Virtual lab exam delivery and NRS II Lab Exam extension

Updated May 5, 2021

Nokia is pleased to announce that we have opened registration for Nokia NRS II Lab Exam (NRSII4A0) for virtual delivery.  Learn more about virtual lab exam delivery and register now.

The SRA lab exam is currently not available for virtual delivery; only in-person at our Shanghai, China office.

NRS II Lab Exam extension

In October, we announced changes coming to our Nokia Network Routing Specialist II (NRS II) Certification on April 1, 2021.  Notably, we announced an updated version of the NRS II Lab Exam would be released and a new BGP mandatory written exam requirement.  However, due to continued COVID-19 restrictions, we have been unable to offer our NRS II Lab Exam, resulting in a limited timeframe for participants to take the lab exam. 

As a result, we are pushing out the updated NRS II Lab Exam release to October 1, 2021. This means you have until September 30, 2021, to pass the NRS II Lab Exam and acquire the NRS II Certification if you became for the lab exam by March 31, 2021. If you do not pass the lab exam and become certified by September 30, 2021, you will be required to meet the updated requirements.

Please review the eligibility requirements before and after March 31, 2021, and the FAQs below:

What does it mean to be eligible for the NRS II Lab Exam?

Being eligible to take the NRS II Lab Exam before April 1, 2021, means that you have passed the following written exams:

• Nokia Interior Routing Protocols (4A0-101)
• Nokia Multiprotocol Label Switching (4A0-103)
• Nokia Services Architecture (4A0-104)

Being eligible to take the NRS II Lab Exam on April 1, 2021, or after, means that you have passed the following written exams:

• Nokia Interior Routing Protocols (4A0-101) or
  Nokia IS-IS Routing Protocol (4A0-112) or
  Nokia OSPF Routing Protocol (4A0-113) 
• Nokia Multiprotocol Label Switching (4A0-103)
• Nokia Services Architecture (4A0-104)
• Nokia Border Gateway Protocol Fundamentals for Services exam (4A0-114)

Frequently asked questions

I am currently eligible to take the NRS II Lab Exam.  How long do I have to take the NRS II Lab Exam before the new program changes come into effect on April 1, 2021?  

You have until September 30, 2021, to pass the NRS II Lab Exam.
 

I am NOT currently eligible to take the NRS II Lab Exam, but I am in the process of completing the mandatory exams before April 1, 2021.  How long do I have to take the NRS II Lab Exam? 

If you completed the required exams and became eligible for the NRS II Lab Exam by March 31, 2021, you have until September 30, 2021, to pass the NRS II Lab Exam.

If you DO NOT become eligible by March 31, 2021, you will be required to follow the new NRS II Certification requirements (see below).
 

What happens if I am eligible to take the NRS II Lab Exam by the March 31, 2021 deadline? However, I cannot pass the NRS II Lab Exam by the September 30, 2021 deadline?

If you DO NOT pass the NRS II Lab Exam by the September 30, 2021 deadline, you will be required to follow the new NRS II Certification requirements (see below).

I will not be eligible to take the NRS II Lab Exam by March 31, 2021.  How do I become NRS II Certified?

You will need to follow the new NRS II Certification requirements described below.

What are the new NRS II Certification requirements that take effect on April 1, 2021?

There are two critical changes to the NRS II Certification requirements: 

1. The Nokia Interior Routing Protocols exam (4A0-101)* will be retired on March 31, 2021. Effective April 1, 2021, program participants will have the option to select either the IS-IS Routing Protocol exam (4A0-112) or the OSPF Routing Protocol exam (4A0-113).

*Anyone that has passed the Nokia Interior Routing Protocols exam (4A0-101) before April 1 can still apply the exam toward the updated NRS II Certification, and you will not be required to pass the  IS-IS Routing Protocol exam (4A0-112) or the OSPF Routing Protocol exam (4A0-113).

2. A new mandatory exam, the Nokia Border Gateway Protocol Fundamentals for Services exam (4A0-114), will be added to the NRS II Certification requirements on April 1, 2021. 

In addition to the NRS II Certification requirements, there will be significant release updates to both the Nokia Multiprotocol Label Switching exam (4A0-103) and course (3FL30635AAAAZZZZA).  The updated exams will be available on April 1, 2021. 

See figure 1 below for the NRS II Certification requirements effective April 1, 2021.