Citrix Brings Hands-On Sims to CCEA, CCIA Certs
6/21/2006 -- Citrix Systems on Monday unveiled its new Access Suite 4.0 tracks for its Citrix Certified Enterprise Administrator and Citrix Certified Integration Architect exams.
The cornerstone of both titles will be a new hands-on, simulation exam: Citrix Access Suite 4.0, Build/Test (#456). According to Julieann Scalisi, director of Citrix education, this exam will consist of 75 percent simulation questions -- "one of the highest percentages in the industry" -- when it goes live later this year.
Previously, the only hands-on exam in the Citrix lineup was the XP track's CCIA lab exam, which required candidates to travel to the lab to take the exam and cost $1,000, not including travel expenses. The new simulation exam will be available to all candidates worldwide through Prometric testing centers at a price of $300.
Expanding the availability CCIA title was one reason Citrix decided to move to a simulation format, Scalisi said. "Citrix education has invested significantly in the new exam," she explained. "It was a fairly expensive undertaking for us, and we did that to provide candidates with the best testing experience [possible]. That's really what we feel we've been able to accomplish."
But the sim exam isn't the only change for the CCIA title -- or the CCEA -- with the 4.0 track. The CCIA will also feature a "conditional" design exam, Citrix Access Suite 4.0: Design, in which the questions will change based on how the candidate answers the previous question. And both titles will share a number of exams. The exams for the new tracks, including format types, availability and related certifications, are shown in the chart below:
Exam # |
Exam Name |
Format |
Availability |
4.0 Certs |
256 |
Citrix Presentation Server 4.0: Administration |
Standard |
Now Live |
CCEA, CCIA (also earns CCA Presentation Server)
|
326 |
Citrix Password Manager 4.0: Administration |
Standard |
Now Live |
CCEA (also earns CCA Password Manager) |
306 |
Citrix Access Gateway 4.2 with Advanced Access Control: Administration |
Standard |
Now Live |
CCEA (also earns CCA Gateway) |
456 |
Citrix Access Suite 4.0: Build/Test |
Simulation |
Beta Coming |
CCEA, CCIA |
258 |
Citrix Presentation Server 4.0: Support |
Standard |
Now Live |
CCEA Only |
613 |
Citrix Access Suite 4.0: Analysis |
Standard |
Beta Coming |
CCIA Only |
614 |
Citrix Access Suite 4.0: Design |
Conditional |
Beta Coming |
CCIA Only |
According to Scalisi, the betas will open soon to a select group of Citrix candidates. If the requisite number of exam takers isn't found within that group, the betas will open to the public. All of the betas will be free and passing will count toward certification, Scalisi said.
Live dates for the upcoming exams have yet to be announced.
CCEA and CCIA 4.0 candidates are also required to pass one Citrix online learning course. Training for all of the exams above is available through Citrix, but is not required.
As Citrix's certification program is based on the track system, candidates who have previously earned a title for the company must start over with the new 4.0 track if they wish to upgrade. Scalisi told CertCities.com that the idea of an upgrade path is "on the radar," but nothing has been decided.
For more information on these certifications and the other titles in the Access Suite 4.0 track, go here. -Becky Nagel
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