Unitek Cisco Training Blog

So you want to be wireless certified.

Well what are you going to do?

First of all there is CWNA and WL# (pronounced Wireless Sharp - obvious if you are a ‘C’ programmer, or music afficionado) entry level vendor independent certifications.  These give you the basics of Wireless, with WL# also covering WAN and PAN wireless offerings, WIMAX, Bluetooth etc.

Then you could move up to CWSP, a wireless security certification above CWNA.

In Cisco’s world, there has been the long standing Cisco Wireless LAN Support Specialist, that expired July ‘08.

Now you can become a Cisco Advanced Wireless LAN Field/Design Specialist.  This Certification is current, and requires you to pass 2 exams, one bases on Cisco Lifecycle Services, adn the other based on the CWLF and CWLAT class.  Each category Field or Design has a different exam, but they are both based on the same classes.

For the Design specialist, you will need to be CCDA Certified.

For the field specialist, you will need to be CCNA.

Cisco has nowlaunched a new Wireless Certification, CCNA-Wireless.

This cert requires you to pass one exam, based on the new IUWNE class.  However you will need to be CCNA to get the certification.

Cisco are also rumoured to be preparing some new Professional and Expert level exams.  S if you fancied becoming CCWP or CCIE-Wireless (or whatever the may be called) the rumour mill is rife with what they may do.

The latest info on Cisco’s website says ‘Coming Soon!’ for the Professional level, but does give information on a new CCIE-Wireless-Written level exam.  Will a Wireless lab follow?  We will have to wait and see.

Keep watching this space, when we know you’ll know.

[Editorial Note: Since this article was written, the following web page has gone live, explaining there is in fact a CCIE Wireless Lab, but it is invitation only, and is in BETA.  Watch this space folks…]

So I just recently took my CCNA 640-802 exam.  I must admit it was substantially harder then I had expected.  Granted, I passed in record time with a perfect score… (Fast enough to set off alarms; they are holding my passing score for a few days).  Nonetheless, Cisco has out done themselves by setting the bar quite high.  They have lowered the passing score necessary but made the questions substantially harder than any of the previous CCNA exams.  It will be interesting to see how the market at large receives this.  It will require substantially more hands on time to pass the CCNA exam as they have included several very involved simulator questions.  Practice your show cdp neighbors and show cdp neighbors detail commands is all I can offer.  Good luck!!!