CWNE Worldwide Population: 89 and counting

Well, we changed the rules for earning CWNE back in October of 2010. Prior to that, you had to pass CWNA, CWSP, and the holy-cow-that-thing-is-tough-and-there’s-no-study-materials CWNE exam, complete a really long and confusing CWNE application, and earn “points” based on your other certs, experience, project documentation, endorsements, etc., etc., etc.

Now, you have to pass CWNA, CWSP, CWAP, and CWDP, and complete a pretty long application that requires 2 other networking certifications, several years of direct Wi-Fi experience, 3 endorsements, and some project documentation. The biggest change was the addition of the requirement of both the CWAP and CWDP certifications. We didn’t expect anyone to jump out there and earn CWNE immediately, mainly because until the spring of 2011, the CWAP and CWDP exams, study prep materials, and classes didn’t even exist. Duh.

We also changed CWNE from a lifetime certification requiring some weird continuing ed stuff to a standard 3 year certification. To recertify your CWNE, you must pass ONE of our “Professional” level certifications (CWSP, CWDP, CWAP) within 3 years of earning your CWNE certification.

But now the landscape has settled, and we have three new CWNEs, bringing the global count to 89. Fifteen of our CWNEs are outside the US. Thirty CWNEs currently (you know how that changes!) work for Wi-Fi hardware or software manufacturers. Eighty-six of these folks have until 12/31/13 to recertify.

Now, about those 3 new CWNEs…

Paul Stanley (#88) is our first Australian CWNE, bringing our international CWNE count to 15! No, he is not the lead singer of KISS, but he did use his holidays to study, and completed all the exams – from CWNA through CWDP – in 9 months! Paul had an RF and network security background before starting prep for CWNA, so the Wi-Fi path was a natural fit. Paul approaches Wi-Fi as we believe all networking pros should: “You don’t know what you don’t know until you learn it.”

CWNE #87 Mark Sanetrik, on the other hand, originally earned CWNA back in 2005, but since he wasn’t involved day to day in Wi-Fi, let it lapse. He recertified as CWNA in 2009, started doing more wireless related work, and had the CWNE completed in a little over 2 years. To celebrate his CWNE, he’s headed to Vail, CO, in a couple of months for some skiing and to begin preparing for his first full marathon this year. Mark ran several half marathons last year while completing his CWNE requirements.

Finally, CWNE #89 Jon Linton, hailing from Mo-Town, got his head start on CWNE by attending the CWAP beta class last April, giving him more exposure to the 802.11 frame than he could have ever anticipated to take back to his healthcare IT job in Detroit, a most challenging environment indeed.

A big expert shout out to these three new CWNEs: Well done! For those of you eyeing, envying, or anticipating your CWNE number, go for it. The world is your Wi-Fi frame.