The need for today’s organizations to share information, along with proliferation of high-speed broadband, has driven the global unified communications (UC) market for the past decade, if not longer. UC streamlines communications so that geologically-dispersed employees can interact digitally as if they’re in the same office, even if they’re located thousands of miles apart.
Centralized administration also makes UC popular with IT managers because it reduces the time and effort needed to support and secure corporate communications of all kinds. Because of a need for specialized skills to make large-scale UC implementations run their best, top UC vendors offer certifications to buttress and boost workforce capability and quality.
Simply Hired lists $91,623 as the average salary for a UC engineer’s role, with highest salaries reported at $139,737. Glassdoor lists UC salaries as high as $166,000 for senior and UC engineer positions. UC engineer salaries declined slightly from previous years with the average down from $94,354 to $91,623 (a dip of just under three percent). While this dip could just represent normal market fluctuations, it is a trend worth watching because we also observed a slight salary decrease last year.
We dug into various job boards to see how many UC jobs are available, specifically targeting jobs that called out one or more of our top five certifications: Avaya ACSS, CCIE Collaboration, CCNP Collaboration, IBM Sametime and MCSE: Productivity.
For IT professionals supporting Avaya products, the ACSS is a must-have credential. The company updated its certification programs in late 2015 and currently offers two separate professional certification tracks:
Sales and Design – this track offers three credentials:
Services – this track is aligned with Avaya engagement solutions and products, so you’ll see two flavors for some of the certifications depending on which solution track (product or engagement solution) is targeted. Avaya currently offers the following Services credentials:
The advanced-level ACSS cert targets more experienced Avaya practitioners both in support specialist and product specialist roles, covering 19 individual credentials. Candidates should possess technical skills sufficient to configure, install and administer Avaya products. Also, they should be well-versed in Avaya product maintenance, and in testing product implementations and troubleshooting issues. Successful candidates typically possess at least two years’ direct experience supporting Avaya products and four years working with the chosen Avaya technology. Each certification is valid for two years.
Requirements to obtain the ACSS certification depend on which credential one chooses to pursue. For information on prerequisite skills, curriculum maps, required training and the number of exams for individual credentials, visit Avaya’s credential program webpage. (Click the Services Credentials tab, then click on the ACSS button to view the full Catalog. Additional program information appears in the Avaya Professional Credential Program Overview.)
| Certification Name | Avaya Certified Solution Specialist (ACSS) |
|---|---|
| Prerequisites & Required Courses | Minimum of 4 years’ experience in the relevant technology plus 2 years’ experience supporting the Avaya product. Training is required and available in multiple formats (classroom, virtual classroom and on-demand); depending on solution track. Expect to pay between $3,500 and $4,500 per classroom course, or $1,400 per 16-hour course, and $2,100 per 24-hour course in the virtual classroom or on-demand. |
| Number of Exams | One exam per credential |
| Cost of Exam | $125
Exams administered by Pearson VUE |
| URL | https://www.avaya-learning.com/lms/#/credentials/credential-program |
| Self-Study Materials | None |
Cisco offers its CCIE Collaboration certification, which identifies expert skills in unified communications, video and telecom. Only the cream of the crop earns the CCIE, and CCIE Collaboration is no exception.
The expert-level CCIE Collaboration credential recognizes seasoned collaboration and UC architects, as well as voice and video network managers, who design, deploy and troubleshoot enterprise collaboration solutions that are moderately to highly complex. Although the certification requires no prerequisites or specific training, Cisco designed the CCIE Collaboration for individuals with true expertise and lots of relevant experience (three to five years, minimum) with UC solution integration, configuration and troubleshooting.
Like other CCIE certs, the certification has a written qualification exam and a hands-on lab exam, both of which are rigorous and often take multiple attempts to pass. Cisco includes emerging technologies in its assessments. A great value-add available through the Cisco 360 Learning Program for CCIE Collaboration is remote access to an online environment that contains equipment to practice hands-on for the lab exam.
CCIE credential holders must recertify every two years or it will be suspended. It’s the responsibility of the credential holder to keep track of their individual recertification deadline. You can apply for a one-year extension to complete re-cert requirements, but if you miss that deadline, your certification is lost forever.
