Top 10 Voip Engineer Certifications
Updated 15 min read
Certifications are important for VoIP engineers in the job market as they demonstrate a certain level of knowledge and proficiency in the field. Certifications also provide validation that an engineer has the skills necessary to work with VoIP systems, which can be invaluable when competing for positions. Additionally, certifications can help employers determine if an engineer has the technical aptitude needed to handle complex tasks. Lastly, certifications serve as a way to differentiate one engineer from another and can make a VoIP engineer more marketable in the job market.
The purpose of this article is to review certifications that can help VoIP Engineers advance their career and gain valuable knowledge in the field.
What are Voip Engineer Certifications?
VoIP Engineer Certification is a type of certification offered by various organizations that trains professionals in the installation and maintenance of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) systems. VoIP technology is quickly becoming the preferred choice for businesses looking to reduce their telecommunications costs, and certified VoIP engineers are highly sought after by employers. With a VoIP Engineer Certification, professionals will gain the knowledge and skills needed to install, configure, troubleshoot and maintain complex VoIP networks.
The certification covers topics such as IP addressing, signaling protocols, codecs, Quality of Service (QoS), media gateways, call routing strategies and other advanced topics related to voice technologies over IP networks. After completing the certification program, professionals will be able to design and deploy secure enterprise-level VoIP solutions. This certification can help advance an engineer's career by giving them the necessary skills to implement sophisticated VoIP systems in any business environment. It also provides them with an edge when competing for jobs that involve working with Voice over IP technology.
Pro Tip: Make sure to research the different certifications available for VoIP engineers, as each certification carries its own set of requirements and benefits. This will help you ensure that you select the certification that is best suited for your individual skillset and career goals.
Related: What does a Voip Engineer do?
Top 10 Voip Engineer Certifications
Here’s our list of the best certifications available to Voip Engineers today.
1. Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) Voice
Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) Voice is a certification that validates an individual's knowledge and skills in planning, implementing, verifying, and troubleshooting converged enterprise networks. It focuses on the integration of voice technologies with IP networks. To get this certification, you must first pass the CCNA Voice exam and then pass four additional exams: Implementing Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM), Implementing Cisco Unity Connection (CUC), Implementing Cisco Unified Communications Manager Express (CME), and Troubleshooting Cisco Unified Communications (TVOICE).
The entire process to obtain the CCNP Voice certification typically takes about six months to complete. The cost for the exams varies depending on the country you are taking them in. Generally speaking, each exam costs around $250 USD.
2. Avaya Certified Implementation Specialist (ACIS) Voice
Avaya Certified Implementation Specialist (ACIS) Voice is a certification program designed to recognize individuals who have demonstrated their knowledge and skills in the implementation of Avaya Voice solutions. This certification validates an individual’s ability to design, install, configure, and maintain Avaya Voice solutions.
It typically takes a minimum of three months to complete the ACIS Voice certification program. The program consists of two courses—the Avaya Professional Sales (APSS) course and the Avaya Professional Design (APD) course—which must be completed in order to become certified. The APSS course covers topics such as sales process, product positioning, customer needs analysis, and pricing strategies; while the APD course focuses on designing and implementing voice solutions for customers.
In order to obtain the ACIS Voice certification, you must pass both exams with a score of 70% or higher. You can purchase the exam vouchers from Pearson VUE or directly from Avaya Learning Center. The cost for each exam voucher is approximately $200 USD.
3. Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE) Voice
Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE) Voice is a certification that validates an individual’s skills in deploying, configuring, and managing Microsoft Unified Communications solutions. This includes Skype for Business Server 2015, Exchange Server 2016, and Lync Server 2013. With this certification, IT professionals can demonstrate their expertise in designing, implementing, and maintaining unified communications solutions based on Microsoft technologies.
The MCSE Voice certification requires passing two exams: 70-333 and 70-334. The 70-333 exam focuses on the deployment of Skype for Business 2015 server components such as Enterprise Voice, conferencing, archiving and monitoring. The 70-334 exam covers topics such as Exchange Server 2016 architecture, messaging security and compliance features.
To get the MCSE Voice certification you must first pass the two required exams. Both exams cost $165 each to take. Depending on your experience level with Microsoft technologies it may take anywhere from three to six months of study time to prepare for the exams.
The total cost of getting the MCSE Voice certification is approximately $330 plus any additional costs associated with studying for the exams such as books or online courses.
4. CompTIA VoIP Certification
CompTIA VoIP Certification is a professional certification designed to validate an individual’s knowledge and skills in the field of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). It is designed for IT professionals who want to demonstrate their ability to install, configure, maintain, and troubleshoot VoIP systems.
