The Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF) has launched the third part of its MEF Professional Certification program, designed for individuals whose Carrier Ethernet technology, services, and application expertise meet MEF criteria. The MEF’s Carrier Ethernet Certified Professional (MEF-CECP) test validates knowledge of Carrier Ethernet technology, standards, and applications.
“This professional certification could not be timelier,” comments Michael Howard, principal analyst, Infonetics Research. “We anticipate healthy growth in the market as organizations increasingly look to Ethernet for the lowest cost-per-bit--with Ethernet services revenues forecast to hit $40 billion by 2014. There will be a growing demand for professionals with MEF certified Carrier Ethernet expertise.”
In addition to receiving the MEF certificate, successful candidates will be automatically listed on the online Directory of MEF Certified Professionals posted on the EthernetAcademy.net website. Typical candidates for this initial certification will be: technical marketing or product managers, pre-sales engineers, product planners, network consultants, technical sales, network operations engineers, and application consultants.
To qualify for the MEF-CECP certificate, individuals must pass a two-hour, multiple-choice exam covering topics that include: MEF definitions, access technologies, MEF certification, target applications, circuit emulation over Ethernet, SOAM, and comparisons with other network services.
The exam can be taken online from the home or office--regulated by Web-based proctoring technology to ensure the security and integrity of the examination, at an approved test center or at an MEF Accredited Training Provider’s facilities following the completion of the training course. The first five of these accredited, third-party training providers were announced at NetEvents: Accedian Networks, EANTC, Perpetual Solutions, Tech 2000, and Telefocal Asia. The first group of MEF Certified Professionals (MEF-CECPs) will be announced in the first half of this year.
“For the individual, this new aspect of MEF certification helps career advancement by providing industry recognition of their knowledge and expertise. For the employer, it simplifies the choice of candidates and helps to define standard training requirements. For the industry, it will enable growth via better trained sales, marketing, product management and technical professionals,” said Nan Chen, MEF president, at this week's NetEvents 2011 APAC Press Summit in Malaysia.