Recertification involves passing a single exam. Currently, acceptable recertification exams include any current CCIE written or lab exam, or a current CCDE written or practical exam. Credential holders may also recertify by passing the Cisco Certified Architect (CCAr) interview and board review. Alternatively, credential holders may recertify through participation in the Cisco Continuing Education Program (CEP). To recertify through the CEP, credential holders must earn 100 continuing education credits, pay a $300 administrative fee, and agree to CEP terms and conditions.
| Certification Name | Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) Collaboration |
|---|---|
| Prerequisites & Required Courses | No course prerequisites. In-depth understanding of exam subjects plus three to five years of job experience recommended. |
| Number of Exams | Two exams: Written qualification exam (Exam 400-051 version 2.0: CCIE Collaboration), 90 to 110 questions, 120 minutes.
Hands-on lab exam (Version 2.0), 8 hours. |
| Cost of Exam | Written exam: $450, exam 400-051
Lab exam: $1,600 per attempt |
| URL | https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/community/certifications/ccie_collaboration |
| Self-Study Materials | Written exam: The CCIE written exam website maintains a list of Cisco Press resources, reference and design guides, training, self-assessment tools, and more. Additional self-study resources are available from the Cisco Learning Network Store.
CCIE Lab Exam: The Cisco Learning Network maintains a list of self-study resources for the CCIE lab exam. CCIE Practice Exam: Udemy offers a practice exam with weekly-updated Dumps as the final prep for the CCIE. |
The intermediate-level CCNP Collaboration recognizes network engineers who are well versed in Cisco Voice and UC devices and applications in enterprise networks.
Four exams are required to qualify for the CCNP Collaboration credential. A certified candidate designs, implements, configures, manages and troubleshoots Cisco UC applications, networks and devices. Candidates should have in-depth knowledge of all facets of unified networking, including gateways, IP phones, quality of service (QoS), voice, video and presence applications, and utilities for configuring Cisco routers and switches, in addition to one to three years’ experience with these technologies.
Training is recommended but not required. Cisco offers in-depth training courses, both in the classroom and online, for each exam. Depending on the training provider, classroom live and virtual classroom live courses cost approximately $3,795, while online self-paced courses start at about $1,100. Training courses typically last five days.
The CCNP Collaboration, like all Cisco professional-level certifications, requires recertification every three years. To recertify, you must pass one Cisco exam before your cert’s expiration date. Acceptable exams include any current 642-XXX professional-level exam, any 300-XXX professional-level exam, any CCIE written exam, any CCDE written or practical exam, or passing the Cisco Certified Architect (CCAr) interview and board review.
The intermediate-level IBM Sametime administrator credential aims at systems administrators with existing skills and hands-on experience in IBM Sametime 9.0. Candidates must understand architectural considerations when running IBM Sametime within an IBM WebSphere environment. They must also demonstrate their knowledge of Sametime deployment and audio/video configuration within Sametime, along with management, troubleshooting, performance monitoring and optimization techniques.
The certification requires candidates to pass a 78-question multiple-choice exam, to be completed in no more than 105 minutes. IBM emphasizes the need for hands-on experience before tackling this exam, stating that “direct application of the skills learned cannot be substituted” with any of the self-study materials. The exam measures a candidate’s knowledge of task performance rather than memorization of features and functions.
In addition to the Certified System Administrator credential, IBM also offers two related certifications:
The IBM Certified System Administrator – IBM Lotus Sametime 8.5 credential is still available for those working in Lotus Sametime 8.5 environments.
While IBM certifications are evergreen and don’t expire, the same cannot be said for technology. Credential holders should plan to move up and recertify on new technology as it becomes available.
| Certification Name | IBM Certified System Administrator – Sametime V9.0 |
|---|---|
| Prerequisites | Basic IBM Sametime administration knowledge plus hands-on experience with IBM Sametime V9.0 |
| Number of Exams | One exam: Exam C2040-413: IBM Sametime 9.0 Administration (78 questions, 105 minutes, 52 questions required to pass) |
| Cost of Exam | $200. Exams administered by Pearson VUE. |
| URL | https://www.ibm.com/certify/cert?id=14011704 |
| Self-Study Materials | IBM maintains a list of exam objectives, Technotes, product documentation and web resources for the exam. Also, candidates can purchase a web-based sample/practice exam (number A2040-413 Assessment: IBM Sametime 9.0 Administration) from Pearson VUE for $30. |
The MCSE: Productivity certification targets professionals supporting enterprise-grade hybrid and cloud solutions for Microsoft Office. Key technologies include Microsoft Office 365, Microsoft Office, Exchange, Skype for Business and SharePoint.
