Cisco Certification: Introduction

 

Cisco Certifications are one of the most sought after certifications in the IT Certification industry. They identify talented IT Professionals, who can plan, design, implement, and operate small to medium enterprise networks. They provide the opportunity to enhance your ability in the world of IT Networking & Security.

Cisco equipments form the basis of many different networks (both large as well small) and, with the growth of Internet Cisco routers and other network devices are the preferred choice for engineers and providers. Cisco products are renowned for being well designed, user-friendly (considering their complexity), and reliable. As a result of the growing popularity of their products, the demand for Cisco Certified professionals is also increasing.

Types of Cisco Certifications

Cisco offers 3 levels of general certification, representing the increasing levels of expertise: Associate, Professional, and Expert. Different tracks across these levels align with varying career needs. Several other Cisco Certifications are also available, which cater to specific technologies, solutions, or job roles. Cisco Certifications flow diagram will give you more clarity on this.

Which Cisco certification level should you seek?

Cisco has 3 Levels in its general category of certifications. The details given below will help you check which level matches your current or desired profile.
Associate Level: The first step in Cisco networking begins at the Associate level, which is the apprentice or foundation level. The corresponding certifications are CCNA and CCDA.
Professional Level: This is the advanced or journeyman level, and the corresponding certifications are CCNP, CCDP, CCIP, and CCSP.
Expert Level: This is the highest level of achievement for network professionals, certifying an individual as an expert or master. The corresponding certification is CCIE.

Which Cisco Certification path should you take?

Cisco provides 4 different paths of certification based on different aspects of networking. During your career, with the acquired knowledge and experience, you can advance your career further with the following paths:
Network Installation and Support: This path is meant for professionals who install and support Cisco technology-based networks in which LAN and WAN routers and switches reside. The corresponding certifications are CCNA and CCNP.
Network Engineering and Design: This path is meant for professionals who design Cisco technology-based networks in which LAN and WAN routers and switches reside. The corresponding certifications are CCDA and CCDP.
Service Provider: This path is aimed at professionals working with infrastructure or access solutions in a Cisco end-to-end environment, primarily within the telecommunications arena. The corresponding certification is CCIP.
Network Security: This path is aimed at network professionals who design and implement Cisco secure networks. The corresponding certification is CCSP.

Why Cisco Certifications?

Cisco Certified Professionals are among the highest paid in the world.

Cisco Certification gives you respect in IT Industry by allowing you to provide great value and service to any organization you work for.

Cisco Certification validates an individual's achievement, thereby increasing the holder's professional credibility by ensuring high standards of technical expertise.

Industry trend shows that with each certification there is an increase in salary of the certificate holders. Additionally, multiple certifications directly correlate to further increases.

According to Fairfield Research survey, CCNA Certificate gives 16.7% Salary increase.

According to an online salary survey conducted by About.com, a CCNA is reported to have an average income of $45,446.27 in 2009.

In the same survey, CCNP, the premier title that is most often the steppingstone to CCIE, reported an average base salary of $59,811.76.

CCIE's reported income is in the range of $99,000 - $182,000 according to various surveys.

 

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