Updates to the Cisco Advanced Unified Communications Specialization

The Cisco Advanced Unified Communications Specialization has a new course and exam for the Cisco Unity® Support Specialist role. Effective September 25, 2009, the new course and exam will be available through the Partner Education Connection (PEC).

The Cisco Unity Support Specialist is one of six roles required for the Advanced Unified Communications Specialization. It is specifically designed to build upon a strong foundational knowledge of Cisco messaging, and the Cisco Unity Support Specialist can install, implement, integrate, administer, and manage Cisco Unity Connection Release 7.0. The new course and exam reflect Cisco’s messaging platform, which is based on the same Linux operating system as Cisco Unified Communications Manager.

Cisco will phase out the current requirement for the Cisco Unity Support Specialist role, which include the Implementing Unified Messaging course and exam (642-105). This course and exam will reach end of life on March 25, 2010. Until that time, both the new Implementing Cisco Unity Connection course and the Implementing Unified Messaging course will be available for the specialist role.

Specialist certifications are valid for two years from the date the badge was earned. Certification is awarded on the date you pass the exam(s) required to achieve the Cisco Qualified Specialist certification. Note that the Cisco Qualified Specialist certification remains valid for two years, regardless of any new exams that may have been released during that time. You must recertify with current exams when you renew your specialist certification.

Visit the Role Requirements page for more information about the requirements for achieving the Cisco Advanced Unified Communications Specialization.

If you have any questions about this update, please contact your Cisco channel account manager or open a case with the Partner Relationship Team.