To obtain the MCSE: Productivity credential, candidates must first obtain the Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA): Office 365, MCSA: Windows Server 2012 or MCSA Windows Server 2016 certification. Then, they must pass one additional exam from an approved list. Currently, there are eight different exams to choose from. In addition, Microsoft recommends three to four years of experience.
The Microsoft Certification Program underwent extensive changes in September 2016. Once you earn one of the latest MCSE credentials, you do not have to recertify within three years as was the case in the past. However, by passing an elective exam each calendar year, you add an entry to your transcript that indicates your commitment to staying current on technologies and expanding your skillset.
| Certification Name | Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE): Productivity |
|---|---|
| Prerequisites & Required Courses | MCSA: Office 365, MCSA: Windows Server 2012 or MCSA Windows Server 2016 certification
Three or more years of experience recommended. |
| Number of Exams | Candidates must pass one of the following exams:
Exam 70-345: Designing and Deploying Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 Exam 70-339: Managing Microsoft SharePoint Server 2016 Exam 70-333: Deploying Enterprise Voice with Skype for Business 2015 Exam 70-334: Core Solutions of Microsoft Skype for Business 2015 Exam 70-331: Core Solutions of Microsoft SharePoint Server 2013 Exam 70-332: Advanced Solutions of Microsoft SharePoint Server 2013 Exam 70-341: Core Solutions of Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 Exam 70-342: Advanced Solutions of Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 |
| Cost of Exam | $165 per exam. Exams administered by Pearson VUE. |
| URL | https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/learning/mcse-productivity-certification.aspx |
| Self-Study Materials | Microsoft provides links to training, practice exams by third-party vendors such as Mindhub and MeasureUp, case studies, exam study groups and more. Links to community support forums and other resources are listed on each exam web page. Microsoft also offers various training options through its Microsoft Official Courses On-Demand (MOC On-Demand) program. |
The UC certification landscape is not as crowded as the pool of general networking certs or the increasingly popular cloud and mobile credentials, but UC is on the rise nonetheless. In fact, traditional UC is increasingly offered through the cloud, forcing certifications to take on a new flavor to accommodate the latest technologies and techniques.
In addition to the top five certs covered in this article, many colleges and universities offer courses in unified communications or certificate programs aimed at workforce training. Note that most of those programs incorporate Cisco equipment and applications. Other programs are available, though. We conducted a simple Google search that revealed several interesting choices, including the Information Technology: Network Specialist Concentration at the Pennsylvania College of Technology.
Another consideration is Mitel Networks. Although the company doesn’t offer its own IT career certifications as of this writing, Gartner considers Mitel one of the leaders in the UC market, and the company name appears in job board searches for “unified communications” with great frequency. That means there’s an abundance of open positions that call for Mitel experience and/or knowledge. When evaluating UC certifications, and especially certificate programs through colleges or universities, consider if the required skills and knowledge might transfer to a job working with Mitel technology.
One word to describe yourself: Determined
Alma Mater: University of Pennsylvania (City Planning); University of Michigan (Urban Design); University of Pune, India (Architecture)
Fast fact about yourself: As of July 2023, I have traveled in 33 different public transit systems across nine countries spanning four continents.
What’s your best experience on transit and what made it memorable? Riding Washington, D.C.’s Metrorail from our home in Silver Spring, Md., to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in July 2021. It was memorable because it was also our two-year old son’s first time on the Metrorail!
Aditya Inamdar is a seasoned professional in the fields of architecture, urban design and city planning. He focuses on creating urban design solutions that integrate mass transportation projects with the built environment to foster sustainable and livable communities. Inamdar strongly advocates for a collaborative and interdisciplinary approach, involving community members and agency stakeholders to design and plan equitable places.
