Avaya Inc. announced Monday that it has updated its Avaya Connect channel training and certification programs to include subscription-based delivery and two new certifications, including one for SIP communications.

Last fall Avaya announced plans for its Avaya Connect Professional Credentials program with a solutions-based focus. The program streamlines the total number of certifications to 36 and reduces the total number of hours required to complete courses by 84 percent.

New subscription pricing enables partners to access training required for certification within a solution track for a single price over a 12-18 month period. Cost of training is discounted by up to 75 percent over the a la carte course option.

The gearmaker also has introduced two new certifications. The Avaya Certified Solutions Architect (ACSA), the first SIP Communications Architect certification in the industry, focuses on the knowledge necessary to build a communications network around the Avaya Aura unified communications platform.

The new Avaya Certified Installation Specialist (ACIS) addresses the needs of installation and integration technicians who typically install individual products rather than solutions. This new credential provides a streamlined, product-based curriculum designed to support simple implementations.