Cisco Career Certifications
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cisco Career Certifications are IT professional certifications for Cisco products. The tests are administered by Pearson VUE (Prometric previously administered the test; but as of 1 Aug 2007, no longer does). There are three levels of certification: Associate, Professional, and Expert.
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[edit] Technical certifications
[edit] Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician (CCENT)
The first stage of Cisco's certification system is the entry level and begins with Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician (CCENT) certification as an interim step to Associate level or directly with CCNA and CCDA certifications. While the CCENT covers basic networking knowledge, and does not get involved with the more intricate technical aspects of the Cisco curriculum it does validate the skills essential for entry-level network support positions. CCENT qualified individuals have the knowledge and skill to install, manage, maintain and troubleshoot a small enterprise branch network, including network security. The CCNA Discovery curriculum covers most of what is required to pass this exam.
[edit] Associate certifications
[edit] Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
Candidates have the option of gaining the certification by passing two tests (ICND1 640-822 and ICND2 640-816), or one single test (CCNA 640-802); the two-test option has the advantage of allowing the candidate to focus on certain subjects.[1]
The certification is valid for three years; at that time a CCNA holder must either
- re-take the CCNA or ICND exam, or
- take and pass an exam for one of the Professional (e.g., CCNP) or Specialist level certifications (excluding the sales specialist exams), or pass the CCIE written exam.
These exams are known by their corresponding numbers. When the curriculum of the exam changes the exam number also changes. The current exam number for CCNA is 640-802 (from 15 Aug 2007). New ICND Part1 (640-822 ICND1) and ICND Part2 (640-816 ICND2) available from 15 Aug 2007. Part 1 by itself will give you a CCENT.
These exams are conducted by authorized test centers at a cost of $125 USD each for the ICND1 or ICND2 exams and $150 USD[2] for the full CCNA exam.
There is also the Cisco Networking Academy, which brings the CCNA and CCNP curricula into traditional educational institutions in over 150 countries.[3] Students enrolled in Cisco Networking Academy can request exam vouchers that allow them to take the retired exam for an extended period of time.[4]
[edit] Cisco CCNA 640-802 Certification Exam Training Study Guide
[edit] Cisco Certified Design Associate (CCDA)
The CCDA certification indicates an apprentice knowledge of Cisco network design. Individuals who have earned a CCDA are capable of designing switched or routed networks consisting of LANs, WANs, and various dial services. While a CCNA certification is not required to take the CCDA exam, Cisco recommends being familiar with CCNA material. Also recommended is knowledge of BCMSN.
[edit] Professional certifications
[edit] Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP)
The CCNP is considered proof of having the ability to work with medium-sized networks (between 100 and 500 end devices) and with technology such as QoS, broadband, VPNs, and security-minded features. To acquire a CCNP one must possess a CCNA certification first and then pass three or four tests, depending on the path one chooses. The four tests path requires the candidate to pass the following tests:
- 642-901 BSCI: Building Scalable Cisco Internetworks (BSCI)[5] - Deals with routing
- 642-812 BCMSN: Building Cisco Multilayer Switched Networks (BCMSN)[6] Deals with switching
- 642-825 ISCW: Implementing Secure Converged Wide Area Networks (ISCW)[7] - Deals with wide area networks
- 642-845 ONT: Optimizing Converged Cisco Networks (ONT)[8] - Deals with using QoS to tune networks to work effectively with IP Telephony.
The BSCI and BCMSN tests can be taken as one single composite test known as the 642-892 Composite[9] which covers subjects for Building Scalable Cisco Internetworks (BSCI) and Building Cisco Multilayer Switched Networks (BCMSN).
In order to retain the certification one must either re-certify or pass one of the CCIE written exams before the Professional certification expires. Additional resources and tools to aid in preparing for the certification are available on the CCNP Prep Center.[10]
[edit] Cisco Certified Design Professional (CCDP)
The CCDP certification is an advanced network design certification provided by Cisco Systems, Inc. Candidates for the certification are tested for advanced knowledge of Cisco devices and the way to interconnect them. This certification is considered a professional level certificate by Cisco Systems. (The CCNA and CCDA are prerequisite.)
[edit] Cisco Certified Internetwork Professional (CCIP)
The CCIP certification is a professional certification covering the end-to-end protocols used in large scale networks.
To attain this certification tests must be passed in the areas of routing, BGP, MPLS and Quality of service.
[edit] Cisco Certified Security Professional (CCSP)
The CCSP certification is an advanced network security certification. Candidates for the certification are tested for advanced knowledge of various Cisco security products.
To attain this certification several tests must be passed in the areas of VPN, IDS, PIX firewall, Secure IOS, the Cisco SAFE, as well as having a CCNA or higher level certification (e.g. CCNP or CCIP).
