A Complete Juniper Certification Guide

Juniper Networks assists organizations with building robust networks by offering networking hardware, administrations and its own network operating system, Junos. Juniper Networks, with around 9,800 workers around the world, offers networking services to the world's best 100 specialist organizations like banks, stock trades, government offices, health associations and various other ventures. 

To help its wide cluster of networking technologies and the clients who use them, the Juniper Networks Certification Program offers a few credentials at the Associate, Specialist, Professional and Expert levels. 

A Juniper Networks certification can set you apart from non-certified peers, give career development opportunities, give you more prominent knowledge into Juniper Networks' products and services, and benefit your clients. In this manner, the individuals who work – or seek to work – in Juniper-based networking environments will discover their certifications helpful for career development and boost. 

Despite their notoriety for being an incredible telecom equipment manufacturer, Juniper Networks doesn't enjoy the popularity that their competitor, Cisco Systems, retains. That doesn't mean Juniper is lesser than Cisco, since Juniper is Cisco’s number one competitor for software-defined networking, routers and switches. 

Juniper certifications are an important resource for network engineers hoping to grow their range of abilities past those needed to help the pioneer Cisco. Our complete Juniper certification offers you helpful data on the Juniper Networks Certification Program (JNCP) system, which incorporates 24 certifications in total across four skill levels and seven distinct certification tracks. 

Benefits of Juniper Certification for Individuals 

• Improves professional credibility. 
• Expands knowledge and aptitudes, setting you up for more job responsibilities. 
• Fills in as convenient evidence of ability. 
• Boost self-confidence  
• Improves professional opportunities, pay scale, and job portability. 

It is directly linked to what the job market is looking for in-network engineers. Over half, 56%, of the people interviewed in a survey said that during an ongoing employment/recruitment process they got some information about their IT certifications – showing an inclination for demonstrated abilities while recruiting. 

The thing some review members said about the career benefits they understood from their Juniper certification: 

• Better employment opportunities.
• More competitive in the job market 
• Acclamation in the networking world 

If you've thought about earning a Juniper certification, our guide will lead your way. Those keen on exhibiting their Juniper knowledge can look over these Juniper certification tracks:

Juniper Certification Tracks 

Precisely which exams to take and how far you want to go in your networking journey with the Juniper certification depends totally on you. You can look out for skills level certifications depending on your knowledge and skill set. For example, Juniper Associate Certification is an opening door for Juniper certification. If you are keen on switching, routing and data centers, then JNCIA-Junos will be the right choice for you. On the other hand, you can also concentrate on cloud, automation and DevOps, security or design.

Track 1 - Juniper Automation and DevOps 

This certification track will show your comprehension of automation tools and systems, just as ideas and practices identified with DevOps. The smoothing out of standard and repetitive tasks through automation expands profitability for the organization as far as both expenses and productivity are concerned.

Juniper offers two certifications for you here: 

1. Juniper Networks Certified Specialist (JNCIS-DevOps) 
2. Juniper Networks Certified Associate (JNCIA-DevOps) 

Network engineers don't need to be undeniable developers, yet they should be able to benefit from the network platforms that they oversee. In this Automation and DevOps certification track, the candidates should be familiar with Remote Procedure Calls (RPCs) and Python for development and scripting.

Let’s have a look at both these certifications in detail:

1- Juniper Networks Certified Associate (JNCIA-DevOps) 

This associate-level certification is intended for IT experts who have some information on automation and DevOps identified with Juniper platforms. The JNCIA-DevOps cert approves a candidate’s comprehension of these concepts and aptitudes: 

• Junos Automation Stack and DevOps Concepts 
• Data Serialization 
• PyEZ or Python
• Ansible 
• NETCONF/XML
• REST APIs 

Exam: Acquiring the JNCIA: Automation and DevOps certification requires breezing through only one exam — the JNCIA: Automation and DevOps exam (Code: JN0-220). 

Prerequisites: None 

While Juniper doesn't indicate the need for any experience for this certification, the JNCIA-DevOps certification was intended for networking candidates with beginner-level information on automation tools and best practices. 

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2- Juniper Networks Certified Specialist (JNCIS-DevOps) 

This specialist-level certification is intended for IT experts with moderate level information on automation and DevOps identified with Juniper platforms. The JNCIS-DevOps certification approves a candidate’s comprehension of these concepts and aptitudes:

• NETCONF/XML API
• Juniper Extension Toolkits
• Platform Automation Overview
• Junos Automation Scripts
• Data Serialization
• Ansible
• Python/Ruby
• YANG

Exam: Acquiring the JNCIS: DevOps certification requires breezing through only one exam —the JNCIS-Automation and DevOps (Code: JN0-421).

