A Complete Updated Cisco Certification Guide
Cisco networking gear is everywhere. Its routers, switches, and even phones are found in most office environments. IT professionals who specialize in network administration likely work in a Cisco environment at some point. That's why Cisco certifications are so popular and highly valued.
Cisco certifications validate the knowledge and skills IT professionals need to be successful at managing and maintaining Cisco technologies. This CBT Nuggets certification guide covers Cisco certifications, including how to earn Cisco certifications and the roles Cisco certifications can prepare learners for.
What are Cisco Certifications?
Cisco has a robust certification program that validates whether IT professionals can manage, configure, and maintain Cisco equipment.
Cisco certifications are designed to validate the knowledge that IT professionals have learned through on-the-job experience. In sum, networking professionals learn Cisco systems and networking through the normal course of their jobs. Cisco certifications then test that they learned the career-level appropriate knowledge and skills.
Since every networking job is different, some professionals may need to learn new material for the exam. Cisco certifications fill knowledge gaps and ensure consistent expertise across the industry.
CCNA Certification
Cisco offers three Associate-level exams: CCNA, DevNet, and CCNA CyberOps. The CCNA and DevNet Associate certifications validate the knowledge and skills a networking professional should have acquired in their first year on the job.
As of 2020, there is now only one CCNA exam: Implementing and Administering Cisco Solutions (200-301 CCNA). This exam covers many foundational networking topics, including network fundamentals, IP connectivity, automation, security fundamentals, and more.
Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
The Cisco Certified Network Associate certification is designed for IT professionals with at least one year of hands-on experience with business networks.
The CCNA certification validates a candidate's understanding of networking topics:
Configuring and verifying IPv4 addressing and subnetting
Interpreting the components of a routing table
Configuring L2 protocols, LACP, VLANS, and interswitch connectivity
Using DCHP, NTP, NAT, SNMP, SSH, and TFTP/FTP
Understanding security program components
Implementing network automation and orchestration tools
Required exam: Earning the CCNA requires passing one exam — Implementing and Administering Cisco Solutions (200-301 CCNA).
Prerequisites: None.
Recommended experience: While Cisco certifications no longer have formal prerequisites, Cisco recommends that candidates attempting this Associate-level exam have at least one year of experience in an IT role.
DevNet Associate – Developer
The new DevNet Associate—Developer certification is designed for IT professionals with networking and development skills—a valuable marriage of skill sets in a modern IT environment.
The DevNet Associate – Developer certification validates a candidate's understanding of these infrastructure and programming topics:
Identifying and properly using common data formats such as JSON and XML
Using Python to call a REST API
Constructing code to automate specific network operations
Dockerizing applications
Automating tasks and processes using tools like Cisco NSO and Ansible
Required exam: Earning the DevNet Associate requires passing one exam — Developing Applications and Automating Workflows using Cisco Core Platforms (200-901 DEVASC).
Prerequisites: None.
Recommended experience: While Cisco certifications no longer have formal prerequisites, Cisco recommends that candidates attempting the DevNet certification have at least one year of experience in an IT role and a good handle on the Python programming language.
CyberOps Associate
The CyberOps Associate certification is designed for entry-level cybersecurity professionals. CyberOps Associate is an approved certification under the DoD 8570.01-M framework in the CSSP Analyst and CCSP Incident Responder categories.
The new CyberOps certification validates a candidate's understanding of security topics, including:
Understanding and implementing access
Control modes
Knowing the security impact of common cryptography methods
Identifying common attack vectors and
Responding to security vulnerabilities
Mapping data types to compliance frameworks
Analyzing data from security events
Working in a Security Operations Center (SOC)
Automation and advanced threat protection
Required exams: Earning the CyberOps Associate certification requires passing one exam: Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (200-201 CBROPS).
Prerequisites: None.
Recommended experience: While Cisco certifications no longer have formal prerequisites, Cisco recommends that candidates attempting the CyberOps Associate exam have at least one year of experience in a security role.