The common practice is to take five exams which include one elective paper. The list of exams and elective papers can be found in the Cisco website.
[edit] Cisco Certified Voice Professional (CCVP)
The CCVP is a certification covering all aspects of IP Telephony/VOIP networks and applications.
To attain this certification, five tests must be passed in the areas of Quality of service, Cisco VoIP, IP Telephony Troubleshooting, Cisco IP Telephony, and Gateway Gatekeeper.
[edit] Recertification
To recertify any Professional level certification, pass any 642 exam that is part of the professional level curriculum after August 18, 2006, or pass a current CCIE written exam.
[edit] Expert-level certifications
The expert-level certification is the Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE). It is the highest level of professional certification that Cisco provides. There are 5 active CCIE tracks, as shown below. As of April 6, 2008 there are 16,335 people with active CCIE certifications in the world.[11].
Cisco began its CCIE program in 1993[12] originally with a two day lab, later changing it to the one day format used today. Fewer than 3% of Cisco certified individuals attain CCIE certification, and on average will spend thousands of dollars and 18 months studying before passing.[13] Many candidates build mock-labs at home using old Cisco equipment, selling it again to other candidates after passing. Alternatively candidates may rent "rack time" online and practice lab scenarios on Cisco equipment hosted on the Internet for that purpose.
Cisco refers to the CCIE as the "most respected IT certification",[14] and from 2002 to 2005[15] it was voted as such in CertCities magazine. It has also been voted the most technically advanced IT certification by CertMag,[16] and is generally reported as the highest salaried certification in IT salary surveys.
The CCIE is comprised of a written exam and a "lab" exam (each in the specific area of the chosen track). The written exam is required to take the lab exam, and has a cost of $315[2] USD per attempt. Upon passing the written exam, the candidate is qualified to have a first attempt the lab exam for 18 months. If the first attempt is unsuccessful the candidate has 3 years from the date the written exam was passed to successfully complete the lab. If a candidate does not pass the CCIE lab in that time, they must pass the CCIE written exam again before making additional attempts at the CCIE lab exam. As many attempts can be made to pass the lab exam for up to 3 years after passing the written, so long as the first attempt is within 18 months. There is a minimum waiting time between attempts of one month.
The CCIE Lab is currently $1,400 USD[2] per attempt and are offered only at ten Cisco lab exam locations worldwide. The locations are Bangalore; Beijing; Brussels; Dubai; Hong Kong; Research Triangle Park, NC; San Jose, CA; São Paulo; Sydney; and Tokyo. Some CCIE tracks do not have lab exams available at all locations. For example, the Storage Networking lab is available only at the Research Triangle Park, NC and Brussels locations. In addition, according to a survey by Cisco the average cost to prepare for CCIE certification is $9,050 as of April 2006, spent mostly on practice equipment and self study material.[17] This is partially offset by the increased salary the certification commands, which a March 2007 Network World article estimates at 10% - 15% over similarly experienced engineers who do not have a CCIE.[18]
The lab is an 8-hour hands-on exam designed to demonstrate that the candidate not only knows the theory, but is also able to practice it. Many prospective CCIEs need multiple attempts to pass the lab exam.
There are no formal prerequisites for the CCIE exam, but Cisco recommends one has at least 3 - 5 years experience in networking before attempting to become a CCIE. CCIE was the first Cisco Certified qualification, and as such there were no other certifications that could be taken prior. The development of the associate and professional certifications was due to recognition of the fact that a CCIE is overkill for many networking personnel, and also for the vast majority of businesses who employ such people, and that certifications needed to be offered at lower levels. Despite the development of the lower certifications, Cisco has chosen not to make them formal requirements for the CCIE certification.
It is possible to hold multiple CCIE certifications. This is done by passing both the written and the lab exam in a particular track. As of November 14th, 2007 there are 1,344 individuals who hold multiple CCIE certifications. Of those, 210 hold three or more CCIE certifications.[19]
[edit] CCIE Numbering and Recertification
Upon successful completion of the hands on lab exam, a new CCIE is awarded a CCIE number. The first CCIE number allocated (in 1993) was 1024, and has increased incrementally from there. A lower number indicates that the CCIE was awarded some time back, a higher number indicated a more recently awarded certification. As of February 2008, the highest CCIE number allocated was just over 20000.
Number 1024 was allocated to the first CCIE lab location, rather than to an individual, and featured as a plaque at the entrance to the lab. Number 1025 was awarded to Stuart Biggs, who created the first written exam and first lab exam. The first person to pass both CCIE written and lab exams was Terrance Slattery, who was consulting to Cisco at the time when the lab was being devised. Terry Slattery (CCIE 1026) was therefore the first CCIE who passed both exams, and the first CCIE who was not an employee of Cisco.[20] [21]
Any CCIE who obtains further CCIE certifications, is not awarded any further numbers, the new CCIE certification is awarded under the same number as the original.
