How To Get The CCNP Certification?
With certification programs such as Cisco, people do not have to spend years studying to obtain a traditional college degree. Nowadays, you can achieve the expert level in the IT industry by passing certain exams and getting particular certifications, such as CCNP. So, how can you become Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP)?
To obtain the Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) certification, firstly, you need to pass the CCNA or CCIE exams. Once you are certified in one of these two, you will be qualified to take the CCNP. After getting qualified, you will need to take the exams in routing, switching, and shooting.
In this article, I will provide the requirements for becoming a Cisco Certified Network Professional. Getting certified in CCNP means plenty of preparing and studying since this is not an entry-level exam. I will explain in detail the steps you need to take to obtain the CCNP, and what benefits you should expect once you pass the exam successfully.
What Is CCNP?
CCNP stands for Cisco Certified Network Professional and it is considered one of the most prestigious certifications in the IT industry. By getting certified you prove your skills in the network field, and you are eligible to work in many companies around the world. The CCNP is a widely recognized certificate and it offers many job opportunities, as well as expanding career-wise.
The CCNP exam is focused on planning, implementing, verifying, and troubleshooting networks based on Cisco. After obtaining the certification, the candidates can specialize further in security, wireless, and voice. Depending on the end goal of an applicant, the CCNP certification can provide many options and opportunities, both in the skills and in the career path.
Once you get certified as CCNP, you can get a job as a network engineer, network administrator, or IT manager. These job titles can vary depending on the requirements of a certain company or organization. However, the titles can differ also due to the skills and experience of the candidate.
CCNP Career Path
To become a CCNP, you will need to dedicate a significant amount of time to studying and practicing. You need to remember that this is not an entry-level certification, therefore you would need a lot of hands-on experience to pass the exam. So, if you actually want to get the certification you will need to make a serious commitment, and sacrifice a lot of your time.
These are the steps that you need to take in order to obtain the CCNP certification. You need to follow and keep up with them carefully so you will be on the right track.
- Firstly, you will need to get certified as Cisco Certified Entry Network Technician. This is an exam that includes two parts, and each of them consists of around 50 questions.
- Once you obtain the CCENT, you will need to pass the CCNA exam, which includes 50-60 questions.
- After you obtain these certifications, you can begin the process of getting the CCNP certification. In this step, you will have to take three exams:
- 642-902 ROUTE: This exam is considered the most difficult out of the three, and you will have to answer around 50 questions.
- 642-813 SWITCH: This exam is focused on your knowledge and skills in switching. It is oriented towards integrating VLANs and WLANs, and you will have around 40 questions.
- 642-832 TSHOOT: This exam combines your skills in routing and switching, along with your knowledge of troubleshooting. It consists of around 40 questions in which you need to show that you are familiar with the concept of troubleshooting using Cisco’s process.
If you follow all of the steps that I listed above, you should not have a problem with obtaining the CCNP. However, you need to bear in mind that each of the steps is costly, and requires a lot of knowledge and experience to be fulfilled. So, before you begin the process of obtaining the CCNP, make sure that you have the time and the money to do all of this.
CCNP Salary
When it comes to the salary, you can expect to land job positions with a well-off salary. Since the CCNP provides many IT skills and experience in complex concepts and methods, you can be sure that you will earn some good money.
It is a fact that salaries might vary from title to title, and from company to company, but your earnings will still be higher than in your previous position. On average, network administrators earn around $70,000, while network architects around $90,000 per year.
Exam Expenses
Similar to every exam related to the IT industry, the CCNP is pricey, and you will need to spend a small fortune on getting certified. However, the end results are amazing, and your career path will be wide open to a wide range of opportunities.
So, on average you will need to spend around $1,100 for taking all of the exams and obtaining the CCNP. This amount does not include the needed training and resources that you might use in the preparation process.
The choice you make about the kind of professional literature and courses you will use is up to you. Every candidate chooses the methods for preparation that work best for them. Cisco does not require taking specific courses or training before taking the exam.
However, if you find the exam overwhelming, it would be convenient to choose an instructed course or some guided lessons that will help you with the preparation. Since we are talking about a professional exam level, taking advice and guidelines from experienced people will come in handy. Many candidates choose this method of studying, rather than self-study, to be on the safe side and take the exam without additional obstacles.
The journey to obtain the CCNP certification might be hard, but it is certainly worth it. This certification can open a lot of opportunities for you, and you can advance in the IT industry significantly. You just need good preparation and the right resources, and you will be on the right track.