CCNP Certifications
Cisco offers six Professional-level exams:
Cisco recommends three to five years of experience to attempt a CCNP or DevNet Professional exam. IT professionals earn their Professional-level certification by passing two exams — the core exam and one concentration exam. Each core exam is specialized to the track and serves as the written portion of the CCIE in that track.
Cisco Certified Network Professional – Enterprise (CCNP Enterprise)
The CCNP Enterprise certification is designed to test a networking professional's ability to implement and maintain core enterprise network technologies.
The CCNP Enterprise core exam validates a candidate's understanding of infrastructure, virtualization, security, and automation topics:
Designing enterprise wired and wireless networks
Configuring VMs, virtual switching, and hypervisors
Configuring and troubleshooting L2, L3, and wireless infrastructure components
Configuring and verifying wireless and wired infrastructure security features
Automating tasks with Python, REST APIs, and orchestration tools
Required exams: The core exam for the CCNP Enterprise certification is Implementing and Operating Cisco Enterprise Network Core Technologies (300-401 ENCOR). Candidates can then choose one of five concentration exams:
Implementing Cisco Enterprise Advanced Routing and Services (300-410 ENARSI)
Implementing Cisco SD-WAN Solutions (300-415 ENSDWI)
Designing Cisco Enterprise Networks (300-420 ENSLD)
Designing Cisco Enterprise Wireless Networks (300-425 ENWLSD)
Implementing Cisco Enterprise Wireless Networks (300-430 ENWLSI)
Prerequisites: None.
Recommended experience: While Cisco certifications no longer have formal prerequisites, Cisco recommends that candidates who attempt this Professional-level exam have three to five years of experience implementing enterprise network technologies.
Cisco Certified Network Professional – Collaboration (CCNP Collaboration)
The CCNP Collaboration certification is designed to test a networking professional's ability to implement and maintain core collaboration network technologies.
The CCNP Collaboration core exam validates a candidate's understanding of infrastructure, call control, QoS, and Cisco-specific collaboration topics, including:
Troubleshooting network components in a collaboration solution
Identifying and using appropriate collaboration codecs
Using Cisco Unified CM to create translation, route, and SIP route patterns
Configuring and troubleshooting ISDN PRI/BRI
Identifying issues that cause poor voice and video quality
Required exams: The core exam for the CCNP Collaboration certification is Implementing and Operating Cisco Collaboration Core Technologies (300-801 CLCOR). Candidates can then choose one (1) of four concentration exams:
Implementing Cisco Collaboration Applications (300-810 CLICA)
Implementing Cisco Advanced Call Control and Mobility Services (300-815 CLACCM)
Implementing Cisco Collaboration Cloud and Edge Solutions (300-820 CLCEI)
Implementing Automation for Cisco Collaboration Solutions (300-835 CLAUTO)
Prerequisites: None.
Recommended experience: While Cisco certifications no longer have formal prerequisites, Cisco recommends that candidates who attempt this Professional-level exam have three to five years of experience implementing enterprise collaboration technologies.
Cisco Certified Network Professional – Data Center (CCNP Data Center)
The CCNP Data Center certification is designed to test a data center professional's ability to implement and maintain core data center technologies.
The core exam validates a candidate's understanding of networking, computing, storage, automation, and numerous security topics:
Applying routing protocols, ACI concepts, and analyzing packet flow
Managing Cisco Unified Compute System infrastructure
Implementing Fibre Channel
Scripting and automating with EEM, shell, and REST APIs
Enacting network, compute, and storage security policies
Candidates can choose from concentration exams covering data center design, troubleshooting infrastructure, and advanced automation and programming.
