Cisco, Pearson VUE Team

SAN JOSE, Calif. and BLOOMINGTON, Minn. -- Cisco(R) (NASDAQ: CSCO) and Pearson VUE announced they are teaming to
create a new standard for individual information technology (IT)
certifications, elevating them to the level of professional
certification and licensure programs. Beginning Aug. 1, Pearson VUE
will be the primary vendor of Cisco certification exams worldwide.
Cisco CCNA(R) and CCIE(R) are two of the Cisco professional
certification exams that will be delivered through Pearson VUE.
Additionally, Pearson VUE will deliver other Cisco individual
technical certifications and specialization exams previously delivered
by multiple test-delivery companies.

"We are investing heavily in Cisco educational initiatives around the
world to ensure proper coverage of technical skills for our customers,
our partners and ourselves," said Jeanne Beliveau-Dunn, senior
director of Learning@Cisco. "Our overall goal for developing
technical talent is to have the right people, in the right place, at
the right time so that our customers and partners have the best
possible experience with our technology. We're confident that as a
result of this collaboration, Cisco certifications will continue to
be highly regarded and relevant to employers across the globe."

To meet global demand, Cisco is moving to a primary-vendor strategy
with Pearson VUE so that the two organizations can mutually expand
their investments. This focused relationship will enable Cisco and
Pearson VUE together to build a stronger infrastructure that will
provide the following
benefits:

• Further innovation in technology to preserve the integrity and
  security of individual certification testing, thereby preserving the
  value
  of certification to employers
• Better market penetration into remote locations, as well as
  concentrated marketing outreach and recruitment efforts
• Greater convenience for Cisco customers and partners in testing
  locations (both mobile and fixed)

"Our certification strategy and its related partnerships are critical
to achieving our objective," continued Beliveau-Dunn. "We are
dramatically expanding Cisco's technical certification systems by
improving the delivery of cutting-edge technical training curricula,
developing professional learning communities, expanding global
coverage and aggressively improving certification security worldwide.
Ultimately, this will help in the recruitment and retention of solid
technical talent as well as increase the overall brand value of Cisco
certifications."