The Cisco Learning Partner (CLP) is the middle level authorized to offer official technical, product, and solutions training using Cisco certified instructors. A CLP has made a greater commitment than a Sponsored Organization, including an increased investment in certified staff, equipment, and marketing. This investment helps a CLP to deliver a broader range of Cisco training. A CLP agreement between the partner company and Cisco is valid for 12 months. A CLP must align with a Cisco Learning Solution Partner (CLSP) for some program support.
A CLSP must assist a CLP with the following:
Course kit ordering
Submitting derivative works created by the CLP to Cisco for approval
Sponsored Organization Management
A Sponsored Organization is the first level in the learning partner program. Sponsored Organizations team up with a CLSP, the highest level, to offer Cisco training . The Sponsored Organization agreement is directly with a CLSP and not with Cisco. This agreement allows a Sponsored Organization to deliver Cisco training using Cisco certified instructors.
A CLSP may choose to recruit and sponsor a training company to increase the partner's geographical coverage, customer base, or available resources. See the Sponsored Organization Management section of the CLSP Website for information about sponsoring an organization.
If a CLSP elects to sponsor one or more companies, the CLSP must provide business development and operation support to help ensure the Sponsored Organization's success. Managing a Sponsored Organization includes, but is not limited to, the following:
Offering business development mentoring for the Sponsored Organization
Providing operational support (assisting with equipment needs and instructor certification, maintaining the Learning Partner Management System, etc.)
Ensuring that Sponsored Organizations is compliant with to all program requirements, including staff, metrics, Cisco CCSI certified instructors, number of students and course offerings, and marketing
Fulfilling Sponsored Organization course kit order requests
Business Location
Partners must have a physical location designated by the Customer and agreed to by Cisco where the services are to be performed. Partners must have a physical, non-residential office where customer facing meetings will be conducted, which is where they handle the day to day operations of their business. A physical, non-residential location must be recorded in the Cisco Learning Partner Management System (LPMS) as the partners primary place of business.
Student Certificates
All CLSPs, CLPs, and Sponsored Organizations must have a Metrics that Matter (MTM) account and must direct students to fill out evaluations at the completion of each Cisco standard and derivative work course. At the end of the evaluations is a downloadable and printable course certificate for the students.
Course Cancellations
Cisco has no requirements for course cancellation rates. However, partners must post only those classes that they fully intend to run and have the capability to deliver. Cisco will monitor the Global Learning Partner Locator for abuse.
Marketing Guidelines
Partners must adhere to all logo usage guidelines specific to CLSPs, as indicated on the CLSP Website.
Audit
Audit Overview
Cisco will conduct no more than two audits during any 12-month period, and these audits will not unreasonably interfere with a partner's business activities. However, if Cisco reasonably believes that a partner has underpaid money owed to Cisco, any resulting audit will not count toward the two-audit limit in any 12-month period.
Partners must maintain complete and accurate books and records of each training course given to any third party. These records must confirm the partner's compliance with the payment and reporting obligations. Upon 10 business days' prior written notice and during the partner's regular business hours, a partner must allow Cisco or an independent representative to audit and examine the partner's books, records, and inventories of Cisco content to verify compliance with obligations under the CLSP, CLP, or Sponsored Organization program requirements.
Audit Scheduling
A representative from a Cisco third-party audit agency will schedule the onsite audit and may request additional documentation or information before or during the audit. Typically, the onsite audit will take place within 21 days of validation that the partner has met all prequalification requirements.
Role of the Auditor
Cisco uses an independent third-party audit agency to conduct audits. The auditor manages the onsite audit process. The auditor may review supplied documentation before the audit and then:
Verifies whether the partner complies with all learning partner program requirements
Compiles the audit report describing the extent of compliance with each requirement
Submits the report and supporting documents to the learning partner program manager
The manager then determines whether the partner meets the program requirements.
All information or documentation provided to the auditor falls under the nondisclosure agreement signed by Cisco's third-party auditors. Cisco and third-party auditors treat all information with the utmost confidentiality.
Audit Duration and Itinerary
Partners should plan on one day (6 to 8 hours) for a CLP audit and two days (6 to 8 hours a day) for a CLSP audit.
Audit Closure and Follow-Up
At the audit closing session, the auditor presents a brief synopsis of the partner's opportunities for improvement and, in particular, highlights any open action items. For open action items, the partner provides written evidence of closure to the auditor within five business days after audit completion.
If a partner cannot close out open action items within five business days, the partner must provide a corrective action plan to the learning partner program manager. The partner must fully implement the action plan within an agreed time period, which is no longer than the stated get-well period. At the end of the agreed time period, the auditor, Theater Manager (TM), or Learning Partner Channel Program Manager may have to visit the partner to verify closure of an action item.
2-Tier Learning Product Distribution Partners
Partners may choose to actively participate in the 2-Tier Learning Product Distribution elective. For further information, log into the CLSP site and select the 2-Tier Learning Product document.
CCIE/CCSI Protection
CCIE and Cisco CCSI Certified Instructor Protection Policy
All learning partners must adhere to the following protection policy regarding losing or hiring a CCIE or Cisco CCSI certified instructor from another learning partner, Cisco (Gold, Silver, or Premier) Certified Partner, or Cisco Specialized Partner.
Losing Partner
If losing a CCIE or Cisco CCSI certified instructor takes a learning partner below the number required, the partner must notify Cisco of its noncompliance within 30 days. After Cisco receives such notice, the partner may qualify for a six-month extension to replace the CCIE or Cisco CCSI certified instructor and remain in the learning partner program. A partner who voluntarily terminates the employment of a CCIE or Cisco CCSI certified instructor may not qualify for the time extension. During the extension period, as long as the partner meets all other requirements, it will retain its learning partner status.
If a partner does not notify Cisco of its noncompliance within 30 days and Cisco identifies the deficiency, Cisco may give the partner an extension of 60 days to replace the CCIE or Cisco CCSI certified instructor and stay in the learning partner program. This extension period will begin when Cisco notifies the partner of its noncompliance.
Gaining Partner
If a learning partner hires a CCIE or Cisco CCSI certified instructor away from another learning partner, Cisco (Gold, Silver, or Premier) Certified Partner, or Cisco Specialized Partner, Cisco will not count that individual toward the learning partner's requirements for 12 months from the date of hire. However, if another learning partner terminated the CCIE or Cisco CCSI certified instructor, this rule does not apply, and the terminating partner must submit documentation.
All Learning Partners must adhere to the following CCSI/CCIE protection policy regarding loss of a CCIE/CCSI and hiring a CCIE/CCSI from another Cisco Learning Partner.
account and must direct students to fill out evaluations at the completion of each Cisco standard and derivative work course. At the end of the evaluations is a downloadable and printable course certificate for the students.