What Cisco Certification Should I Get?

Introduction

Obtaining a Cisco certification is one of the most helpful things you can do for your profession if your goal is to excel in computer networking technology. If you work with networking technology, there is a good likelihood that a significant portion of the hardware you will use has the Cisco brand.

Cisco offers a variety of certifications for professionals at various stages of their employment. Wireless, Security, Voice, Service Provider, and Data Center certifications are also available. In this article, we will look at some of the most common credentials and who should seek them based on their level of experience.

Explore our Cisco Courses to learn more about Cisco Certification.

Why Get Cisco Certified?

• One of the main reasons to enroll in Cisco certification training is to enhance and increase your knowledge. Most Cisco certifications cover a wide range of technologies and protocols. Earning a Cisco certification helps you learn how to install, configure, operate, and troubleshoot routed and switched networks

• According to 66% of managers, a Cisco certification improves the overall service and support provided to IT end-users and customers

• Organizations with 40–55 percent certified team members outperform the norm

• Cisco certification boosts customer satisfaction because trained employees better understand dealing with problems and solving them more successfully

• According to 75% of managers, Cisco certifications are essential for improving team performance

• When it comes to qualifying for a prestigious role, a Cisco Certification puts your career on the fast track. This means that you get much better visibility in your job profile. You’ll be able to perform a wide range of advanced networking tasks with increased responsibilities and task ownership

What Cisco Certification Should I Get?

• Cisco Certification Paths

Cisco offers certification tracks that take IT professionals through entry, associate, professional, and expert level courses to advance their careers. Network Design and Network Operations are the two most frequent certification tracks, which require multiple levels of Cisco certifications.

• CCNA (Cisco Certified Networking Associate)

The most common Cisco certification is the CCNA, classified as an associate-level certification. The Cisco Certified Network Associate certification is highly regarded by major corporations, and it can open numerous opportunities for an IT career. With no formal criteria or qualifications, the CCNA is an excellent certification for new graduates or anybody wishing to start a career in IT.

Cloud, collaboration, cyber-ops, datacenter, industrial, routing and switching, security, service provider, and wireless are the specialties covered by the CCNA certification curriculum. If you wish to advance to higher-level certifications like CCNP and CCIE, you will need this qualification. You can take one exam or split the work into two exams covering the various areas.

• CTT (Cisco Certified Technician)

After the CCENT certification was retired, the CCT is now Cisco’s only entry-level certification below the CCNA. The CCNA does not require this certification. However, it provides a great introduction to Cisco product field support. CTT certified technicians could diagnose, restore, repair, and replace Cisco customers’ critical system and networking components on-site.

• CCNP (Cisco Certified Networking Professional)

The Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) is a professional-level certification. This qualification is also divided into specialties, such as the CCNA. At this level, though, you must have more experience and work at a higher degree of expertise. You must first obtain the CCNA certification before pursuing the CCNP. To acquire this certification, you must pass three exams: 300-101 (Routing), 300-115 (Switching), and 300-135 (Networking) (Troubleshooting).

• CCIE (Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert)

This certification is widely regarded as the gold standard of networking certifications, and it represents a significant milestone in the networking industry. This certification requires passing a difficult exam and completing a performance-based lab component. The content is updated regularly to maintain its current with modern networking technology.

A CCIE is a continuous certification, which means you must recertify at regular periods to demonstrate that you are still an expert. This certification also grants your organization particular benefits for having a Cisco Certified Expert on staff. These benefits may be removed if you do not retain your certification, and therefore your employer has a vested interest in assisting you in maintaining your certification.

• CCAr (Cisco Certified Architect)

For Cisco certifications, the CCAr is the highest degree of achievement. Network designers with the architectural expertise to design, build and maintain worldwide networks are recognized with this credential. This certification also validates the holder’s ability to translate corporate concepts into real-world applications.

The CCAr certification exam is challenging because the applicant must demonstrate their recommended network solution.

• CCENT (Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician)

The CCENT certification was the first for entry-level professionals in the Cisco certification path. This certification allowed professionals to install, maintain, and troubleshoot problems in a small network with basic security. As of February 24, 2020, Cisco has officially retired this certification, and it will no longer be awarded.

Conclusion

Earning a Cisco certification is essential, but it may not be enough to help you stand out from the crowd. You should also have suitable academic credentials and a desire to pursue a career. The CCNA qualification can help you reach your career goals if you use it correctly.