Cisco Increases Global Access to Networking Certification

SAN JOSE, CA--(Marketwire - October 30, 2007) - To help increase the worldwide availability of networking talent, Cisco® (NASDAQ: CSCO) today announced localized versions of the curriculum and exams for its popular CCNA® and CCENT™ certification programs. Both the entry-level CCENT and associate-level CCNA certifications focus on the foundational skills needed to install, operate and support today's converged networks and help employers around the globe validate a candidate's skills.

Translated versions of the exams associated with the CCNA and CCENT certifications are scheduled to be released on the following dates:

--  Japanese: Dec. 1, 2007
--  Simplified Chinese: Dec. 8, 2007
--  Spanish: Dec. 28, 2007
--  Russian: Jan. 11, 2008
    

Additionally, Pearson VUE, Cisco's primary exam delivery partner, will add new testing facilities to accommodate growing regional demand. Since January, Pearson VUE has activated 69 testing facilities in mainland China, bringing the total number of test centers in the country to 211. Pearson VUE also has added 39 test centers in Latin America during 2007, for a total of 270 sites. Finally, Pearson VUE has added a dozen test centers within the Russian Federation during the past 10 months, for a total of 71 sites. Cisco exams are currently delivered at more than 4,000 test centers in Pearson VUE's global network.

The CCNA curriculum is also being localized and made available to Cisco's authorized learning partners around the world. Localized versions of the student and instructor guides for "Interconnecting Cisco Network Devices, Parts 1 and 2" are scheduled to be released to partners on the following dates:

--  Japanese: Nov. 30, 2007
--  Spanish: Nov. 30, 2007
--  Russian: Dec. 15, 2007
    

For information on the location and scheduling of courses in local languages, please visit Cisco's Learning Locator (http://tools.cisco.com/E-Learning-IT/LPCM/pub_jsp/ll/LpcmListAllCourses.jsp).

"Addressing the IT skills gap and the looming shortage of qualified networking professionals will require a truly global effort to tap the talent resources in emerging and established markets," said Jeanne Beliveau-Dunn, senior director of Learning@Cisco. "By providing entry- and associate-level examinations available in native languages and locations around the world, Cisco is opening the doors for aspiring network engineers to launch promising careers and fill the great demand for IT talent."

The second phase of CCNA localization, which includes French and Korean, is expected to be complete early next year.

To learn more about the Cisco certification programs, please visit: http://www.cisco.com/go/getcertified.

Additional information on VUE testing facilities is available at: http://www.vue.com/programs/.

Training and Availability

Authorized Cisco training is available from a global network of Cisco Learning Solutions Partners and the Partner Education Learning Connection. For complete details about the training and exam requirements, visit: http://www.cisco.com/go/certifications.

Cisco Press, the leader in CCNA self-study products, offers a comprehensive set of materials for the new CCNA exams. Cisco Press self-study products for "Interconnecting Cisco Network Devices, Part 1" (CCENT) and "Interconnecting Cisco Network Devices, Part 2" are scheduled to be available in Japanese, Spanish, Russian and Simplified Chinese, Korean and French in first quarter 2008. For additional information, visit: http://www.ciscopress.com/ccna.

About Cisco Systems

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Contact Information: Press Contact: Cara Sloman Cisco Systems, Inc. 831-440-2411 csloman@cisco.com