Required exams: The core exam for the CCNP Data Center certification is Implementing and Operating Cisco Data Center Core Technologies (300-601 DCCOR). Candidates can then choose one (1) of five concentration exams:
Designing Cisco Data Center Infrastructure (300-610 DCID)
Troubleshooting Cisco Data Center Infrastructure (300-615 DCIT)
Implementing Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (300-620 DCACI)
Implementing Cisco Storage Area Networking (300-625 DCSAN)
Implementing Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure - Advanced (300-630 DCACIA)
Automating and Programming Cisco Data Center Solutions (300-635 DCAUTO)
Prerequisites: None.
Recommended experience: While Cisco certifications no longer have formal prerequisites, Cisco recommends that candidates who attempt this Professional-level exam have three to five years of experience implementing data center technologies.
Cisco Certified Network Professional – Security (CCNP Security)
The CCNP Security certification tests a security professional's ability to secure an organization's physical infrastructure, cloud services, endpoints, and network access. The CCNP – Security core exam validates a candidate's understanding of security topics:
Identifying common security vulnerabilities against on-prem and cloud environments
Implementing appropriate access control policies
Configuring cloud logging and monitoring methods
Ensuring email, internet gateway, and web security features are active
Understanding the benefits of various Cisco security products
Required exams: The core exam for the CCNP Security certification is Implementing and Operating Cisco Security Core Technologies (300-701 SCOR). Candidates can then choose one (1) of seven concentration exams:
Securing Networks with Cisco Firepower (300-710 SNCF)
Implementing and Configuring Cisco Identity Services Engine (300-715 SISE)
Securing Email with Cisco Email Security Appliance (300-720 SESA)
Securing the Web with Cisco Web Security Appliance (300-725 SWSA)
Implementing Secure Solutions with Virtual Private Networks (300-730 SVPN)
Implementing Automation for Cisco Security Solutions (300-735 SAUTO)
Designing and Implementing Secure Cloud Access for Users and Endpoints (300-740 SCAZT)
Prerequisites: None.
Recommended experience: While Cisco certifications no longer have formal prerequisites, Cisco recommends that candidates who attempt this Professional-level exam have three to five years of experience implementing security solutions.
Cisco Certified Network Professional – Service Provider (CCNP Service Provider)
The CCNP Service Provider certification is designed to test an IT professional's ability to maintain a service provider's infrastructure.
The CCNP Service Provider core exam strongly validates a candidate's understanding of architecture, networking, service, and an array of automation topics:
Identifying the uses for core architectures, transport technologies, and virtualization
Implementing OSPF, IS-IS, route maps, and high availability
Configuring L2VPN, L3VPN, QoS services, Carrier Ethernet, and multicast services
Implementing MPLS, traffic engineering, and segment routing
Automating network components and configuration management
Required exams: The core exam for the CCNP Service Provider certification is Implementing and Operating Cisco Service Provider Network Core Technologies (300-501 SPCOR). Candidates can then choose one of four concentration exams:
Implementing Cisco Service Provider Advanced Routing Solutions (300-510 SPRI)
Implementing Cisco Service Provider VPN Services (300-515 SPVI)
Implementing Automation for Cisco Service Provider Solutions (300-535 SPAUTO)
Designing and Implementing Cisco Service Provider Cloud Network Infrastructure (300-540 SPCN)
Prerequisites: None.
Recommended experience: While Cisco certifications no longer have formal prerequisites, Cisco recommends that candidates who attempt this Professional-level exam have three to five years of experience implementing service provider solutions.
DevNet Professional
The DevNet Professional certification is designed for IT professionals who design and develop software.
The DevNet core exam validates a candidate's understanding of software development, API, networking, application deployment, security, and several infrastructure topics:
Evaluating an application design for latency, scalability, and high-availability
Using and troubleshooting REST APIs
Constructing API requests for Cisco platforms with Python
Deploying and securing an application
Configuring networks and network devices
Candidates can choose from concentration exams covering DevOps, automation, and IoT.