The CompTIA VoIP certification requires individuals to pass two exams: CV0-002 CompTIA VoIP+ and CV1-003 CompTIA Cloud+. The exams are administered by Pearson VUE. Both exams are 90 minutes long and contain a maximum of 90 questions.
To get the CompTIA VoIP certification, individuals must first register with Pearson VUE and then purchase the exam vouchers for both exams. The cost of each exam voucher is $219 USD. After purchasing the exam vouchers, individuals can schedule their exams at any time that is convenient for them.
Once they have passed both exams, they will receive their CompTIA VoIP certification from CompTIA. The entire process typically takes about two weeks from start to finish.
5. Polycom Certified Videoconferencing Engineer (PCVE)
Polycom Certified Videoconferencing Engineer (PCVE) is a professional certification program designed to validate the knowledge and skills of videoconferencing engineers. The PCVE certification is an industry-recognized credential that demonstrates a high level of proficiency in deploying, configuring, and troubleshooting Polycom video conferencing solutions.
The PCVE certification requires the successful completion of an online course, followed by a hands-on lab exam. The online course covers topics such as system architecture, network design, audio and video quality assurance, user experience optimization, system configuration and troubleshooting. It typically takes 8-10 hours to complete the course.
In order to become certified as a PCVE, you must first register for the certification program through Polycom’s website. You will then be required to purchase the online course and lab exam for $795 USD. Upon successful completion of both the online course and lab exam you will receive your PCVE certification from Polycom.
6. Genesys Certified Professional (GCP) Voice
Genesys Certified Professional (GCP) Voice is a certification program designed to demonstrate your knowledge and skills in the Genesys Voice Platform. It is intended for professionals who are responsible for designing, deploying, managing, and troubleshooting the Genesys Voice Platform.
The GCP Voice certification consists of two exams: GCP8-System Consultant and GCP9-Voice Platform Specialist. The System Consultant exam focuses on the design, deployment, and management of the Genesys Voice Platform while the Voice Platform Specialist exam covers configuration, troubleshooting, and optimization of the platform.
It typically takes about 6 months to prepare for both exams. To get certified you must pass both exams with a score of 70% or higher within one year.
The cost of each exam is $200 USD plus applicable taxes. The total cost to become certified is therefore $400 USD plus applicable taxes.
7. ShoreTel Certified Professional (SCP) Voice
ShoreTel Certified Professional (SCP) Voice is a certification program that provides individuals with the knowledge and skills to successfully implement, configure, and maintain ShoreTel voice solutions. The SCP Voice certification requires passing a written exam and completing a hands-on lab. It is designed to validate an individual’s technical expertise in ShoreTel voice solutions.
The written exam consists of multiple-choice questions and takes approximately two hours to complete. The hands-on lab requires the completion of various tasks using a ShoreTel system. This lab typically takes between four and six hours to complete.
To obtain the SCP Voice certification, individuals must first register with ShoreTel University and then purchase an exam voucher from the ShoreTel Store. The cost of the exam voucher varies depending on whether you are taking the exam for personal use or as part of an employer’s training program. The cost can range from $50 - $500 USD depending on the type of exam purchased.
Once registered, individuals must pass both the written exam and hands-on lab in order to receive their SCP Voice certification. Upon successful completion of both exams, individuals will be awarded their certifications which are valid for three years from the date of issuance.
8. Mitel Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE) Voice
Mitel Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE) Voice is a certification program designed to demonstrate an individual's expertise in the design, implementation and support of Mitel VoIP solutions. This certification is intended for IT professionals who have experience with Mitel voice solutions and wish to demonstrate their proficiency in this area.
To obtain the MCSE Voice certification, applicants must pass two exams: the Mitel Core Technologies exam and the Mitel Advanced Technologies exam. The Core Technologies exam covers topics such as network architecture, system configuration, installation, troubleshooting and maintenance of Mitel systems. The Advanced Technologies exam focuses on more advanced topics such as integration with other systems, security protocols and voice quality assurance.
The exams can be taken at any Pearson VUE testing center or online through Pearson’s website. Each exam costs $125 USD and takes approximately 90 minutes to complete. Candidates must score at least 70% on each test to pass. Once both exams are passed, candidates will receive their MCSE Voice certification from Mitel.
The cost of obtaining the MCSE Voice certification varies depending on how many exams are taken and where they are taken from. Generally speaking, it will cost around $250 USD for both exams plus any applicable taxes or fees associated with taking them at a physical testing center.
