Many certifications touch on Voice over IP (VoIP) topics tangentially, but numerous credentials now focus a fairly substantial portion of their coverage on this subject matter. In this certification survey, we take a look at available certifications that include VoIP coverage, distinguishing between those credentials for which VoIP is a primary topic and those for which it is secondary/incidental (but by no means trivial or insignificant). For each certification, we include a link to a Web site where more information is available, along with a brief description of the credential itself.
Primary VoIP certifications
Avaya Certified Associate Design, Implement, and Maintain tracks: IP Telephony and more (including voice services management)
This collection of programs includes significant vendor-neutral introductory to intermediate content on VoIP, IP telephony, voice services, IP Office and other related tools and technologies. That said, the program includes both vendor-specific and vendor-neutral components.
Avaya Certified Specialist Design, Implement, and Maintain tracks: IP Telephony and more (including voice services management)
This collection of programs includes significant vendor-neutral intermediate to advanced content on VoIP, IP telephony, voice services, IP Office and other related tools and technologies. That said, the program includes both vendor-specific and vendor-neutral components.
Avaya Certified Expert Implement: IP Office
This program includes advanced coverage of Avaya and third-party products and services related to IP Office systems, including Compact Contact Center, multimedia modules, Microsoft CRM, and interworking with Cisco or other third-party solutions. The program includes both vendor-specific and vendor-neutral components.
CCNT (Certified in Convergent Network Technologies)
This Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) credential covers telecommunications, data communications, and networking technologies, all in the context of voice communications. A significant module in this exam is devoted to VoIP topics. Coverage is introductory to intermediate in nature, but this is a widely recognized and useful industry certification for VoIP professionals. This program is vendor-neutral by design.
CTP (Convergence Technologies Professional)
This TIA-sponsored credential aims at enterprise IT professionals who support voice and data applications, as well as those who sell to and develop for this specific user base. Coverage is introductory to intermediate in nature, but somewhat less comprehensive and deep than the CCNT certification. This program is vendor-neutral by design.
Convergence+
An emerging CompTIA certification (the initial exam offering went beta in October 2006), this credential aims to identify individuals who possess basic VoIP knowledge and skills. As with most CompTIA certifications, it is meant to establish a standard benchmark for entry-level VoIP, data communications, video, and broadcast multimedia technologies skills and knowledge. It is specifically vendor-neutral in design and coverage.
RCDD (Registered Communications Distribution Designer)
This high-level professional certification from BiCSi demonstrates advanced knowledge and skills in the design, implementation and integration of information transport systems and related infrastructure, including IP telephony and VoIP services. This is a highly sought-after, advanced professional credential for those involved in the design and delivery of convergent networks, especially for those who work at the intersection of voice and data communications. It is specifically vendor-neutral in design and coverage.
CCVP (Cisco Certified Voice Professional)
This is Cisco's professional-level voice-oriented certification that includes significant VoIP and IP telephony content at its core and as a primary motivation. This program includes primarily intermediate- to advanced-level material and is vendor-specific in its product coverage, but it also includes a large amount of standards- and industry-oriented vendor-neutral content.
CCIE (Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert) Voice
This is Cisco's highly coveted capstone senior professional certification, aimed at high-level voice tools and technologies. Tested tools and platforms include Cisco Unity and Unity Express, Cisco Call Manager, Customer Response Server and IP Contact Center Express. This program is vendor-specific in its product coverage but includes a large amount of standards- and industry-oriented vendor-neutral content as well.
Cisco IP Telephony Design Specialist (See IP Communications cert section.)
This aims to identify individuals who can design IP telephony multi-service network solutions around Cisco platforms and technologies. This is an intermediate to advanced vendor-specific program by design, but it also includes vendor-neutral content.
Cisco IP Telephony Support Specialist (See IP Communications cert section.)
This aims to identify individuals who support IP telephony multi-service network solutions built around Cisco platforms and technologies. This is an intermediate to advanced vendor-specific program by design, but it also includes vendor-neutral content.
Cisco Unity Design Specialist (See IP Communications cert section.)
This program specifically targets the Cisco Unity product platform, which integrates voice services with the Microsoft Exchange platform, and focuses on those who design implementations built around this environment. This is an intermediate to advanced vendor-specific program by design, but it also includes vendor-neutral content.
Cisco Unity Support Specialist (See IP Communications cert section.)
This program specifically targets the Cisco Unity product platform, which integrates voice services with the Microsoft Exchange platform, and focuses on those who support users in this environment. This is an intermediate to advanced vendor-specific program by design, but it also includes vendor-neutral content.
Nortel Certified Technology Expert -- Converged IP Networks
This credential affirms an individual's ability to plan, design, and deploy VoIP and multimedia applications on a converged network. This is an intermediate to advanced technical certification designed as a vendor-specific credential, with a primary emphasis on Nortel platforms and technologies, but it also includes substantial vendor-neutral content and coverage.
Citel EXTender Certification
This program deals with IP telephony/VoIP platforms developed specifically as PBX replacements. The program is vendor-specific, with intermediate- to advanced-level coverage on the former MCK (now Citel) EXTender VoIP product line.
Academic certificate programs in VoIP
Illinois Institute of Technology VoIP Certificate Program
This academic certificate program requires candidates to take concepts and fundamentals classes, as well as related implementation and software development topics. The program is vendor-neutral in design, with introductory to intermediate topical coverage, but it also includes exposure to leading vendor platforms and tools (especially Microsoft and Cisco).
Secondary VoIP/voice certifications
CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate)
A leading introductory to intermediate networking-fundamentals credential, the CCNA now includes coverage of VoIP and IP telephony topics, primarily because these are becoming so common on most networks nowadays (and also because the CCNA is a prerequisite for the CCVP certification). This material is vendor-specific by design, but it includes substantial standards- and vendor-neutral content as well.
There is a lot to choose from among these various offerings, where vendor allegiances will usually dictate one's choice (or choices) within the vendor-specific space. Those interested in establishing basic competence in VoIP should definitely consider the TIA credentials (CTP and CCNT) and keep an eye on the CompTIA Convergence+ credential. It's still too early to tell whether CompTIA will succeed in putting itself on the short list of "good VoIP introductory certs." Though it succeeded admirably with A+ and Network+, its track record in other areas has been somewhat less stellar.
About the author:
Ed Tittel is a freelance writer and trainer based in Austin, Texas, who's been writing and teaching about networking topics since the late 1980s. A regular contributor to numerous TechTarget.com Web sites, Ed also writes for Certification Magazine, TechBuilder.org, and Tom's Hardware/Mobility Guru.
