application skills meet MEF-defined standards. Launched in June this year, the program’s first phase – with two further phases already under development – validates knowledge of Carrier Ethernet technology, standards and applications. It is particularly well suited for technical marketing or product managers, pre-sales engineers, product planners, network consultants, technical sales, network operations engineers and application consultants.
In the words of Kevin Vachon, MEF COO, “this new certification helps individuals advance their careers by providing industry recognition of their knowledge and capabilities. For employers, it simplifies the choice of candidates and helps to define standard training requirements, while industry-wide it will enable growth via better trained sales, marketing, product management and technical professionals.”
Candidates sit a two-hour exam on such topics as: MEF definitions, access technologies, MEF certification, target applications, circuit emulation over Ethernet, SOAM and comparison with other network services. The exam can be taken online – supervised using a web-based proctoring service – or at a MEF-accredited training provider’s facility. Study material is available on the MEF website and via the MEF’s new mobile application – MEF on the Go. Certified individuals are automatically listed in the Directory of MEF Certified Professionals on the Ethernet Academy website.
Reflecting the rapid uptake of Professional Certification, 75 MEF CECPs from 20 countries have now been granted following the successful completion of the 4-month pilot phase of the program.
According to Michael Howard, principle Analyst, Infonetics Research, the growth in Ethernet services and IP MPLS VPN services will reach approximately $62.47 billion by 2014 and this represents a significant opportunity. “This professional certification could not be more timely. There will be a growing demand for accredited Carrier Ethernet expertise,” he says.