Required exams: The core exam for the DevNet Professional certification is Developing Applications and Automating Workflows using Cisco Core Platforms (300-901 DEVCOR). Candidates can then choose one of eight concentration exams:
Automating and Programming Cisco Enterprise Solutions (300-435 ENAUTO)
Automating Cisco Service Provider Solutions (300-535 CLAUTO)
Automating and Programming Cisco Data Center Solutions (300-635 DCAUTO)
Automating and Programming Cisco Security Solutions (300-735 SAUTO)
Automating Cisco Collaboration Solutions (300-835 CLAUTO)
Implementing DevOps Solutions and Practices (300-910 DEVOPS)
Prerequisites: None.
Recommended experience: While Cisco certifications no longer have formal prerequisites, Cisco recommends that candidates who attempt this Professional-level exam have three to five years of experience implementing service provider solutions.
CCIE Certification
Cisco offers seven expert-level certifications, including the Cisco Certified Design Expert:
Each expert-level exam has two parts: the core Professional-level exam and an 8-hour hands-on lab.
While there aren't prerequisites for any Cisco exams, Cisco recommends five to seven years of experience before attempting a CCIE. It's possible to have encountered the esoteric, complex problems that the CCIE validates in smaller networks over a longer period of time.
Realistically, networking professionals who pursue Cisco expert-level certifications have a decade or more of experience managing complex networks. CCIEs are experts in their field and ready to fill senior-level networking engineering roles, like senior network engineer or network architect.
Cisco Certified Design Expert
The Cisco Certified Design Expert certification is designed for IT professionals who translate business needs and operational constraints into a customer's network. The CCDE no longer has an associated professional-level certification and no prerequisites.
Candidates should expect to demonstrate an expert level of competency in these topics during their 8-hour hands-on lab:
Analyze design requirements
Develop network designs
Implement network design
Validate and optimize existing network designs
Required exams: The written exam for the CCDE certification is CCDE Written Exam v3.0. CCDE candidates must travel to a Cisco facility to take the CCDE Practical lab exam.
Prerequisites: None.
Recommended experience: While Cisco certifications no longer have formal prerequisites, Cisco recommends that candidates attempting an Expert-level exam have considerable experience as network design engineers or similar senior technical roles.
Preparing for the CCIE? Check out our Layer 2 CCIE Training: VLAN, EtherChannel & STP Tutorial Online Training.
Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert – Enterprise Infrastructure (CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure)
The CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure certification is designed for IT professionals who plan, design, implement, operate, and optimize complex networks.
Candidates should expect to demonstrate an expert level of competency in these topics during their 8-hour hands-on lab:
Network infrastructure, including dual-stack
Software-defined infrastructure
Transport Technologies and solutions
Infrastructure security and services
Infrastructure automation and programmability
Required exams: The written exam for the CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure certification is Implementing and Operating Cisco Enterprise Network Core Technologies (350-401 ENCOR). CCIE candidates must travel to a Cisco facility to take the CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure v1.1 lab exam.
Prerequisites: None.
Recommended experience: While Cisco certifications no longer have formal prerequisites, Cisco recommends that candidates attempting this Expert-level exam have five to seven years of experience implementing networking technologies.
Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert – Enterprise Wireless (CCIE Enterprise Wireless)
The CCIE Enterprise Wireless certification is designed for IT professionals who plan, design, implement, operate, and optimize complex wireless networks.
Candidates should expect to demonstrate an expert level of competency in these topics during their 8-hour hands-on lab:
Radio Frequency and Standards
Enterprise Wired Campus
Enterprise Wireless Network
Wireless Security and Identity Management
Wireless Business Applications and Services
Automation, Analytics, and Assurance
Required exams: The written exam for the CCIE Enterprise Wireless certification is Implementing Cisco Enterprise Network Core Technologies (350-401 ENCOR). CCIE candidates must then travel to a Cisco facility to take the CCIE Enterprise Wireless v1.0 lab exam.
Prerequisites: None.
Recommended experience: While Cisco certifications no longer have formal prerequisites, Cisco recommends that candidates attempting this Expert-level exam have five to seven years of experience implementing wireless networking technologies.
Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert – Collaboration (CCIE Collaboration)
The CCIE Collaboration certification is designed for IT professionals who plan, design, implement, operate, and optimize complex collaboration environments.
Candidates should expect to demonstrate an expert level of competency in these topics during their 8-hour hands-on lab:
Protocols and APIs
Infrastructure and Quality of Service
Call Control and Dial Plans
Endpoints and User Management
Edge Services
Media Resources and Meetings
Cisco Applications and Services
Required exams: The written exam for the Cisco Certified Design Expert certification is Implementing Cisco Collaboration Core Technologies (350-801 CLCOR). CCIE candidates must travel to a Cisco facility to take the CCIE Collaboration Practical Exam v3.0.
Prerequisites: None.
Recommended experience: While Cisco certifications no longer have formal prerequisites, Cisco recommends that candidates attempting this Expert-level exam have five to seven years of experience implementing collaboration solutions.
Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert – Data Center (CCIE Data Center)
The CCIE Data Center certification is designed for IT professionals who plan, design, implement, operate, and optimize large, complex data centers.
Candidates should expect to demonstrate an expert level of competency in these topics during their 8-hour hands-on lab:
Data Center L2/L3 Connectivity
Data Center Fabric Infrastructure
Data Center Fabric Connectivity
Data Center Compute
Data Center Storage Protocols and Features
Data Center Security and Network Services
Data Center Automation and Orchestration
Required exams: The written exam for the CCIE Data Center certification is Implementing and Operating Cisco Data Center Core Technologies (DCCOR 350-601). CCIE candidates must travel to a Cisco facility to take the CCIE Data Center v3.1 lab exam.
Prerequisites: None.
Recommended experience: While Cisco certifications no longer have formal prerequisites, Cisco recommends that candidates attempting this Expert-level exam have five to seven years of experience working with large data centers.
Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert – Security (CCIE Security)
The CCIE Security certification is designed for IT professionals who secure all aspects of an organization's wired and wireless networks and cloud services.
Candidates should expect to demonstrate an expert level of competency in these topics during their 8-hour hands-on lab:
Perimeter Security and Intrusion Prevention
Secure Connectivity and Segmentation
Infrastructure Security
Identity Management, Information Exchange, and Access Control
Advanced Threat Protection and Content Security
Required exams: The written exam for the CCIE Security certification is Implementing and Operating Cisco Security Core Technologies (SCOR 350-701). CCIE candidates must then travel to a Cisco facility to take the CCIE Security v6.1 lab exam.
Prerequisites: None.
Recommended experience: While Cisco certifications no longer have formal prerequisites, Cisco recommends that candidates attempting this Expert-level exam have five to seven years of experience securing enterprise networks and systems.
The CCIE Service Provider certification is designed for IT professionals who design, deploy, operate, and optimize service provider technologies and solutions. Candidates should expect to demonstrate an expert level of competency in these topics during their 8-hour hands-on lab:
Core Routing
Architectures and Services
Access Connectivity
High Availability and Fast Convergence
Security
Assurance and Automation
Required exams: The written exam for the CCIE Service Provider certification is Implementing and Operating Cisco Service Provider Network Core Technologies (SPCOR 350-501). CCIE candidates must travel to a Cisco facility to take the CCIE Service Provider v5.1 lab exam.
Prerequisites: None.
Recommended experience: While Cisco certifications no longer have formal prerequisites, Cisco recommends that candidates attempting this Expert-level exam have five to seven years of experience designing and operating service provider technologies.
Cisco Certified Architect Certification (CCAr) Retired
The Cisco Certified Architect (CCAr) certification, once the highest level of Cisco accreditation, has been discontinued. Known for its complexity and high cost, only a few professionals ever achieved this certification. Candidates needed to be Cisco Certified Design Experts (CCDE) with significant experience in designing complex networks.
