Certified Wireless Network Professional

Wireless# Makes Way for CWTS

My buddies over at Planet 3 Wireless, the organization behind the Certified Wireless Network Professional (CWNP) certification program, are making a change in their entry-level certification. The current and soon-to-be-prior credential, the Wireless# (pronounced “wireless sharp”) is going to be retired on June 30, 2009, and will give way to the Certified Wireless Technology Specialist (CWTS) credential instead.

In case you’re not already familiar with the program, the CWNP offers entry-level, admin, security, advanced, and instructor level wireless networking certifications. They’re pretty highly regarded, and widely followed, as networking certifications go. Exams start at $125, are handled through Pearson VUE, and cover basic Wi-Fi terms, concepts, tools, and technologies in depth, and go into lots of important subjects related to industrial- (or should I say enterprise-?) strength wireless networking, with an emphasis on security, best practices, and a thorough grounding in hardware and software concepts.

The new program and exam has already launched, having made its debut on 6/15/2009. An official study guide is already available from Sybex/Wiley at a list price of $49.95; ditto for a battery of practice test questions at the same price. For a mere $169, you can purchase a bundle with the book, practice test, and an exam voucher (full retail price $224.90), which is actually a pretty good deal.