The CCVP certification (Cisco Certified Voice Professional) is Cisco's Professional-level certification offering for IT professionals who wish to demonstrate proficiency with voice technology. Candidates who gain the CCVP certification are able to create scalable and manageable telephony solutions, as well as display a wide range of skills including implementing, operating, configuring and troubleshooting a converged IP network.
Candidates for the CCVP must first obtain the CCNA certification before being eligible to take the CCVP exams and, in turn, the CCVP offers candidates a good platform for going on to take the CCIE Voice track (although the CCVP is not a prerequisite for the CCIE Voice).
In order to earn the CCVP certification, candidates must pass 5 exams:
642-642 QOS Quality of Service - 90 mins, 45-55 questions
642-432 CVOICE Cisco Voice over IP and Cisco Voice over IP Fundamentals - 75 mins, 55-65 questions
642-426 TUC Troubleshooting Cisco Unified Communications Systems - 90 mins, 54 questions
642-444 CIPT 4.1 Cisco IP Telephony Part 1 And Cisco IP Telephony Part 2 - 90 mins, 60-70 questions Or
642-445 CIPT 5.0 Cisco IP Telephony Part 1 And Cisco IP Telephony Part 2 - 90 mins, 70 questions
642-453 GWGK Implementing Cisco Voice Gateways and Gatekeepers - 75 mins, 60 questions
All the exams follow the traditional Cisco format, which is to say there will be the usual mix of multiple-choice, simlet, testlet, and drag-and-drop questions, and all can be booked and taken through any Prometric or Thomson VUE testing centre. The number of questions will vary depending on the exam (read our section on Cisco exams for more information about what to expect at the testing center).
At the conclusion of the exam the candidate will be presented with a printed score report indicating a pass or a fail, as well as feedback on individual topic areas to assist the candidate to identify areas of strengh and weakness. The CCVP certification will only be awarded once all 5 exams have been passed, so it's important to keep the score reports safe.
As with all Cisco certifications, the CCVP is valid for three years after which recertification is required. Recertification must take place before the expiration date of the individual's current CCVP certification, and involves passing any '642' professional-level exam, or by passing any CCIE written exam.
Some say that voice technology is the next boom niche within the IT industry with employers increasingly looking for trained personnel. While the CCIE Voice track might be a bridge too far for many people, the CCVP certification on the other hand offers candidates a good opportunity to market themselves as knowledgeable and trained in the concepts of voice technology.
On the following pages you'll find links to free CCVP self study resources, including practice tests, study guides, CCVP forums, and much more. Make sure that you check Cisco's CCVP home page regularly for updates and modifications to the exams, and use the exam objectives listed for each exam to guide your studying regime. Make sure you also check the resources for the other Cisco certifications listed on this site, as many subjects overlap.
