Cisco

In order to maintain support for its products and services, Cisco offers various certifications that ensure IT professionals have the necessary knowledge and skills. Cisco certifications are offered to IT professionals at various experience levels including entry-level, associate, professional, expert-level, and architect-level. Each of these levels provides one or more credentials that can be obtained by passing certification exams.

At Cybrary, we offer Cisco training courses to prepare students to successfully pass exams and earn valuable credentials that will benefit their IT careers, whether they are just starting out or they have been working in the industry for years. Our Cisco training is self-paced and online, so students are able to access Cisco exam prep whenever it is convenient for them. Check out the Cisco courses we offer below.

Which Cisco Training Should You Get First?

Cisco offers numerous certifications for IT professionals. There are two entry-level credentials that are the best place to start, the Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician (CCENT) and the Cisco Certified Technician (CCT). Because these are entry-level, there are no prerequisites for these certifications, candidates only need to pass one exam to earn each of these credentials.

CCT certified employees are typically responsible for diagnosing and mitigating issues or replacing equipment related to network infrastructure. There are various career paths that a CCT can pursue, including Data Center and Routing and Switching.

CCENT professionals are typically required to install, maintain, and troubleshoot smaller networks. Additionally, they usually implement basic network security. The CCENT certification is a prerequisite for some of the more advanced Cisco certifications.

What Can You Do with a Cisco Certification?

There are multiple career paths that individuals can take with Cisco certifications. However, there are two paths that are most common – network operation and network design. A typical path through Cisco’s networking operations ladder might look like this:

1. CCENT – Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician
2. CCNA – Cisco Certified Network Associate
3. CCNP – Cisco Certified Network Professional
4. CCIE – Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert

For the network designer, it might look like this:

1. CCENT – Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician
2. CCDA – Cisco Certified Design Associate
3. CCDP – Cisco Certified Design Professional
4. CCDE – Cisco Certified Design Expert
5. CCAr – Cisco Certified Architect

Cisco also offers various specialized certifications. These demonstrate that an individual possesses the skills and knowledge involved in a specific Cisco technology. These specializations are divided into two categories, one that is for technical specialists and another that is for those specializing in digital transformation. Currently, there are 15 specializations within those two categories.

Why Get Cisco Certifications?

There are a number of great reasons to obtain Cisco credentials. Candidates with IT certifications are in demand and are more appealing to hiring managers than their noncertified counterparts. Here are some other reasons that obtaining Cisco certifications is well worth the effort:

• Sets candidates apart from the crowd: Attaining Cisco certifications shows dedication to a candidate’s career path as well as to continued learning.
• Validates a specific skillset: Cisco certifications validate that a candidate has the knowledge and skills to work with specific Cisco technologies.
• Offers higher salaries: Certification holders in the IT industry are typically paid higher salaries than their noncertified counterparts.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Cisco Certification?

Each Cisco certification is unique, as are the candidates who pursue them. That makes it impossible to put a general timeframe on how long it takes to earn one. Some of the more advanced certifications require a specific amount of work experience, while the beginner credentials typically don’t.

Taking Cisco certification exams to earn credentials does require candidates to have the skills and knowledge to pass the test. How long it takes to prepare is up to the individual. With Cybrary, students can spend as much time as they need prepping for the certification exam. Our courses are self-paced and online, making them easy to fit into any schedule.

Do Cisco Certifications Expire?

Yes, Cisco certifications do expire. It’s important that IT professionals stay up to date on the ever-evolving world of technology. That means that certifications must be periodically renewed to demonstrate credential-holders are current with the latest technologies.

Entry-level, associate-level, and professional-level certifications expire after three years. The CCIE and specialist credentials expire after two years, and the CCAr expires after five years.

How Can You Get Cisco Certified?

To earn the Cisco certifications, students must have the knowledge and skills associated with the specific credential and be able to use that skillset to pass the certification exam. That requires Cisco training, study, and exam preparation. At Cybrary, we are committed to providing students in our training courses with all the information and tools that are needed to successfully pass Cisco certification exams and earn their desired credentials. Get started now with the Cisco training you’re interested in.