A Complete Cisco Certification Guide

Cisco Systems is one of the leading technology vendors in the global IT business. Professionals who achieve the rigorous Cisco certifications to become skilled increase their chances of having a successful career in IT. In this Cisco certification guide, you will understand where it all started, the roots of Cisco and Cisco certification training, current cisco certifications, details about the different areas of IT you can get certified in, where can you train for the latest Cisco certification exams, what jobs and careers you can pursue and much more! Get ready for a comprehensive guide to Cisco certifications.

A Brief History of Cisco

Cisco Systems roots back from San Francisco. The founders of the company, who named it cisco with a small c, were a couple who were computer engineers working for Stanford University near San Francisco, California. Cisco Systems was founded in 1984 and was the first company to introduce the multi-protocol router, a successful product as per the need of the time. With this innovative creation, the company was able to provide computers with the compatibility to communicate with each other using those routers. Later, the company continued to innovate and defy the back-push they might otherwise have received when the need for a multi-protocol router went down due to the change in standard Internet Protocol (IP). In six years of the company being founded, it went public and the founders received a profit of around $170 million. That is when the name got changed to Cisco Systems. Cisco Systems was one of the largest companies in the world in terms of profit right before the dot-com Era. Even now the company has managed to stay on top of the success ladder by maintaining a cutting-edge position in networking systems innovation, making it one of the well-recognized leaders in IT.

Three years into going public and maintaining Cisco’s pace with success and innovation, IT professionals and associates got introduced to the Cisco Academies, where they were trained for expertise in Cisco products and technologies in networking. Not too long after, Cisco training was considered a benchmark for network professionals. Cisco was also a leader in official IT certification programs, which contributed to the overall growth of the company. Currently, there are many technology vendors who have introduced various certification programs, but Cisco certifications are considered a high impact indicator of an IT professional’s competency and skill level. Connect with our experts to learn more about our Cisco training.

What Are Cisco Certifications?

History

The first Cisco certification was introduced in September 1993, when former Vice President John Chambers materialized the vision he had to create a certification by Cisco to one day see it as one of the most prestigious certifications in the world of IT. It turned out to be as valuable as expected, if not more. It started with the Cisco legend Stuart Biggs, who was the technical lead at Cisco in video, voice and software deployment. In 1992, Mr. Biggs was tasked to train some of the Cisco workforces for the new technologies by Cisco, and while preparing to train the network engineers Biggs included the hands-on practical approach as a major portion of the training. It turned out to be a success, and John Chambers took the initiative to make Biggs in charge of creating a curriculum for the first-ever Cisco networking certification, Certified Cisco Internetwork Engineer (CCIE). Today, it is not only limited to one branch of IT, but professionals can achieve a CCIE certification in enterprise infrastructure, enterprise wireless, collaboration, data center, and security. After taking the core exams, professionals can appear in practical lab exams of the above-mentioned specializations and become CCIE certified in a specific discipline.

Five years later, Cisco introduced the CCNA entry-level certification, which was directed towards computer networks. It was the Philadelphia Network show in 1998 when CCNA was introduced along with CCNP and a few other certifications, after which a series of certification upgrades have brought us to a number of certification paths we have in Cisco.

Cisco Certifications Overview

Cisco is known for its products and solutions in networking and communications. Well-known for networking, routing and switching solutions, Cisco’s products allow the trafficking of video, data and voice across networks throughout the world. Apart from these signature solutions, Cisco also offers storage networking, collaboration, telepresence, and many other product-support as well as end-to-end solutions.

Cisco certifications have been launched to make IT professionals proficient in dealing with all the Cisco products and be able to solve technical problems for customers and businesses that implement Cisco solutions. Since the range and complexities of products are broad, the certification training program includes certifications for all levels of expertise. From beginner to expert-level credentials, professionals can start from scratch and move up the ladder along with their professional experience going up. Each level includes multiple certifications, and there are designated exams to achieve each certification. Starting from the entry-level certifications, there are associate-level certifications, professional level certifications, expert-level certifications, and then the architecture level certification which reflects the highest level of expertise in Cisco products and solutions. The Cisco certification portfolio has been changed multiple times to keep up with the changing demand of the market and to make the certification process easy and more effective. While Cisco previously had nine different certifications, branching out into further specialized credentials, a few have been taken out of the portfolio and adjusted in other already running certifications.

