Inclusive Information About Cisco Programs for your Career

Cisco career certifications are meant for IT professionals for Cisco systems products. Pearson VUE, an electronic testing company conducts the tests for Cisco certifications. Five levels of certification exist in Cisco, namely Entry, Associate, Professional, Expert, and Architect. Besides these levels there are seven different paths, which are Routing & Switching, Network Security, Design, Service Provider, Voice, Storage Networking and Wireless. The complete Cisco certifications list is as follows.

Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician: It is the lowest level in the Cisco Certification list and covers basic networking technology. CCENT is the foundation for CCNA certification.

Associate Certifications

This is the 2^nd of 5 levels of Cisco certifications and divides all Cisco Certifications into different paths of subject.

CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate): It tests the professional in installing, configuring, operating and troubleshooting medium size enterprise level router and switch based networks. By passing the ICND1 640-822 and ICND2 640-816 exams, one can be certified with this certification.

CCNA Paths: In the CCNA level, CCNA certified candidates will be trained in particular technologies, and the individual should pass all the specialized tracks.

CCNA Security: CCNA security validates skill of security infrastructure, vulnerabilities and threats to networks. Skills such as installation, troubleshooting and monitoring of network devices, confidentiality and availability of data and devices are included in this level. One can obtain this certification by passing IINS 640-553 exam.

CCNA Voice: The CCNA Voice certification validates knowledge of IT professionals for specialized job roles in voice technologies like voice engineer, voice technologies administrator, and voice manager. Individuals also get a fair share in Cisco Unified communications architecture and design covering mobility, and Tele presence applications. By passing the 640-460 IUC or 642-436 CVOICE exam, professionals can get this certification.

CCNA Wireless: Knowledge pertaining to supporting wireless LANs including Network administrators/associates, wireless support specialists and WLAN project managers is validated in this certification. Implementation of Cisco Unified Wireless Networking Essentials is involved in CCNA wireless certification. 640-721 IUWNE is the exam that has to be passed by an individual to obtain this certificate.

CCNA Routing & Switching: Ability to install, operate, configure, and troubleshoot medium sized routers and switched networks are the skills tested in CCNA routing and switching. Skills also include making connections to remote sites using a WAN, mitigating the security threats and understanding the requirements for accessing wireless networks. Passing 640-822 ICND1 and 640-816 ICND2 exams is mandatory to obtain this certification.

CCNA (SP Operations): This certification can be achieved by passing 640-822 ICND1, and 640-760 SSPO or 640-760 SSPO exams. Basic skills and knowledge in perspective troubleshooting environment pertaining to a carrier class IP NGN network infrastructure are validated in this certification.

CCDA (Cisco Certified Design Associate): People with this certification are eminent in designing switched or router networks of LANs, WANs, and broadband services. CCNA certification is not mandatory for this exam, but Cisco advises to be familiar with CCNA level material and BCMSN level knowledge.

Professional Certifications

A valid CCNA certification is required for obtaining professional certifications. The professional levels in Cisco certifications list are as follows.

Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP): It validates the ability to work with technologies such as Broadband, Qos, VPNs and security pertaining features. With CCNA exams, one should pass either four different exams, or a single composite exam in addition to two separate exams. For more details about the exams and their costs look into their company’s website.

Cisco Certified Design Professional (CCDP): Validating the knowledge regarding Cisco devices and the path to interconnect them is mainly done in this certification. A CCDP certified professional can design, discuss, and create advanced addressing and routing, network management and IP multicast complex multi layered enterprise architectures. Two exams are common for CCNP and CCDP, so a CCNP certified professional can obtain CCDP certification by passing a single exam, namely 642-873 ARCH.

The other professional levels in Cisco certifications list are:

• Cisco Certified Inter network Professional (CCIP)
• Cisco Certified Network Professional-Security (CCNP-Security)
• CCNP Security Prerequisites
• Cisco Certified Security Professional (CCSP)
• Cisco Certified Voice Professional (CCVP)
• Cisco Certified Network Professional Voice (CCNP Voice)
• Cisco Certified Wireless Professional (CCNP Wireless)

The Expert-levels in Cisco certifications list are:

• Cisco Certified Design Expert (CCDE)
• Cisco Certified Inter network Expert (CCIE)
• CCIE Numbering and Recertification

There are many other variations in Cisco certifications list like, CCIE exam paths, Cisco Certified Architect and Retired certifications.