9. Alcatel-Lucent IP Telephony and Applications Certifications
Alcatel-Lucent IP Telephony and Applications Certifications are a series of certifications that demonstrate an individual’s expertise in the Alcatel-Lucent IP Telephony and Applications products. These certifications provide a way for individuals to demonstrate their knowledge and skills in the areas of IP telephony, VoIP, voice over wireless LAN (VoWLAN), unified communications, contact center solutions, mobility solutions, and more.
The Alcatel-Lucent IP Telephony and Applications certification program consists of three levels: Associate, Professional, and Expert. The Associate level is the entry-level certification for those just beginning to learn about Alcatel-Lucent technologies. The Professional level is designed for those with more experience who wish to gain a deeper understanding of the technology. The Expert level is reserved for those with extensive experience who can demonstrate mastery of the technology.
It typically takes between four to six months to complete an Alcatel-Lucent IP Telephony and Applications certification depending on which level you are pursuing. To get certified, individuals must pass a series of exams offered by Alcatel-Lucent or its authorized partners. The cost of these exams varies depending on which exams are taken but they typically range from $100-$200 per exam.
10. Juniper Networks JNCIS-VoIP Certification
Juniper Networks JNCIS-VoIP certification is an industry-recognized credential that validates a professional’s knowledge and skills in the design, implementation, and troubleshooting of Voice over IP (VoIP) networks. It is designed for network engineers who have a basic understanding of VoIP protocols and technologies, as well as experience working with Juniper Networks products.
It typically takes about two months to prepare for the JNCIS-VoIP certification exam. To get certified, you must first pass the JNCIS-VoIP exam. This exam consists of 65 multiple-choice questions and lasts for 90 minutes. The cost of the exam varies depending on your location but typically ranges from $200 to $300 USD.
In order to prepare for the exam, it is recommended that you have hands-on experience with Juniper Networks products such as Junos OS, Junos Space Network Director, and Junos Space Security Director. You should also become familiar with topics such as IP Telephony architectures, VoIP signaling protocols (SIP/H.323), voice quality assessment tools (MOS/PESQ), QoS mechanisms (DiffServ/RSVP), VoIP security (SRTP/TLS), and voice gateways (MGCP/SCCP). Additionally, you should practice using the command line interface (CLI) to configure and troubleshoot VoIP networks.
Once you have passed the JNCIS-VoIP exam, you will receive your official certification from Juniper Networks. This certification is valid for three years after which time you must retake the exam in order to maintain your certification status.
Do You Really Need a Voip Engineer Certificate?
No, you do not necessarily need a VoIP engineer certificate to be successful in the field of Voice over IP engineering. However, having such a certification can provide evidence of your knowledge and expertise in this area, which may help you stand out among other candidates when applying for jobs or negotiating pay increases. Additionally, it may also give you access to more advanced positions or higher-paying jobs that require specialized skills.
In order to become a certified VoIP engineer, you must demonstrate a thorough understanding of various topics related to Voice over IP technology, including routing protocols, network security protocols, signaling protocols and the different types of hardware used in the transmission of voice data. You must also have experience with configuring and troubleshooting IP networks and be able to identify problems quickly and efficiently. A certification program will typically involve both classroom instruction as well as hands-on lab work where you can practice your skills on virtual networks.
Ultimately, whether or not you need a VoIP engineer certificate will depend on your individual career goals as well as the requirements set forth by employers within the industry. Although having such a credential could potentially be beneficial to some individuals, it is important to remember that it is not always necessary for success within this field.
Related: Voip Engineer Resume Examples
FAQs About Voip Engineer Certifications
1. What is a VoIP Engineer Certification?
Answer: A VoIP Engineer Certification is a certification program designed to help engineers understand the fundamentals of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology and its related technologies. This certification provides a comprehensive overview of how to design, configure, troubleshoot and manage VoIP systems.
2. How long does it take to become certified?
Answer: The length of time it takes to become certified depends on the specific certification program you choose and the amount of study time you can commit. Generally, most certifications can be completed within 6-12 months with an average of 40 hours per week dedicated to studying.
3. What are the requirements for becoming certified?
Answer: Most VoIP engineering certifications require applicants to have a minimum of two years' experience working in IT or related fields as well as passing one or more exams administered by the relevant certification provider.
4. What benefits do I gain from becoming certified?
Answer: Becoming certified in VoIP engineering demonstrates your knowledge and proficiency in this area, which can help you stand out among other job seekers and make you more attractive to potential employers. Having a professional certification also allows you to stay current on industry trends and technologies as well as increase your earning potential due to having a specialized skill set.
5. Are there any prerequisites for taking the exam?
Answer: Yes, many certifications require applicants to have at least two years of experience working in IT or related fields before they can take the exam. Additionally, some certifications may require applicants to complete certain courses or training prior to taking the exam.