Every two years a CCIE has to take a CCIE written test to recertify - absent this, the CCIE is suspended and cannot receive any benefits from Cisco. In order to verify a CCIE's current status, you need a CCO (cisco.com) login, the engineer's first and last name, and their CCIE #. Enter all of this information here: https://tools.cisco.com/CCIE/Schedule_Lab/CCIEOnline/CCIEOnline?verify
[edit] CCIE Routing & Switching
Routing and Switching is by far the most popular track with 16,355 certified individuals as of March 25, 2008[22]. The certification covers a variety of networking concepts and protocols including but not limited to the following list [23]:
- Routing and Switching
- Frame Relay
- Ethernet
- Catalyst Switch Configuration
- IP Interior Gateway Routing Protocols
- Border Gateway Protocol (BGP)
- Interior BGP (iBGP)
- Exterior BGP (eBGP)
- Filtering, Summarization, Redistribution, and Traffic Engineering
- Multicast Routing
- Quality of Service (QoS)
- Classification
- Congestion Management and Avoidance
- Policing and Shaping
- Signaling
- Security
- Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA)
- Traffic Filtering
- IOS Firewall Feature Set
- Access Lists
- Routing Protocol and Catalyst Security
- IP and IOS Features
- IP addressing
- Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)
- Next Hop Redundancy Protocols (HSRP, VRRP, GLBP)
- IP services
- IOS user interfaces
- System management
- Network Address Translation (NAT)
- Network Time Protocol (NTP)
- Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP)
- Remote Monitoring (RMON)
- IP Accounting
- Service Level Agreement (SLA)
[edit] CCIE Security
The Security track concentrates on network security and covers subjects such as ASA, IDS, IOS security, and many others.
[edit] CCIE Service Provider
The Service Provider track focuses on networking in the service provider industry. Subjects include Optical networks, DSL, WAN switching, Voice over IP, Content Networking, Broadband Cable and Metro Ethernet.
[edit] CCIE Voice
The Voice track concentrates on voice solutions for the enterprise and includes subjects such as QoS, MGCP, Call Manager (Cisco's VoIP PBX), Cisco Unity (Cisco's Unified Messaging platform), Unity Express and IP Contact Center Express.
[edit] CCIE Storage Networking
The latest addition to the CCIE certification tracks is the CCIE Storage Networking track. As the name suggests, the Storage Networking track concentrates on storage networking topics, such as Fibre Channel, iSCSI, FCIP, Intra VSAN Routing and FICON.
[edit] Retired CCIE tracks
Some previously awarded CCIE specialisations are no longer offered, and have been retired by Cisco. These are:
- WAN Switching CCIE (Essentially a specialisation focusing on the IGX/BPX switch products, which had been acquired as part of the StrataCom acquisition)
- ISP Dial CCIE
- SNA/IP Integration CCIE (aka CCIE Blue)
- Design CCIE
People who had held these now retired certifications can remain CCIE's, provided they continue to take recertification exams. They now simply hold the title "CCIE", aka Vanilla CCIE, rather than CCIE Security, or some other specialisation.
[edit] CCDE
Cisco Certified Design Expert CCDE Assesses advanced Network Infrastructure Design Principles and Fundamentals for large networks. A CCDE can demonstrate an ability to develop solutions which address planning, design, integration, optimization, operations, security and ongoing support focused at the infrastructure level for customer networks.
Prerequisites for CCDE There are no formal prerequisites for CCDE certification. Other professional certifications or training courses are not required.
Recommended Training and Experience It is expected that the candidate will have an in-depth understanding of the topics in the exam blueprints, a minimum of seven years job experience, and a thorough understanding of networking infrastructure principles. Please view the written exam information page for more details.
Step One: CCDE Written Exam You must pass the two-hour, written qualification exam which covers advanced networking infrastructure design principles and concepts. Once you pass the qualification exam, you are then eligible to schedule the practical exam.
Step Two: CCDE Practical Exam The CCDE practical exam is still in development, however it will be an eight-hour exam that will test your ability to identify, manage, and create advanced solutions for large scale networks. You must pass the lab within three years of passing the written exam in order to achieve certification.
[edit] Retired Certifications
Over time, as technologies change and products are made obselete, some certifications are retired. Retired certifications are no longer valid.
Certifications that fall into this category are listed below.
