Cisco Learning Partner Programs

Learning Partner Requirements

In order to qualify for one or more Channel Education Specializations a Learning Partner must meet the following requirements for each specialization:

1. Must be a Cisco Learning Partner in good standing with Cisco.
2. Must be an advanced technology specialized partner in one or more Advanced Technology Specializations.
3. All job roles, except for the Account Manger (AM), used to achieve a specialization must be fulfilled by a CCSI that is in the Partner Self Service (PSS) database under the Learning Partner to achieve corresponding Education Specialization. See the links below for the Field Engineer (FE) and Sales Engineer (SE) role requirements for each Specialization.
   
   Links to Specialization Role Requirements:
   • Advanced Data Center Net Infrastructure
   • Advanced Data Center Storage Networking
   • Advanced Routing and Switching
   • Advanced Security
   • Advanced Unified Communications
   • Advanced Wireless LAN
   
   Role sharing is permitted. A single qualified individual may fill only the AM role in up to a total of 4 specializations. A single qualified CCSI may fill only the SE or FE role in up to a total of 2 specializations. Individuals may not cross-populate between the AM, SE and FE roles. Click here for a comparison of role requirements for all advanced Specializations in one table.
   
   Note: If your company has already met a Technology Specialization using a staff member for the Sales Engineer (SE) and Field Engineer (FE) roles that do not have their CCSI you must go back into the Certification and Specialization Application tool and select an individual that meets certification requirements and has a CCSI in order to achieve the corresponding Education Specialization.
4. Must own or have access to equipment required to deliver all Cisco authorized courses and certifications specific to each education specialization achieved. Equipment list for all authorized Cisco certification courses is found in the Course Information Library located on the Cisco Instructor Connection website.

Process Overview

High Level Overview

• Apply for an Advanced Technology Specialization using CCSIs to fulfill both the Sales Engineer (SE) and Field Engineer (FE) roles
• Download, complete and return the Education Specializations Application
• Education Specialization Application is validated by the Learning Partner Program team
• Application approval and partner notification
• Channel Partner Locator updated to reflect new Education Specialization(s)

Detailed Steps

Step 1. Associate Category-B must upgrade to Category-A. To upgrade, log on to the Learning Partner Management System (LPMS) then click on "Maintain Program Requirements" link on LPMS Welcome Page.

Step 2. Launch the Certification and Specialization application (CSApp) tool to apply for a Technology Specialization. All Learning Partners have access to this tool. Use your Cisco.com ID and password to access the application.

Step 3. Click on the link and read the CSApp User Guide. Special attention should be given to Chapters 5 - Specializations Planner Module and Chapter 6 - Specialization Application Module. Click on the Help from Partner Relationship Team link if you need assistance.

Step 4. Once you Log in to the Certification and Specialization Application Tool, click on the Access Program Application link. Your screen should look like similar to the one below.

Step 5. Click on the Specialization Planner tab on top of the screen to see what specialization(s) your company qualifies for or what is needed for your company to achieve a specialization. It takes up to 5-10 business days on average for Cisco to receive the data from its respective testing agencies that all exams have been passed.

Step 6. Verify that the certified individuals fulfilling job roles are allocated to your company with their CSCO number. Partner Administrators and internal Cisco employees are able to verify this information using the Partner Self-Service tool.

If the certified individual that now works for your company is associated with a different company in Cisco's database, then they will need to update their company association in the Partner Self-Service tool. Individual are responsible for their company association.

Step 7. Verify certified contacts have only one CSCO number. If an individual has more than one CSCO number, they must merge under the same individual; exam information under separate CSCO number will not merge into the Channel Partner application. To request merging two or more CSCO numbers associated with a certified contact, click here.

Step 8. Click on the Specialization Application tab on top of the screen. The "Specialization Application" module is used to apply for an Advanced Technology Specialization and consists of the following tasks:

• Select Specialization
• Allocate Job Roles
• Review Summary
• Accept Terms and Conditions
• Submit the Specialization Application

Note: When selecting personnel to fulfill the Sales Engineer (SE) and Field Engineer (FE) roles you must select someone that is also a CCSI. Currently the CSApp tool only validates the person has met the certification requirements for the role and does not validate they also have their CCSI. A future enhancement of CSApp will validate both certifications and CCSI. Please note the names you select when applying as you will be required to enter on the Education Specializations Application (Step 9.) to submit to the Learning Partner Program team for validation. If you select someone that does not have their CCSI the program team will send back an email stating you have not met the requirements for the Education Specialization. If you are a Resale Channel Partner that has already obtained one or more Technology Specializations you may need to go into CSApp and select individuals that also have their CCSI.

Contact Partner Relationship Team if you have followed Steps 4-7 and are unable to allocate any contact whose company information, career certification, and 5-10 business days have passed since completing ALL exams. Include the following details to initiate an investigation:

• Name of Company
• Name of Specialization
• First and Last name of contacts for each job role
• CSCO ID of contacts for each job role
• Exam completion dates for each contact per job role

Step 9. Download the Education Specialization Application document (DOC - 111 KB)

Step 10. Complete and return the Education Specialization Application to eduspecializations@cisco.com.

Step 11. The Learning Partner program team will validate information provided on the application and will notify you within ten (10) business days if you have achieved the Education Specialization(s) applied for or request further information.

Step 12. The Channel Partner Locator will be updated to reflect new Education Specialization(s).