The broad portfolio currently includes the following credentials:

• Cisco Certified Technician (CCT)
• Cisco Certified DevNet Certifications (different levels of professional certifications)
• CyberOps (different levels of professional certifications)
• Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
• Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP)
• Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE)
• Cisco Certified Design Expert (CCDE)
• Cisco Certified Architect (CCAr)

The certifications mentioned above are not the only certifications offered by Cisco. CCT, CCNP and CCIE further expand into different specializations and technical focus areas. There are many different tracks in each of these certifications, and Cisco offers a credential for every level of professional experience. Breaking down the professional levels, Cisco offers credentials for all levels and stages where individuals can start their certification journey, be it a beginner, a professional or an expert. Once we have talked about the stages, we will further dig down to each technology and discuss certifications offered in those technologies by the level of certifications offered. The following are the five stages in which individuals can seek credentials based on their experience and expertise in seven different technologies.

• Entry-level
• Associate level
• Professional level
• Expert level
• Architect level

In the order shown above, the certifications move from beginner to advanced, expert and then architect level certifications, which candidates can choose to take exams for depending on their current experience and future career aspirations. Below we highlight the certifications categorized based on the professional level. There are no prerequisites in entry, associate, professional or expert level certification exams. However, before appearing for expert-level certification exams, Cisco recommends candidates possess a professional experience of five to seven years in designing, deploying, operating and optimizing relevant Cisco technologies. For the Architect level certification, having a Certified Cisco Design Expert (CCDE) certification serves as a formal prerequisite.

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Entry Level Cisco Certifications

Entry-level certifications include the Cisco Certified Technician (CCT) in three technologies. Individuals who want to start their careers in networking can choose to appear for one or more of these three certifications, after which they can advance in their chosen career path. CCT certification can be specialized in three technologies: Collaboration, Data Center, and Routing & Switching. The CCT track is known as Field Technician, and once acquired, Cisco has a handful of tracks to specialize in further moving up the certification ladder.

Associate Level Cisco Certifications

Associate level certifications can ideally be chosen to acquire once you have taken one or more of the entry-level certifications. Although it is no prerequisite, if candidates aren’t experienced, it is better to start from the beginning. However, if there is a year or two of experience, it is always possible to take the associate-level certifications. Just like the entry-level, there are three certifications in associate level, offered in three different technologies: DevNet Associate, CCNA and CyberOps Associate. DevNet Associate will provide candidates the ability to amplify the user experience in applications using Cisco technologies. CCNA will strengthen the base of various essential concepts including automation, programmability, and security to allow you to pursue a number of high-demand roles.

Professional Level Cisco Certifications

Professional certifications provide an enhanced level of skill set by offering in-depth, core knowledge in varying technologies that allow candidates to then specialize in a focus area by choosing a specialty exam. A professional-level certification requires candidates to appear for two exams, a core exam that will get you certified on its own too, and then a concentration exam (as called in the Cisco language), focusing on one specific area from the technologies Cisco offers. There is a total of seven certifications, with five CCNP certifications including CCNP Enterprise, CCNP Data Center, CCNP Security, CCNP Service provider and CCNP Collaboration. The other two include Cisco Certified CyberOps Professional and Cisco Certified DevNet Professional.

Expert Level Cisco Certifications

Achieving expert certifications demand not only a bunch of professional certifications but also hands-on expertise in your IT career. To appear for an expert level certification, it is critical to have in-depth knowledge, years of professional working experience, and a strong mentality to be a technology leader in different roles. In the fast-paced, IT world, achieving an expert certification by Cisco guarantees that the professional is a coveted leader in his domain. These certifications help leaders distinguish themselves by acquiring a strong grip on skills to manage the planning, designing, operating, and optimizing, hence covering the end-to-end IT lifecycle. These expert-level certifications include CCIE in six different technologies, including CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure, CCIE Enterprise Wireless, CCIE Data Center, CCIE Security, CCIE Service Provider, CCIE Collaboration, and CCDE (mentioned above).