- Business Ready Teleworker Solution Fundamentals
- CCDP SNA/IP Integration
- CCDP WAN Sw
- CCIP Cable
- CCIP Content Networking
- CCIP DSL Networks
- CCIP MPLS
- CCIP Metro
- CCIP Packet Telephony
- CCIP Security
- CCNA WAN Sw
- CCNP LAN ATM
- CCNP Network Management
- CCNP SNA/IP Integration
- CCNP Security
- CCNP VOICE Access
- CCNP WAN Sw Certification
- Cable Communications for Account Managers
- Certification Test-Understanding PBX Systems and Technology - VOD
- Cisco ATP Optical Metro Transport AM/EM - Japanese
- Cisco Access Routing & LAN Switching Sales Specialist
- Cisco Access Routing & LAN Switching Specialist
- Cisco Cable Communications Sales Spec
- Cisco Cable Communications Sales Specialist
- Cisco Cable Communications Specialist
- Cisco Call Manager Express Specialist
- Cisco Content Networking Sales Specialist
- Cisco Content Networking Specialist
- Cisco Content Networking Specialization Exam for SE's and FE's
- Cisco Customer Contact Support - Retired
- Cisco Firewall Specialist - Net Academy
- Cisco IDS Specialist
- Cisco IP Communications Support Specialist
- Cisco IP Telephony
- Cisco IP Telephony Express Spec
- Cisco IP Telephony Express Specialist
- Cisco IP Telephony Operations Specialist
- Cisco IP Telephony-Enterprise Voice Over Data Design
- Cisco IP Telephony-Installation, Support and Maintenance
- Cisco Internet Solutions Specialist
- Cisco Multiservice Switching Specialist
- Cisco MxU Specialist
- Cisco Network Management Sales Specialist
- Cisco Network Management Specialist
- Cisco Network Management Specialist
- Cisco Optical Specialist
- Cisco Partner and Solutions Essentials for Account Managers 5.2
- Cisco Partner and Solutions Essentials for Enterprise Account Manager 6.0 - Latin American
- Cisco Products Solutions Essentials 7.0
- Cisco Products Solutions Essentials 8.0
- Cisco Public Access Design Specialist
- Cisco Public Access Support Specialist
- Cisco Remote Dial Access: Voice and Data Specialization for AM's
- Cisco Sales Expert v1
- Cisco Sales Expert v2
- Cisco Security Specialist 1
- Cisco Storage Networking Design Specialist
- Cisco Storage Networking Support Specialist
- Cisco VPN/Security Sales Specialist
- Cisco Voice Over Frame Relay
- Cisco Wireless LAN Design Specialist
- Cisco Wireless LAN Sales Spec
- Cisco Wireless LAN Sales Specialist
- Cisco Wireless LAN Support Specialist
- Converged Business Solution Integration
- DSL Specialization for Account Managers
- DSL Specialization for SE's and FE's
- EMEA SME v1.0
- Enterprise
- Enterprise - Japanese Language Version
- Enterprise Skills Assessment
- Enterprise for Account Managers
- IPT Telephony Troubleshooting
- Information Systems Security (INFOSEC) Professional
- Network Management Specialization
- Network Management for Account Managers
- Network Mgt.
- Open Programmable Switching Engineer
- PBX Fundamentals
- QoS
- SCM Operation and Maintenance
- SNA/IP Design Specialist
- SNA/IP Solutions
- SNA/IP Support Specialist
- SNA/IP for Systems Engineers
- Security Solutions
- Selling AVVID Architecture
- Small-to-Medium Business
- Switched WAN Solutions for the Enterprise
- Unity
- Unity Engineer Specialization
- Unity Engineer Specialization v1.1
- Voice Solutions for Account Managers
- Voice Solutions for System Engineers
- Wireless LAN for Account Managers
- Wireless LAN for SEs
- Wireless LAN for SEs and FEs
[edit] References
- ^ CCNA - Career Certifications & Paths - Cisco Systems
- ^ a b c Cisco Exam Pricing Change
- ^ Cisco Net Academy
- ^ http://www.imakenews.com/eletra/go.cfm?z=cisco_netacademy%2C210289%2Cb6r83Vcv%2C1776031%2Cbbkt8W5
- ^ 642-901 BSCI
- ^ 642-812 BCMSN
- ^ 642-825 ISCW
- ^ 642-845 ONT
- ^ 642-892 Composite
- ^ CCNP Prep Center
- ^ CCIE's Worldwide - A breakdown of CCIE qualified engineers around the world
- ^ Cisco 1993 Press Release Cisco press release announcing CCIE
- ^ Cisco CCIE general facts
- ^ Most respected certification
- ^ CertCities certification survey
- ^ CertMag certification survey, 2003
- ^ Cisco 2006 CCIE Survey
- ^ Network World IT salary review
- ^ Employer Information: What CCIE certification stands for; Why you should hire a CCIE; Why you don't want to lose a CCIE from your staff.
- ^ First CCIE's
- ^ CCIE History
- ^ CCIEs Worldwide - CCIE RESOURCES - Cisco Systems
- ^ Lab Exam Blueprint - CCIE ROUTING AND SWITCHING TRACK - Cisco Systems
