The Cisco CCNP Certification is useful for network engineers, system engineers, network designers, network managers, and network administrators who want to advance their skills and knowledge.
To move from CCNA to CCNP Certification or to pursue the CCNP directly, you need to know how this can affect your career prospects and opportunities. As a network engineer, network associate, or network support engineer, you might be interested in getting your CCNP certification to unlock more professional possibilities, such as becoming a network specialist and network manager.
The CCNP also lets you tailor your certification by selecting a core CCNP certification track and a concentration area that matches your main interest, so you can gain specialized expertise in that field. In this article, we will explore what you need to do to transition to more CCNP-oriented roles and the many benefits of this for your income and career growth.
CCNP vs. CCNA certification
The Cisco CCNA and CCNP certifications are among the most sought-after credentials for IT professionals in the current market. These certifications can help you find employment in various sectors of the IT industry. However, there are some important distinctions between the CCNA and the CCNP.
CCNA certification
Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) is an excellent general certification for IT professionals. CCNA candidates should have at least one year of experience implementing and maintaining Cisco solutions. Candidates for CCNA certification should have a good basic understanding of IP addressing and Cisco network fundamentals. The CCNA certification can be a good option for entry-level IT professionals who want to demonstrate their skills and knowledge and advance to the next level in their careers.
CCNP certification
Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) is a higher-level exam for expert professionals. Unlike the CCNA exam, the CCNP exam requires one main core exam and an additional concentrated exam that applicants can choose from among five different options. These concentrated subsidiary exam options are:
CCNP Enterprise
- CCNP Collaboration
- CCNP Data Center
- CCNP Security
- CCNP Service Provider
These specialized secondary concentration exams let prospective professionals prove their expertise and skill in a specific niche. This qualification opens up senior-level opportunities and more lucrative salary prospects within their organization.
CCNA vs. CCNP certification: what are the differences?
If you are interested in pursuing a career in networking, you may have heard of the CCNA and CCNP certifications offered by Cisco. These are two of the industry's most popular and respected credentials, but they have different requirements and benefits. Here is a summary of how they differ:
- The CCNA is a beginner-level certification that covers networking fundamentals, such as routing and switching. The CCNP is an advanced-level certification that covers more complex and specialized topics, such as security, wireless, data center, and automation.
- The CCNA requires passing one exam that covers a broad range of topics. The CCNP requires passing two exams: one core exam that covers common network technologies and principles and one concentration exam that focuses on a specific area of interest.
- The CCNA has a lower cost than the CCNP. The CCNA exam fee is $195, the CCNP core exam fee is $400, and the concentration exam fee is $300.
- The CCNA prepares you for entry-level network roles like network technician or administrator. The CCNP prepares you for senior-level network roles, such as network engineer, architect, or manager.
- The CCNA expects you to have basic knowledge and skills in configuring and troubleshooting routers and switches. The CCNP expects you to have advanced knowledge and skills in designing, implementing, and optimizing routers and switches and solving complex network problems.
- The CCNA recommends having one to two years of networking experience before taking the exam. The CCNP recommends having three to five years of professional networking experience before taking the exam.
CCNP certification: boost your career
If you are a software developer or an IT professional who wants to advance your career and keep up with the newest trends in digital technology and network deployment, mastering the Cisco server networks is a key skill.
Here are some reasons why:
CCNP certification demonstrates your expertise:
Earning the CCNP certification means that you can design and maintain both LAN and WAN networks. This professional-level certification shows potential recruiters and employers that you can collaborate with other specialists to overcome challenges related to advanced security protocols, wireless, voice, and video solutions, and network redesign.
CCNP-certified professionals are in high demand:
Businesses of all sizes, from small local firms to large global corporations, are undergoing major digital transformations as they migrate their existing IT systems and platforms to services hosted on public cloud servers.
The transition from in-person collaboration platforms to product-led remote CRM platforms means the demand for advanced IT professional support is high for hybrid and remote businesses. Businesses worldwide want CRMs with features like conversational UI, training, and automation. The digital world and the demand for IT professionals are expanding. CCNP certification with a specialization proves you have the skills to fill the gap at an advanced level in any company.
Higher salaries:
The CCNP exam tests your advanced-level skills in the core system networks, such as troubleshooting, implementation, and maintenance. You will be more eligible for higher-level roles offering better salaries and benefits packages.
With more IT professionals needed to help businesses with their digital transformations, IT experts must keep their skills and knowledge in network integration, implementation, deployment, and maintenance up to date. Getting CCNP official certification is a smart way to show and share your advanced-level abilities as a system developer, system engineer, system manager, or other high-level IT professional.
The bottom line
The demand for CCNP experts is expected to keep growing, so now is a great time to show and share your system development skills by picking one of the new and updated versions of the CCNP certification exams.
If you’re ready to take the CCNP exam, CBT Proxy can help you pass the CCNP certification exam on your first try. To learn more about the CCNP exam, click the chat buttons on the right side of your screen, and one of our guides will reach out to you.