Architecture Level Cisco Certifications

The highest, most esteemed certification in the series of Cisco certification training program, Architecture level proves a candidate’s highest level of professional stature and expertise in Cisco infrastructure, technologies, and architecture. This accreditation, being the highest level of credential, focuses more on the leadership areas and understanding business strategy functions so they can align those strategic functions with the technical infrastructure design.

Technical Specialist Cisco Certifications

Technical Specialist certifications introduce the learners with two additional technology areas. Candidates can get certified to become technical specialists with five available certifications choosing from Collaboration, Data Center, Internet of Things (IoT), and Cisco Meraki Solutions. Each of the certifications will be discussed in detail in the next section. The certifications include Cisco Unified Contact Center Enterprise Specialist, Cisco, and NetApp FlexPod Design Specialist, Cisco and NetApp FlexPod Implementation and Administration Specialist, Cisco Industrial Networking Specialist, and Cisco Meraki Specialist.

Digital Transformation Specialist Cisco Certifications

In the last category of certifications, Digital Transformation Specialist introduces two new technologies: Business Architecture and Customer Success. Since the start, Cisco has come a long way in innovations and product launches, hence the increased categorization of certifications. With a total of five new certifications, candidates can choose to go for Cisco Business Architecture Analyst, Cisco Business Architecture Specialist, Cisco Business Architecture Practitioner, Cisco Customer Success Manager, and Cisco Renewals Manager.

Cisco Certifications Overview by Technology

Cisco offers certifications in seven major technologies including Collaboration, CyberOps, Data Center, DevNet, Enterprise, Security, and Service provider. Each of these technology areas has certifications from entry to expert levels, but not all the areas offer certifications at all levels. We will walk into further details about each technology area offering each certification. Apart from these seven technology areas, there are Technical Specialist certifications that introduce two new areas: The Internet of Things (IoT) and Cisco Meraki Solutions. There is one more category of certifications called Digital Transformation Specialist certifications, with two additional technology areas: Business Architecture and Customer Success. Each of the areas will be discussed in detail, with an overview of each certification exam and credential. The seven basic technology areas in which Cisco offers its expert to architecture level certifications are:

• Collaboration
• CyberOps
• Data Center
• DevNet
• Enterprise
• Security
• Service Provider

Cisco Collaboration Certifications

Cisco brings all new and improved directions in collaboration infrastructure, offering connectivity of networks in ways that were never there before. Introducing intent-based networking for organizations to secure and scale their collaboration solutions via automation. These certifications allow professionals to become advanced pros in the ever-evolving collaboration technologies of Cisco.

Cisco offers five professional certifications in Collaboration and one expert-level certification. Let’s look at each exam and the respective certifications candidates get upon successfully passing the exam.

CCNP Collaboration or Cisco Certified Specialist – Collaboration Core

The exam code for this Cisco collaboration certification is 350-801 CLCOR. This is a core exam that will test you on core collaboration technologies. You will have to pass this exam to achieve the Cisco Certified Specialist – Collaboration Core certification. You will be tested for the following broad topics, which are around the knowledge of core collaboration technologies implementation:

• Protocols, codecs, and endpoints
• Cisco IOS XE gateway and media resources
• Call Control
• Infrastructure and design
• Collaboration applications
• QoS

To get a CCNP Collaboration certification, you will have to choose to appear in and pass one of the following concentration exams after passing this core exam:

• 300-810 CLICA
• 300-815 CLACCM
• 300-820 CLCEI
• 300-835 CLAUTO

Taking any of the concentration exams mentioned above individually can get you the Collaboration Specialist certification in the respective area. Below are provided basic details of each of these certification exams.

Cisco Certified Specialist – Collaboration Applications Implementation

The exam code for this certification is 300-810 CLICA. This is one of the CCNP Collaborations concentration exams, passing which can get you a Cisco Certified Specialist – Collaboration Applications Implementation certification.