The initial CCAr board qualification review costs $3,750 for the application fee, followed by an additional $11,250 board exam fee. Thus, the total cost of the CCAr exams was $15,000. If you have already achieved your CCAr certification, you will automatically receive Lifetime Emeritus status.
Transitioning to the New Cisco Certifications
Cisco retired many certifications on February 24, 2020. If you were in the process of earning a CCNP or CCIE before that date but didn't complete it, you may still be eligible to receive the corresponding new certification. However, if you were working on a CCENT or CCNA at that time, you will need to take the new exams to complete your certification.
Here's how certifications migrated from the old program to the new program by certification level.
What Happens to Your CCENT?
If you had your CCENT before the February 2020 deadline, you'll need to take the new exam to earn your CCNA certification.
What Happens to Your CCNA?
If you earned any CCNA certification prior to the February 2020 deadline, it was transitioned to the new CCNA certification. However, if you did not complete your CCNA by that date, you will need to take the new CCNA exam. The CCNA CyberOps certification has been replaced by the CyberOps Associate certification, which now serves as Cisco’s entry-level cybersecurity certification.
What Happens to Your CCNP?
If you earned a CCNP certification before the transition, you can recertify by taking one of the new CCNP exams. To maintain your certification, you’ll need to pass the new core CCNP exam as well as one concentration exam of your choice.
What Happens to Your CCIE?
The migration path for CCIE is straightforward. If you held a CCIE Routing & Switching (R&S) certification, it has been replaced by the CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure certification. Other CCIE certifications have transitioned to their updated versions as of February 2020.
Do Cisco Certifications Expire?
Currently, Cisco certifications expire in three or five years. Cisco outlines different recertification requirements for each certification level.
In general, you'll either have to retake the exam, take and pass a more advanced exam, or meet continuing education requirements.
How to Recertify a Cisco Certification
CCNA, CCNP, and CCIE certifications must be recertified every three years. Cisco requires that networking professionals with CCNA or CCNP pass one exam from any CCNA, CCNP, CCIE, or specialist track or combine an exam with Continuing Education Credits (30 CE credits for CCNA, 80 CE credits for CCNP).
CCIEs have two options for recertifying: continuing education or passing another CCIE exam. The Cisco Continuing Education Program has assigned point values for several recertification activities. Most continuing education options are training courses, but there are also Cisco Live sessions and content-authoring opportunities.
The CCAr certification must be recertified every five years. Unlike the CCNA, CCNP, and CCIE certifications, the CCAr is a service-based recertification program. Certified Cisco Architects must create or refine exam content or judge one or two CCAr candidates. Architects can judge one successful CCAr candidate or two unsuccessful candidates.
Cisco Certification Career & Salary Information
According to Payscale.com, an IT professional who holds a CCNA can earn between $59,000 and $118,000. Salaries are influenced by several factors, including professional experience, geography, and the company. When comparing national salary averages and ranges, consider the cost of living. Company industry and size are also determinants of salary. Larger companies typically pay more but have complicated, long hiring practices.
Common roles for those holding a CCNA R&S certification include network engineer, network technician, network administrator, IT manager, and systems administrator. Even IT professionals with specialized roles and certifications, like CCNA Wireless or Collaboration, have a generic network engineer title.
However, they may also have specialized job titles such as wireless networking engineer or collaboration engineer, which are specific to their role.
Cisco Certification Training
CBT Nuggets provides everything a learner needs to study for a Cisco certification exam, including precious videos, virtual labs, supplemental files, practice exams, and access to a robust Learner Community.
The majority of all CBT Nuggets Cisco courses provide learners with custom virtual labs or supplemental files to learn technical concepts alongside the video training. Experts designed virtual labs to help learners gain hands-on experience in a sandbox environment. Supplemental files include practice IOS commands, configuration files, and network diagrams — everything a learner needs to study for a Cisco certification exam.
Ready to get started? CBT Nuggets provides every element a learner needs to study for Cisco certifications.
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