Cisco certifications have long been a trusted name when it comes to honing the abilities of IT professionals and preparing them for a variety of work roles. These certificates have also kept up with the fast-changing industry environment, teaching candidates how to stay current with new processes and technology. Cisco has made significant changes to its CCNA, CCNP, and CCIE certifications to accommodate this.
CCNA Track
Whether it’s a fundamental area like IP addressing or a more sophisticated operation like automation, CCNA certificates give IT hopefuls a head start in their careers, allowing them to specialize in areas that interest them afterward.
The first and most visible change in the CCNA course is that there were formerly many CCNA certifications, each focusing on a different subject. To make it more rewarding, these qualifications have been combined into one single certification.
Such abilities will help you hone your expertise and learn to work on all aspects of an ecosystem. It has taken away a significant barrier for both candidates and recruiters. Instead of hiring people who are certified in only one function, they can hire people who are certified in all of the critical areas. Because all of the modules will be a single solution, the new CCNA will improve the employability of prospects while also lowering the cost of CCNA certification.
DevNet Track
A brand-new DevNet track has been added to the Cisco certification portfolio. By merging programming and networking into one path, it strives to capture the synergistic benefits of both. The goal is to train a workforce capable of combining numerous technologies to create cutting-edge automation solutions.
Professionals having at least one year of hands-on experience with Cisco platforms and APIs are targeted for this tracking program. It will teach them how to accomplish a variety of tasks, including designing a safe and reliable application and managing networks efficiently utilizing Cisco infrastructure. Individuals with a background in application development who want to master networking, as well as network professionals who want to improve their programming skills, might choose this track to enhance their industry presence.
CCNP Track
This track is for professionals with at least one year of networking experience who want to learn more about planning, developing, and maintaining sophisticated network solutions.
Significant changes in CCNP certifications are shown in the table below:
- Up to 23 February 2020 – From 24 February 2020
- CCDP – CCNP Enterprise
- CCNP Routing & Switching – CCNP Enterprise
- CCNP Wireless – CCNP Enterprise
- CCNP Collaboration – CCNP Collaboration
- CCNP Service provider – CCNP Service provider
- CCNP Security – CCNP Security
- CCNP Data Center – CCNP Data Center
- CCNP Cloud – CCNP Data Center
The above changes were made to better tie the courses to the current work role requirements. In addition, Cisco has combined the CCNP certifications to combine entangled operations into a single course rather than two distinct ones. For example, CCNA Routing & Switching and CCNP Wireless have been integrated into a single CCNP Enterprise certification, allowing you to be trained in both wired and wireless technologies at the same time. Similarly, the CCNP Data Center and CCNP Cloud certifications have been combined into a single CCNP Data Center course.
Furthermore, previously, there were four tests, but today there are only two, one technical core exam and another concentration exam. The requirement that you have at least the CCENT in order to earn the CCNP certification has been removed.
CCIE Path:
In the dynamic world of networking technology, this track seeks to teach the aspirant to be a leader in the IT industry and support his abilities throughout the product’s lifespan, i.e., from planning to optimization. It also distinguishes the candidate from others and communicates the level of competence that the bearer of this credential possesses. The following table lists the changes made by Cisco to the CCIE track:
- Up to 23 February 2020 – From 24 February 2020
- CCDP – CCNP Enterprise
- CCNP Routing & Switching – CCNP Enterprise
- CCNP Wireless – CCNP Enterprise
- CCNP Collaboration – CCNP Collaboration
- CCNP Service provider – CCNP Service provider
- CCNP Security – CCNP Security
- CCNP Data Center – CCNP Data Center
- CCNP Cloud – CCNP Data Center
Instead of writing a specialized CCIE exam, you will be needed to pass the CCNP core exam and lab tests under the new scheme. In addition, every three years, you must recertify your CCIE qualification. CCIEs who retain their status according to Cisco’s requirements for 20 years are eligible for a lifetime free tenure.
Conclusion:
After examining the aforementioned modifications, it is clear that Cisco has listened to the vendor. And individual expectations and created distinct variances that add value to certification. Also elevate the professional to the top of the IT skills hierarchy. These reforms were long overdue and badly needed. The new certification system eliminates the redundancy that people had to go through in order to gain numerous skills previously, and it provides a holistic solution to the needs of today’s IT professionals.
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