Cisco Certified Specialist - Collaboration Call Control & Mobility Implementation

The exam code for this certification is 300-815 CLACCM. This is one of the CCNP Collaboration concentration exams, passing which will get you Cisco Certified Specialist – Collaboration Call Control & Mobility Implementation certification.

Cisco Certified Specialist - Collaboration Cloud & Edge Implementation

The exam code for this certification is 300-820 CLCEI. This is one of the CCNP Collaboration concentration exams, passing which will get you the Cisco Certified Specialist – Collaboration Cloud & Edge Implementation certification.

Cisco Certified DevNet Specialist - Collaboration Automation and Programmability

The exam code for this certification is 300-835 CLAUTO. This is one of the CCNP Collaboration and Cisco Certified DevNet Professional (CCDP) (don’t get confused, this will be discussed ahead) concentration exams, passing which will get you the Cisco Certified DevNet Specialist - Collaboration Automation and Programmability certification. This is the only exam that can be taken after both CCNP Core exam and CCDP Core exam.

CCIE Collaboration

CCIE is an expert-level certification that will prepare candidates with knowledge of skills to lead the Cisco infrastructure strategy for any business. CCIE holders are considered leaders in Cisco technologies and for good reasons. CCIE certification requires a core exam to be passed before appearing in the lab exam specifically dedicated to the CCIE certification. The CCIE Collaboration v3.0 is an 8-hour long lab exam covering the Cisco infrastructures across the lifecycle.

Cisco CyberOps Certifications

Cisco CyberOps certifications will hone your skills around cybersecurity operations aimed at preparing you to become the first line of defense for your company using Cisco technologies. Cisco offers CyberOps certifications in two levels, associate level and professional level. Below we have shared all the exams that offer Cisco CyberOps certifications.

Cisco Certified CyberOps Associate

The exam code for this certification is 200-201 CBROPS. Passing this exam will get you the Cisco Certified CyberOps Associate certification. The exam will require you to prepare for the following topics:

• Security monitoring
• Host-based analysis
• Security monitoring
• Security procedures and policies
• Network intrusion analysis

Cisco Certified CyberOps Professional or Cisco Certified CyberOps Specialist – CyberOps Core

The exam code for these certifications is 350-201 CBRCOR. This is the core certification exam for Cisco Certified CyberOps Professional certification, passing which will get you the Cisco Certified CyberOps Specialist – CyberOps Core certification. If you choose to appear in and pass the CyberOps concentration exam, you will get the Cisco Certified CyberOps Professional certification. The topic that the 350-201 CBRCOR exam will cover includes core operations in cybersecurity, including:

• Fundamentals
• Techniques
• Processes
• Automation

Cisco Certified CyberOps Specialist – CyberOps Forensic Analysis and Incident Response

The exam code for this certification is 300-215 CBRFIR. This is the CyberOps concentration exam that you can take and pass to get the Cisco Certified CyberOps Professional certification, once you have passed the CyberOps core exam. However, if you only choose to take this exam and pass it, you will get the Cisco Certified CyberOps Specialist – CyberOps Forensic Analysis and Incident Response certification.

Cisco Data Center Certifications

With the Cisco Data Center certifications, candidates can scale up the infrastructure while keeping it secure, all with the help of automation with intent-based networking. Technology is advancing every day, and with these advancements we see humungous amounts of data rolling. With Cisco Data Center certifications, the potential of this data can be maximized easily. Below are the certifications offered by Cisco in Data Center.

CCNP Data Center or Cisco Certified Specialist - Data Center Core

The exam code for this Cisco Data certification is 350-601 DCCOR. This is the core Data Center exam, passing which will get you the Cisco Certified Specialist – Data Center Core. After getting this certification, if you choose to appear in and pass one of the Data Center concentration exams, you will be able to achieve the CCNP Data Center certification. Below is a list of all the Data Center concentration exams.

• 300-610 DCID
• 300-615 DCIT
• 300-620 DCACI
• 300-625 DCSAN
• 300-630 DCACIA
• 300-635 DCAUTO

Each of these exams, if taken and passed individually will get you Cisco Data Center Specialist certification.