Originally from Pune, India, Inamdar’s academic journey brought him to the U.S., where he studied urban design and city planning with a focus on public-private development and transportation infrastructure. He has more than 12 years of experience working on architecture, urban design and planning projects and has been a member of the Kittelson & Associates team since 2013. Throughout the past decade, he has played a critical role in leading planning studies and developing recommendations for mass transportation projects across multiple states, including Florida, California, Texas, Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Washington, D.C.
Examples of notable projects Inamdar has led include the planning analysis and recommendations for bus rapid transit (BRT) projects in Orlando, Fla., as part of the SR 436 Transit Corridor Study and the exploration of transit-oriented development potential for enhanced public transportation services in Northern Virginia. Currently, he is leading transit planning studies and TOD explorations in Denton County, Texas, and the East-West Corridor Study in Baltimore, Md.
Inamdar’s contributions to the field extend beyond his professional endeavors in mass transit. He has been responsible for significant innovations, such as being the key member in the development of the Context Classification system for the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) . The Context Classification graphic he created for FDOT has become an industry standard, connecting land-use-based place types with transportation. Inamdar also led the creation of the FDOT Context Classification Framework for Bus Transit Facilities, guiding the planning and designing of bus transit facilities in different land-use context zones.
Inamdar actively engages in industry-related associations and organizations, such as the American Planning Association, Urban Land Institute, Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals (APBP), Congress for the New Urbanism and Institute of Transportation Engineers. He is a Fellow at the Urban Design Forum in New York City and has served as co-chair for the APBP National Capital Region Chapter.
Is there a specific experience that led you to where you are today?
During one of my early graduate school classes, our professor introduced us to the concept of Complete Streets. The idea of redesigning our streets and public spaces to enhance the comfort and safety of all users was particularly inspiring to me. I am able to effectively bring together my diverse skills in architecture, urban design and planning to the mission of planning and designing streets for all users – people who walk, bike and take transit. Since then, for more than a decade, I have worked as an urban planner and designer for Kittelson & Associates, leveraging transportation planning and engineering projects to create welcoming public spaces for all users.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
As an urban planner and designer working for a transportation planning and engineering consulting firm, I can work on multi-disciplinary projects of varying scales, from regional master plans to specific intersection designs at locations across the country.
What’s the most challenging part of your job?
As a consultant, I am not the local expert on most projects I work on, but I serve the role of an external subject matter expert. The most challenging aspect of my work is at the start of every new project, where I need to quickly develop a deep understanding of a project's location regarding its history, culture, demographics, politics, previous work and issues and opportunities. This deep understanding of the places we work in is critical to building credibility and trust with the local community. It is also essential to conduct detailed analyses and develop context-sensitive solutions.
Accomplishment you’re most proud of and why?
I am most proud of the positive feedback I hear from people who navigate spaces I planned and designed. A couple of such examples that come to mind are related to Complete Streets projects in Melbourne and Cocoa in Brevard County, Florida. I was fortunate to work on a Complete Streets plan for the Space Coast Transportation Planning Organization (SCTPO) in Brevard County, Fla. This county-wide plan identified key priority streets to be redesigned to enhance pedestrian, bicycle and transit facilities. Within six years, I was able to contribute to the county-wide plan, develop concept designs for three corridors and walk the redesigned streets. These streets were redesigned to include multi-modal facilities such as wider sidewalks, shared-use paths, bike lanes, crosswalks, roundabouts and transit shelters. They also included enhanced streetscapes with trees, landscaping, lighting and benches. The most heartening aspect of this project was a couple of conversations I had while visiting the streets a year after implementation. A mom pushing her stroller on Hickory Street in Melbourne mentioned that she walks more often and feels safer than before. A new restaurant owner on Florida Avenue in Cocoa mentioned that he decided to open his new restaurant at that location because of the new street design.
Best advice/tip/best practice to share from your area of expertise?
Always think from the perspective of people using and navigating the spaces and facilities we are designing, regardless of the scale and the detail of the specific task we are currently working on. For example, even if we are working on a large regional transit network plan, it is critical to imagine what the lines and dots on the maps will look like in real life. Envision how the lines will reflect on the street design and its implications on pedestrians, bicyclists and other road users. Imagine how dots on the map can be designed as safe, accessible and comfortable transit stops. However, abstract, our work products look like they are meant to be designs of physical spaces that people of all ages and abilities need to navigate safely and comfortably.
