewsWire

The new CCNA cert exam 640-802 CCNA will start 01 August 2007 (or you have
the choice of doing 640-822 ICND1 plus 640-816 ICND2).
http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/le3/current_exams/640-802.html

The current CCNA 640-801 exam finishes 06 Nov 2007.

New Cisco Networking Academy courses - there's a preview on
http://cisco.netacad.net under "Featured Content" > "New CCNA Curricula
Preview"
Note that there are two "streams" or structures, each of 4 courses.

(1) CCNA Discovery: Completely different approach - First two courses map to
ICND1 (CCENT) and the 3rd and 4th courses map to ICND2 (CCNA) - it's
designed more for high schools or post-secondary students doing networking
as a minor; e.g., MIS majors.

(2) CCNA Exploration: Maps to the CCNA only - it's more like the existing
courses but more (and some new) content  - you'll be pleased to hear, for
example, that the idea of "useable subnets" has finally been put out of its
misery, IGRP is gone, etc. Exploration is aimed at technical college,
polytechnic, technical university level networking or computer systems
students.

The first two courses for each of Discovery and Exploration are available
for Academies to deliver from this week - although only in English at this
stage unfortunately - labs start from Chapter 1 and Packet Tracer sim
activities are embedded directly in the curriculum - no more "e-labs".

The 3rd and 4th courses for each of Discovery and Exploration will be out
for January 2008.

Media releases:
Cisco Networking Academy: Curriculum Evolves to Address Changing Industry,
Student Needs
http://newsroom.cisco.com/dlls/2007/ts_062507.html?sid=BAC-NewsWire

Cisco Networking Academy Introduces Innovative Approach to Learning,
Teaching and Curricula
http://newsroom.cisco.com/dlls/2007/prod_062507c.html?sid=BAC-NewsWire

cheers
Aubrey