The 350-601 DCCOR exam will test your skills in core data center technologies implementation, and the topics include:

• Storage network
• Automation
• Security
• Compute
• Network

Cisco Certified Specialist - Data Center Design

The exam code for this certification is 300-610 DCID. Passing this exam will get you Cisco Certified Specialist - Data Center Design certification.

Cisco Certified Specialist – Data Center Operations

The exam code for this certification is 300-615 DCIT. Passing this certification will get you Cisco Certified Specialist – Data Center Operations certification.

Cisco Certified Specialist - Data Center ACI Implementation

The exam code for this certification is 300-620 DCACI. Passing this certification will get you Cisco Certified Specialist - Data Center ACI Implementation certification.

Cisco Certified Specialist - Data Center SAN Implementation

The exam code for this certification is 300-625 DCSAN. Passing this certification will get you the Cisco Certified Specialist - Data Center SAN Implementation certification.

Cisco Certified DevNet Specialist - Data Center Automation and Programmability

The exam code for this certification is 300-635 DCAUTO. Passing this certification will get you the Cisco Certified DevNet Specialist - Data Center Automation and Programmability certification.

Cisco Certified Specialist - ACI Advanced Implementation

The exam code for this certification is 300-630 DCACIA. Passing this exam will get you the Cisco Certified Specialist - ACI Advanced Implementation certification.

CCIE Data Center Certification

CCIE certification reflects a candidate’s skills to lead the data center teams of professionals in Cisco technologies. To get this certification, candidates will have to pass the CCNP Data Center Core exam, appear for a hands-on lab exam, and eight hours of duration testing skills around the data center network lifecycle stages from start to end.

Cisco DevNet Certifications

Most suitable for a role in network automation engineering, Cisco DevNet certifications provide the knowledge, understanding, ability and skills to develop applications on Cisco platforms. The DevNet certifications will include skill-building to develop applications while automating workflows and implementing DevOps practices using cisco platforms. You will also be able to develop solutions using Cisco IoT and applications for Webex devices. Below are all the certifications and exams you need to give to acquire Cisco DevNet certifications.

Cisco Certified DevNet Associate Certification

The exam code for this certification is 200-901 DEVASC. The certification would prove your ability to develop. maintain and secure applications using Cisco platforms. You will develop an understanding and know-how of using APIs as well as infrastructure automation.

Cisco Certified DevNet Professional or Cisco Certified DevNet Specialist – Core

The exam code for this certification is 350-901 DEVCOR. This is the core DevNet certification exam, passing which will get you the Cisco Certified DevNet Specialist – Core certification. After getting this certification, if you choose to appear in and pass one of the DevNet concentration exams, you will be able to achieve the Cisco Certified DevNet Professional certification. Below is a list of all the concentration exams in DevNet.

• 300-435 ENAUTO
• 300-635 DCAUTO
• 300-735 SAUTO
• 300-535 SPAUTO
• 300-835 CLAUTO
• 300-910 DEVOPS
• 300-915 DEVIOT
• 300-920 DEVWBX

Each of these exams, if taken individually, can get you a Cisco Specialist certification. We have given a short overview of each of the specialist certifications below.

Cisco Certified DevNet Specialist – Enterprise Automation and Programmability

The exam code for this certification is 300-435 ENAUTO. Passing this exam will get you Cisco Certified DevNet Specialist certification in Enterprise Automation and Programmability. This concentration exam will also aid you in getting a CCNP Enterprise certification, which we will discuss further.

Cisco Certified DevNet Specialist – Data Center Automation and Programmability

This certification exam is mentioned above as one of the CCNP Data Center concentration exams. It also serves as a concentration exam for Cisco Certified DevNet Professional.

Cisco Certified DevNet Specialist - Security Automation and Programmability

The exam code for this certification is 300-735 SAUTO. Passing this exam will get you Cisco Certified Specialist – Security Automation and Programmability certification. It also serves as a concentration exam for CCNP Security certification.

Cisco Certified DevNet Specialist - Service Provider Automation and Programmability

The exam code for this certification is 300-535 SPAUTO. Passing this exam will get you Cisco Certified DevNet Specialist – Service Provider Automation and Programmability. This exam also serves as a concentration exam for CCNP core exam to get you CCNP Service Provider certified.

