CWNP Program Announces CWNE Certification

Wireless Network Expert certification now available, covers advanced WLAN optimization

ATLANTA, Georgia, August 1st, 2006 - The CWNP Program, the industry standard for wireless LAN training and certification, today announced that the CWNE certification is now available. CWNE is the highest level wireless networking certification from the CWNP Program, and tests the candidate's expert level knowledge of advanced topics surrounding QoS, Voice over Wi-Fi, and advanced WLAN design.

"CWNE has been a long time in the making. CWNE is the pinnacle of 802.11 wireless networking knowledge. Those who earn this certification have truly demonstrated that they know wireless LANs inside and out," said Kevin Sandlin, CEO and co-founder of the CWNP Program. "We are confident that the 802.11 marketplace has matured and stabilized enough in its technology to support an "expert" level certification, and we are excited to offer just that."

CWNE can be achieved today

IT professionals who earn the CWNA, CWSP, and CWAP certifications before December 31, 2006 are eligible to apply for their CWNE certification. After January 2, 2007, candidates will be required to pass the new PW0-300 exam. Once a candidate has passed the PW0-300 exam and had their CWNE application approved, their CWNE certification is valid for life.

The CWNE exam (PW0-300) tests the skills required by wired and wireless networking experts alike. The CWNE exam covers the following wireless technologies as they apply to advanced wireless network management, optimization, troubleshooting, and security:

• 802.11 Physical Layer Technologies
• 802.11 MAC Frames and Exchange Processes
• 802.11 Spectrum Management
• 802.11 QoS Terms and Features
• WMM Certifications, Features, and Configuration
• Designing Voice/Data Networks
• 802.11 Wireless LAN Protocol Analyzer Use and Trace Interpretation

The CWNE exam topics are detailed in the exam objectives, which are available on the CWNP web site.

Official Study Guide

The official study guide for the CWNE exam is the IEEE Press publication, "The IEEE 802.11 Handbook: A Designer's Companion" 2nd edition (March 30, 2005) ISBN: 0738144495. This publication is available today at http://shop.ieee.org/ieeestore/product.aspx?product_no=SP1136

CWAP to be retired

The CWAP exam (PW0-205) will be retired on December 31, 2006. CWAP will be recognized as a valid certification for those who earn it for three years. The material covered by the CWAP curriculum is approaching three years old. The new CWNE exam objectives take the CWAP material up to date, and up to the expert level by including advanced implementation, optimization, troubleshooting, and the latest WLAN 802.11 amendments.

About The CWNP Program

The CWNP Program is the industry standard for wireless LAN training and certification. IT professionals in 90 countries have achieved CWNP certification in how to make wireless LANs more secure, cost-effective, and reliable. More than 20 Wi-Fi industry-leading companies have become technology partners with the CWNP Program. The CWNP Program was created by Planet3 Wireless, Inc., a privately-held Georgia corporation. For more information about the CWNP Program, visit www.cwnp.com