A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a server having a controller adapted to determine at least one network element to be designated as being in a probation mode where the network element is operably coupled to an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network and is adapted to utilize Session Initiation Protocol, and determine communication devices to be designated as testing devices where the communication devices are user end point devices, wherein use of the network element for communication between user end points over the IMS network is limited to the testing devices. Other embodiments are disclosed.