Cisco Certified DevNet Specialist - Collaboration Automation and Programmability

The exam code for this certification is 300-835 CLAUTO. Passing this exam will get you Cisco Certified DevNet Specialist – Collaboration Automation and Programmability certification. As mentioned above, this certification is also one of the concentration exams for CCNP Collaboration certification.

Cisco Certified DevNet Specialist – DevOps

The exam code for this certification is 300-910 DEVOPS. Passing this exam will get you a Cisco Certified DevNet Specialist certification.

Cisco Certified DevNet Specialist – IoT

The exam code for this certification is 300-915 DEVIOT. Passing this exam will get you the Cisco Certified DevNet Specialist – IoT certification.

Cisco Certified DevNet Specialist – Webex

The exam code for this certification is 300-920 DEVWBX. Passing this exam will get you the Cisco Certified DevNet Specialist – Webex certification.

Cisco Enterprise Certifications

With a series of certifications specializing in Enterprise, learners will get a firm grip on enterprise network technologies which will help them to secure as well as scale their networking infrastructure. We will share below the list of exams that offer enterprise certifications.

CCNP Enterprise or Cisco Certified Specialist – Enterprise Core

The exam code for this certification is 350-401 ENCOR. This is the core exam for getting the CCNP Enterprise certification. If you choose to appear in and pass one of the enterprise concentration exams after passing this certification, you will be able to get the CCNP enterprise certification. Passing this certification alone will get you the Cisco Certified Specialist – Enterprise Core certification. The concentration exams you can take for the CCNP certification after this exam are:

• 300-410 ENARSI
• 300-415 ENSDWI
• 300-420 ENSLD
• 300-425 ENWLSD
• 300-430 ENWLSI
• 300-435 ENAUTO

This core exam is also a qualifying exam for CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure and CCIE Enterprise Wireless certifications. You can see below what specialist certification each of the above concentration exams can get you.

Cisco Certified Specialist - Enterprise Advanced Infrastructure Implementation

The exam code for this certification is 300-410 ENARSI. Passing this exam will get you the Cisco Certified Specialist – Enterprise Advanced Infrastructure Implementation certification.

Cisco Certified Specialist - Enterprise SD-WAN Implementation

The exam code for this certification is 300-415 ENSDWI. Passing this exam will get you the Cisco Certified Specialist – Enterprise DS-WAN Implementation certification.

Cisco Certified Specialist - Enterprise Design

The exam code for this certification is 300-420 ENSLD. Passing this exam will get you the Cisco Certified Specialist – Enterprise Design certification.

Cisco Certified Specialist - Enterprise Wireless Design

The exam code for this certification is 300-425 ENWLSD. Passing this exam will get you the Cisco Certified Specialist – Enterprise Wireless Design certification.

Cisco Certified Specialist - Enterprise Wireless Implementation

The exam code for this certification is 300-430 ENWLSI. Passing this exam will get you the Cisco Certified Specialist – Enterprise Wireless Implementation certification.

Cisco Certified DevNet Specialist - Enterprise Automation and Programmability

This is a concentration exam for both CCNP Enterprise and Cisco Certified DevNet Professional. As mentioned above in the DevNet certifications, passing this exam will get you the Cisco Certified DevNet Specialist - Enterprise Automation and Programmability certification.

CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure

Upon passing the Cisco enterprise core certification exam, you will need to take the CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure v1.0 lab exam. It is an 8-hour long exam that tests you hands-on with the whole lifecycle of enterprise infrastructure. Passing this lab exam will get you the CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure certification.

CCIE Enterprise Wireless

Similar to CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure, getting this certification also requires an individual to pass the enterprise core exam and then appear in and pass the CCIE Enterprise Wireless v1.0 lab exam. This is again an 8-hour long exam, testing your skills about the complete lifecycle of wireless enterprise infrastructure. Passing this lab exam will get you the CCIE Enterprise Wireless certification.

