CNEs Reach 50,000 Mark for Novell Milestone Confirms CNE as the Global Standard for Industry Certification Programs, Service and Support

PROVO, Utah -- March 1, 1995 -- Novell, Inc. marked an industry milestone in Information Technology (IT) training and certification as it identified Jan Schipper, of Houten, The Netherlands, as the 50,000th Certified Novell Engineer (CNE). This event occurs only five years after Novell pioneered network training and certification in the IT industry, and further distinguishes the CNE program as the most successful approach to IT certification to date. With the largest channel for training and the greatest student throughput and success rate, Novell Education continues to lead the IT industry as the world's top IT training provider. This continuing leadership has prompted senior industry analysts like Ellen Hersh, of International Data Corporation (IDC), to comment that "when Novell Education innovates, everyone follows."

"With this and other milestones, Novell Education continues to be the envy of the industry," said Bob Frankenberg, President, CEO, and Chair of Novell, Inc. "The infrastructure we've built to support our student customers is a singular achievement. It encompasses more than 3,000 Certified Novell Instructors (CNIs) at over 1,300 Novell Authorized Education Centers (NAECs) around the globe. Last year, These education partners trained more than half a million people to design, install, and manage Novell networks. This year, they'll train more than three quarters of a million.

"We've certified more than 50,000 CNEs," Frankenberg continued. "No one else even comes close to providing this level or number of trained network professionals. Our throughput is ten times any other network vendor's service, support, education, or training capacity."

"Certification is a process of making certain that a person can perform a job or duty at a predictable level of competence," said Hersh. "This process enables professionals to raise the standards of quality for the work they do. Thus the certification of the 50,000th CNE is an affirmation on the part of the IT industry towards establishing high levels of competency in their professional ranks. The strength of the CNE program and other IT industry certifications is that it keeps professionals on the leading edge of their field, and, in turn, keeps the organizations that they work for competitive."

Mr. Schipper is a field service engineer for TekServ, a subsidiary of Triple P, a worldwide systems integrator. TekServ's parent company, MAI Europe, maintains an extensive service organization, providing hardware maintenance, software installation, and network services to an installed base of more than 7,000 customers. Schipper is currently one of 23 CNEs at TekServ.

"You can learn a lot from your colleagues," Schipper said, "but the real technical background you get only through Novell courseware and testing, and that gives you confidence when you're in the field with customers. You can get an answer for a customer from a manual, but to answer them well, you need more than a manual--you need knowledge. Our customers rely on us to install and maintain their networks. The situation demands that you be certified, and the certification the market demands is CNE."

A Broad Channel for Learning

Novell has also made it possible for students to take CNE testing at local sites around the world. Originally the company partnered with Drake Prometric in 1990 to grow its testing infrastructure, making certification testing conveniently accessible to candidates. Drake Prometric recently celebrated offering its millionth test--a Novell CNE exam.

"We congratulate Mr. Schipper and all 50,000 CNEs on their dedication and commitment to improving the standards of the networking industry,"said William Dorman, president and chief executive officer of Drake Prometric. "Our global network of test centers have helped make testing readily available to CNE candidates around the world. Drake is pleased to have played such an integral role with Novell in growing the CNE program."

In February, Novell expanded this testing infrastructure to include more than 200 Sylvan Technology Centers world-wide. Students can test globally at more than 675 DATCs and 200 Sylvan testing centers around the world.

"Driving pervasive computing through quality education products and programs is the mission of Novell Education," said Carolyn G. Rose, vice president and general manager of Novell Education. "Providing the best service to our student customers in all aspects of learning is essential to that mission. By extending testing options, Novell Education is enhancing our already strong testing infrastructure, and is providing student customers with even greater flexibility of location and schedule for their certification exams."

Students studying for CNE exams can choose from several study options, including student kits, computer-based training (CBT), and instructor-led training at an NAEC--a method Novell pioneered.

"Novell recognizes the diverse learning styles of our many student customers," Rose said. "Our NAECs offer convenience-of-location, schedule, and close relationships that are the hallmark of Novell-quality training programs. And Novell Education provides courseware options through the NAECs that offer student customers a learning choice that is best suited to them."

More than half a million Novell-authorized student courses were taken in 1994, a number that is slated to grow to more than three quarters of a million. Novell currently has 50,000-plus CNEs, 40,000-plus Certified Novell Administrators (CNAs), 3,000-plus Certified Novell Instructors (CNIs), and 4,000 Enterprise Certified Novell Engineers (ECNEs).

Global Leader

"Novell Education has set the standard for certification in this industry," Rose said. "That is clearly a global standard. This 50,000th CNE demonstrates a pervasive need in multi-national organizations to establish consistency in supporting their networking and network applications systems, and a clear choice to date for Novell products and training."

Value of CNE Certification Remains High

In a survey taken last year, managers rated the performance of network experts in installing and maintaining networks before and after their certification as CNEs. The results showed a clear correlation between CNE certification and job performance.

• Ninety-five percent the managers polled rate the CNE training as valuable in helping employees perform their job responsibilities.
  
• Manager rate their employees' performance as:

  
  Before CNE               After CNE
  9% very capable             58% very capable