An Overview

1
An Overview
2
Agenda

• What is Convergence?
• What is CTP Certification?
• CTP Benefits
• Who Developed CTP?
• CTP Certification Advisory Council
• CTP Competencies
• CTP Exam
• Official CTP Courseware
• CTP Sponsors
• CTP Authorized Training Providers

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What is Convergence?

• Convergence merges voice, video and data on a
  single network.
• Convergence is the newest development in
  communications technology.
• Companies need complete solutions and qualified
  personnel to sell and support convergence
  products.
• Selling, installing, and supporting convergence
  technologies requires a new set of skills.

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What is Certification?

• CTP (Convergence Technologies Professional)
  certification validates that an individual has
  the core knowledge and skills required by
  manufacturers, channel partners, and end-users to
  implement convergent technology solutions.
• CTP shortens the path to vendor-specific
  certifications.
• For individuals, CTP certification is a gateway
  to sales and service careers in the convergence
  industry.
• For companys, CTP certification is a gateway to
  lower training costs and a convergence capable
  workforce.
• Visit www.CTPcertified.com.

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• CTP certification gives companies like Inter-Tel
  a benchmark for validation of entry-level
  convergence skills and it will be required for
  all Inter-Tel advanced technical training for
  employees and our channel partners.
  
• Dennis Hosier
• Special Projects Manager, Inter-Tel

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CTP Benefits

• Suppliers (e.g. manufacturers) have standardized
  criteria to screen capable channel partners,
  hiring and/or advancement within their
  organization.
• Channel Partners (e.g. interconnects, VARs,
  integrators, distributors, resellers, solutions
  providers and sales agents) can differentiate
  themselves in the marketplace and distinguish
  themselves to customers and suppliers in their
  ability to support convergence solutions.
• Individuals can validate their convergence
  technologies knowledge and skills for employment
  and advancements.

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• At Mitel, we believe CTP certification offers
  the kind of validation and differentiation we
  require for our employees career paths and to
  help demonstrate our ability to provide
  convergence solutions and enhance customer
  confidence.
• Grant Mellow
• Manger of Education Training, Mitel

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Who Developed CTP?

• TIA (Telecommunications Industry Association)
  convened the CTP Certification Advisory Council
  (CAC) to define and guide CTP objectives.
• TIA selected ProsoftTraining as its partner to
  develop CTP certification.
• TIA is the leading telecommunications industry
  trade association. Visit www.TIAonline.org for
  more information.
• TIA develops industry standards and credentialing
  programs.
• ProsoftTraining develops certification exams and
  distributes training and certification
  courseware.
• ProsoftTraining is the exclusive distributor of
  the Official CTP curriculum and manages the
  certification program.

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CTP Certification Advisory Council (CAC)

• The CTP CAC is comprised of major
  telecommunications and information technology
  companies such as Avaya, Cisco, First
  Telecommunications, IBM, Inter-Tel, Mitel, and
  Siemens.
• The CTP CAC mission is to
• define and guide the CTP certification
• define the target CTP candidate
• determine the scope of CTP certification
• define the CTP exam competencies
• promote CTP exams within their organizations as
  well as to the industry at large
• serve as an ongoing resource for TIA
  Education/Credentialing Committee activities

Cisco
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• "IBM got involved in the development of TIA's
  CTP certification because we feel that this
  common, industry-wide, vendor-neutral standard
  for entry level skills better prepares IT
  professionals, including those at IBM, for
  advising on and working with convergence
  solutions. CTP will be a valued benchmark for
  IBM's training programs, both employee and
  customer focused, in the convergence space."
• Karen Kocher
• WW Content Offering Executive, IBM

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CTP Certification Competencies

• CTP certified individuals will have demonstrated
  core knowledge and skills in the following data
  networking, telephony networking and convergence
  areas
• Industry standards and protocols
• Infrastructure
• IP Protocols
• Telephony Concepts and Fundamentals
• Voice-Over Convergence
• Topology Convergence
• Troubleshooting

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• As data networks and telecommunications networks
  are converging to create a common communications
  environment, we see a new set of skills required
  of network professionals. The CTP certification
  offers a first step in filling that requirement.
  
• Dixie Garr
• V.P. Customer Success Engineering, Cisco

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CTP Exam

• The CTP exam tests vendor-neutral job-role skills
  and knowledge, rather than proprietary product
  and software familiarity.
• The CTP certification exam is administered by
  Prometric in a secure, proctored environment on a
  closed-book basis. Testing center information
  is available at www.2test.com.
• The CTP exam fee is 125 and consists of 65
  questions with a 75 minute examination period.
• All CTP exam candidates must complete and submit
  the CTP Certification Agreement at
  www.CTPcertified .com.

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Official CTP Courseware

• Official CTP preparatory courseware is being
  developed by ProsoftTraining and will be
  available by August 2002.
• Official CTP courseware will be available in the
  following formats
• Classroom,
• E-learning, and
• Blended.
• Online assessments and study guides will also be
  available.
• Official CTP preparatory courseware can be
  purchased by through the TIA CTP Web site at
  www.CTPcertified.com.
• TIA members will receive a discount on Official
  CTP preparatory courseware.

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Official CTP Instructor-Led Courseware

• Official CTP instructor-led courseware provides
  skills training and assessment for the objectives
  covered in the CTP exam.
• Students setup, maintain, and troubleshoot a data
  network, a telephony network, and a Voice over IP
  (VoIP) network during the course.
• Courseware includes easy-to-follow narrative
  text, hands-on labs, exercises and case studies.
• The courseware contains 30 hours of
  instructor-led training.
• The CTP series consists of three courses
• Data Networking (12 hours)
• Telephony Networking (12 hours)
• Convergence Technologies Implementation (6 hours)

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TIA has a long history developing standards and
offering credentialing programs for the
telecommunications industry, which is why we
offer CTP as a career-building next step for
our employees pursuing advanced-level training.
Mark
McKersie President, First Telecommunications
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CTP Sponsors

• TIA member companies who publicly recommend,
  endorse or require the CTP certification program
  can become CTP Sponsors.
• A CTP Sponsor company can differentiate itself
  and instill confidence in its customers by
  demonstrating that its sales and service
  personnel are CTP certified.
• Other CTP Sponsor benefits include
• Use of CTP marketing, advertising, and public
  relations support materials
• Visibility on the CTPcertified Web site
• 10 discount on all CTP exams

To become a CTP Sponsor visit www.CTPcertified.com
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• CTP certification allows Avaya to concentrate
  its resources on product and applications-specific
  training rather than on base-line training by
  combining all vendor-neutral convergence concepts
  into one program.
  
• Mark Sinnott
• Director, Avaya Global Certification

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CTP Authorized Training Providers

• Commercial learning centers and academic
  institutions that agree to teach with CTP
  certified instructors, use Official CTP
  Courseware, and maintain high educational
  standards can become CTP Authorized Training
  Providers (CTP ATPs).
• CTP ATP benefits include
• Discounts on courseware
• Listing and logo on CTP Web site
• Schedules posted on CTP Web site
• Access to CTP Program Specialist training
• Lead referrals
• CTP Certified Instructor resources
• Marketing materials and program support

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CTP Overview 205