Cisco Security Certifications

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CCNP Security or Cisco Certified Specialist - Security Core

The exam code for this certification is 350-701 SCOR. This is the core certification for CCNP security. After passing this exam, if you choose to appear in and pass a security concentration exam, you will be able to achieve the CCNP certification. If you pass this exam only, you will get the Cisco Certified Specialist – Security Core certification. Below is a list of all the concentration exams you can choose to appear in for a CCNP Security cert.

• 300-710 SNCF
• 300-715 SISE
• 300-720 SESA
• 300-725 SWSA
• 300-730 SVPN
• 300-735 SAUTO

Passing each of these concentration exams individually will get you specialist certifications in security. Here’s what each of these exams will get you certified as.

Cisco Certified Specialist - Network Security Firepower

The exam code for this certification is 300-710 SNCF. Passing this exam will get you the Cisco Certified Specialist – Network Security Firepower certification.

Cisco Certified Specialist - Security Identity Management Implementation

The exam code for this certification is 300-715 SISE. Passing this exam will get you the Cisco Certified Specialist – Security Identity Management Implementation certification.

Cisco Certified Specialist - Email Content Security

The exam code for this certification is 300-720 SESA. Passing this exam will get you the Cisco Certified Specialist – Email Content Security certification.

Cisco Certified Specialist - Web Content Security

The exam code for this certification is 300-725 SWSA. Passing this exam will get you the Cisco Certified Specialist – Web Content Security certification.

Cisco Certified Specialist - Network Security VPN Implementation

The exam code for this certification is 300-730 SVPN. Passing this exam will get you the Cisco Certified Specialist – Network Security VPN Implementation certification.

Cisco Certified DevNet Specialist - Security Automation and Programmability

This concentration exam is mentioned above, in the Cisco DevNet certifications. It serves as a concentration exam for both security and DevNet professional exams.

CCIE Security Certification

An expert-level certification in security, CCIE Security certification can be achieved by appearing in the CCIE Security v6.0 lab exam once you have passed the security core exam 350-701 SCOR exam.

Cisco Service Provider Certifications

Cisco service provider certifications will allow individuals to learn and practice expertise in scaling the service provider infrastructure. The core and specialist certifications will focus on the basic fundamentals of core architecture, automation, quality of service, security, networking, and expands into specialty areas of routing, VPN, and programmability. Let’s take a look at all the core and specialist certifications in Service Provider.

CCNP Service Provider or Cisco Certified Specialist – Service Provider Core

This is the core exam for Service Provider technology of Cisco. Passing this certification and one of the concentration exams will get you the CCNP Service Provider certification. Once you pass this exam, you will get the Cisco Certified Specialist – Service Provider Core certification. This core exam also serves as a qualifying exam for the CCIE Service Provider certification. Below is the list of all the concentration exams that can be taken after passing this core exam to get a CCNP Service Provider certification.

• 300-510 SPRI
• 300-515 SPVI
• 300-535 SPAUTO

Here are the certifications you can get upon passing these concentration exams individually.

Cisco Certified Specialist – Service Provider Advanced Routing Implementation

The exam code for this certification is 300-510 SPRI. Passing this exam will get you the Cisco Certified Specialist – Service Provider Advanced Routing Implementation certification.

Cisco Certified Specialist - Service Provider VPN Services Implementation

The exam code for this certification is 300-515 SPVI. Passing this exam will get you the Cisco Certified Specialist - Service Provider VPN Services Implementation certification.

Cisco Certified DevNet Specialist - Service Provider Automation and Programmability

This exam has been mentioned above in DevNet certifications. It also serves as a concentration exam for Service Provider and DevNet professional certifications.

CCIE Service Provider Certification

Like all the other CCIE exams, this is also a lab exam, eight hours of length, and hands-on in nature. You can appear for this once you have passed the 350-501 SPCOR exam.

The table above places the certifications, tracks, exam codes, and exam names in one place for your guidance. You can take a look at the table, navigate across exams and certifications information to further understand. You can also take a look at Cisco technical specialist and digital transformation certifications on Cisco’s official website here.

