Is Cisco Certification Worth It?

In the technology industry, some people believe that they can launch themselves into a position of success on talent alone. While that may be true for a small fraction of the tech population, most IT professionals have to leverage every little bit of their education and credentials to find success. This is especially true today, as many organizations now require IT certifications to validate a candidate’s subject matter expertise for certain job openings.

That’s why Cisco certifications have become one of the most popular choices for IT job seekers and organizations alike. Cisco is a global leader in networking software and hardware, and its products and services form the infrastructure of many corporations, making it a great way for Cisco-certified professionals to show their worth to potential employers.

There is a long list of IT certifications offered out there, with each one proving a different skillset and qualifying you for different positions and salaries. So, it’s important that you choose the right certification track for your field and that you obtain it from a respected and industry-recognized provider.

Why Earning Cisco Certifications is Important for Networking Careers

Besides the fact that certifications show that you are an asset to potential or current employers, there are other reasons that becoming Cisco-certified is essential to a successful networking career, including:

Cisco certifications can lead to many IT career paths. In the IT industry, there are many different career paths you can take. Cisco provides a collection of certifications that will help prepare for positions in networking, security, administration, or cloud computing, at various levels of expertise. You can increase your IT skills along different career paths as you advance through the associate, professional, expert, and architect level that Cisco offers. There are even certifications for more specific areas such as routing and switching, design, IoT, and more. The lower level certifications for many career paths begin with the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) credential. Where you go from there is up to you.

 
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Cisco is a leader in networking As touched on above, Cisco networks and infrastructure is an integral part of many of today’s organizations. As a result, much of the Internet traffic today travels over network paths built by Cisco. When you show potential employers that you have the knowledge and skills to support the hardware and software solutions that they already have in place, it makes you more appealing and relevant to them.

Cisco-certified employees command higher salaries Having Cisco certifications doesn’t just help you obtain new job and promotion opportunities; it also leads to bigger paychecks. Most IT jobs pay well – but when you have certifications on top of work experience, it’s even better. The following are the average annual salaries for the listed Cisco certifications in the U.S.:

• Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician (CCENT) – $61,000
• Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) – $71,000
• Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Security – $81,000
• Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) – $95,00
• Cisco Certified Design Professional (CCDP) – $110,000
• Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) – $126,000

These are just average salaries and do not take into account the organization, geographical location, level of experience, or other certifications you may have. With multiple certifications (from Cisco and elsewhere), your earning potential will be even higher.

Companies want Cisco-certified IT professionals Certifications validate your level of knowledge and skills related to a specific subject matter. Many employers choose to employ IT professionals with Cisco certifications over non-certified professionals. In fact, Cisco itself recently conducted a study with hiring managers worldwide, to see how much of a difference someone having certifications make when they are filling IT positions.

It is clear that it means a lot. The hiring managers verified three main points:

1. They said that Cisco-certified employees are considered more knowledgeable than non-certified employees.
2. They believe that certified employees are more likely to undertake responsibility than others.
3. 75% of respondents said that employees with Cisco certifications are considered more valuable to organizations than non-certified peers.

Getting Started with Cisco Certifications

While earning Cisco certifications may be time-consuming, with training, studying, and sitting for the exam. However, making that investment of time and effort will pay off quickly in the benefits previously mentioned. Your career opportunities and earning potential can increase significantly as you earn certifications, helping you with obtaining a new IT job or advancing up the ladder with your current employer.

To earn the Cisco certifications, you must have the knowledge and skills associated with the specific certification to pass the certification exam. That requires training, study, and exam preparation. Fortunately, getting started is easy. At Cybrary, we offer a collection of Cisco certification training courses that will prepare you to successfully pass the exams and earn the credentials. Get started today with the Cisco courses you're interested in.