Cisco Technical Specialist and Digital Transformation Certifications

Cisco offers technical specialist certifications in Business, Collaboration, Data Center, Internet of Things and Cisco Meraki solutions. You will find certifications covering the Cisco business architecture approach, techniques, and discipline, along with customer success, contact center, FlexPod, and industrial network certifications.

How Much Does a Cisco Certification Cost?

The cost of a Cisco certification differs in every region and country We will talk about Cisco certification costs in the United States. The prices change as per the type of exams. The cost ranges from $80 to $1,600. However, only expert-level exams are priced at $1,600. Exams that get you associate, professional and technician level certifications will cost you around $300, some may cost $400, and there are a few that will cost around $150. All of the exams, except the expert level lab exams, are going to cost you less than $500. You can find more information by Cisco’s official link here and here.

Cisco Recertification and Renewal

All the certifications by Cisco come with a three-year validity, except for the architecture certification which has a validity of five years. This means that once a candidate has achieved certification, it will come with a time requirement to get recertified. Recertifying may require the certified candidates to complete continuing education exercises, take additional exams, and in some cases both of these.

Continuing education exercises may earn you points that need to reach a certain level to validate recertification. Candidates can do it in the three-year period they have to recertify. Continuing education also involves taking other certification exams. You can find all the detailed requirements for associate, professional, specialist, expert and, architect recertifications here.

Cisco will not extend the dates if your recertification period is over. Once it is over, you will have to take the certification exam all over again. However, Cisco communicates and reminds individuals through the email addresses registered with them, so it is important for individuals to keep their email addresses up to date and keep an eye on notifications from Cisco.

Cisco Certification Salary and Career Information

Cisco technologies and certifications are rated as one of the top skills in the world of technology. With a wide portfolio of certifications and technologies in which technical professionals can specialize, Cisco offers careers in a vast range of Networking, Routing & Switching, Security, Enterprise Infrastructure, Data, DevOps, Collaboration and more. Cisco offers proper career paths that accommodate beginners, mid-experienced and expert professionals, helping them get in the Cisco certification game whenever and however they want. One great thing about Cisco certifications is that they offer specialist certifications even for the concentration exams that are required for the professional level certifications. This means none of your acquired knowledge will go to waste. It also makes it easy for individuals to focus on certifications bit by bit, easing their learning journey along with their work schedules. Cisco certified professionals are esteemed in the industry for a reason, which is Cisco’s recognized name in the technology, innovation and training industry. Cisco products carry a huge market share in networking and enterprise infrastructure management, which pushes the demand up many-fold.

Cisco certified candidates enjoy great salaries in all the certification levels, though salary also depends on experience, skills and technical expertise. The average annual salary for a CCNA in the US is around $79k, according to PayScale.com. CCNP certified professionals are earning an average annual salary of around $96k, which includes job titles like Network Engineer, Sr. Network Engineer and even Network Architect. If you are an expert-level Cisco certified professional, you can earn as much as $193k a year, according to ZipRecruiter.

Cisco Certification Training

Cisco certifications are extremely valuable to have, and they can do wonders to careers in IT. There is great depth in each of their certifications, which requires efficiently preparing for the exams. Training for Cisco certifications needs to be on point if you want to pass a Cisco certification exam.

QuickStart is an IT workforce readiness and career development platform. Partnered with top vendors in technology, QuickStart uses the official training curriculum from certification providers to make candidates abreast with the course concepts as well as practical hands-on training. Offering multiple learning modalities, QuickStart makes sure candidates learn to succeed and execute knowledge and conceptual expertise. The training modalities include self-paced courses, one-on-one mentoring sessions with industry experts, on-demand virtual instructor-led courses, peer-to-peer learning, informal content to support learning, access to Expert Connect with thousands of professionals ready to dive into discussions, and practical hands-on labs.

QuickStart also features an AI-based cognitive learning platform that offers a personalized learning experience based on the individual or organization’s IT goals. Once subscribed, an individual takes a self-assessment test for the platform to know which certification training will complement the current level of expertise in order for them to start or advance in their IT careers.

You can enroll in our Cisco certifications training and get to know how individuals are trained to meet their career goals in IT.