Prerequisites: Before setting out for this certification, applicants must gain the JNCIA-DevOps certification.

While Juniper doesn't indicate the need for any experience for this certification, the JNCIA: DevOps was intended for networking experts with intermediate-level information on automation tools and technologies.

Track 2 - Juniper Cloud 

The sole purpose of the Juniper Cloud Certification track is to explore the basic concepts of cloud technology, what it does and the different technologies that help it, which are the focal points. Specifically, compelling are three network frameworks that strengthen the cloud: software-defined wide area networking (SD-WAN, network functions virtualization (NFV) and software-defined networking (SDN).

In this track, Juniper has four certifications to offer:

• Juniper Networks Certified Associate: Cloud (JNCIA-Cloud) 
• Juniper Networks Certified Specialist: Cloud (JNCIS-Cloud) 
• Juniper Networks Certified Professional: Cloud (JNCIP-Cloud) 
• Juniper Networks Certified Expert: Cloud (JNCIE-Cloud) 

Let’s have a look at these certifications in detail:

1- Juniper Networks Certified Associate: Cloud (JNCIA-Cloud) 

This associate-level certification is intended for novice IT experts working with Juniper Networks architecture. The JNCIA-Cloud approves a candidate’s comprehension of these concepts and aptitudes: 

• Cloud Architectures 
• Cloud Security 
• SDN 
• NFV 
• SDN WAN 
• Cloud Managed Services 
• Cloud Monitoring 

Exam: Acquiring the JNCIA: Cloud certification requires breezing through only one exam — the JNCIA: Cloud (Code: JN0-211). 

Prerequisites: None. 

While Juniper doesn't indicate the need for any experience for this certification, the JNCIA: Cloud was intended for networking experts with basic level information on Juniper Networks cloud-based networking architectures, conceptual theory, tools and technologies.

2- Juniper Networks Certified Specialist: Cloud (JNCIS-Cloud) 

This specialist-level certification is intended for IT experts working with Contrail and OpenStack, two famous cloud networking stack architectures. This JNCIS-Cloud certification approves a candidate’s comprehension of these concepts and aptitudes:

• OpenStack
• SDN Theory and Applications
• Contrail/Open Contrail
• Contrail Analytics
• Contrail Service Chaining
• Troubleshooting Juniper Networks Cloud Products

Exam: Acquiring the JNCIS: Cloud certification requires breezing through one exam — the JNCIS: Cloud (Code: JN0-412). 

Prerequisites: Before setting out for this certification, applicants must acquire the JNCIA: Cloud certification. 

While Juniper doesn't indicate the need for any experience for this certification, the JNCIS: Cloud was intended for networking experts with intermediate-level information on software-defined networking, conceptual theory, tools, and technologies.

Read more: Top IT Certifications For Data Center Infrastructure Pros

3- Juniper Networks Certified Professional: Cloud (JNCIP-Cloud) 

This professional-level certification is intended for IT experts who routinely work with Kubernetes, Contrail, AWS, vCenter, Azure and AWS DevOps products. This JNCIP-Cloud approves a candidate’s comprehension of these concepts and aptitudes: 

• Kubernetes integration with Contrail
• Contrail enterprise multi-cloud concepts
• OpenShift integration with Contrail
• Azure networking concepts
• vCenter integration with Contrail
• Service chaining
• AWS networking concepts

Exam: Acquiring the JNCIS: Cloud certification requires breezing through only one exam — the JNCIP: Cloud (Code: JN0-610). 

Prerequisites: Before setting out for this certification, applicants must acquire the JNCIS: Cloud certification. 

While Juniper doesn't indicate the need for any experience for this certification, JNCIP: Cloud was intended for networking experts with cutting edge information on cloud networking, conceptual theory, best practices, tools and technologies.

4- Juniper Networks Certified Expert: Cloud (JNCIE-Cloud)

This expert-level certification is intended for IT experts who can fabricate a cloud network comprising of various interconnected sites utilizing cloud technologies. This JNCIE-Cloud approves a candidate’s comprehension of these concepts and aptitudes:

• Fabric automation with Contrail Command
• Best practices for Contrail security
• Orchestration with OpenStack, VMware, and Kubernetes
• Monitoring analytics and telemetry with AppFormix
• Contrail networking practices and tools

Exam: Acquiring the JNCIS: Cloud certification expects you to head out to a Juniper Networks exam center and passing a 6-hour exam — the JNCIE: Cloud (Code: JPR-911).

Prerequisites: Before setting out for this certification, applicants must acquire the JNCIP: Cloud certification.

JNCIE: Cloud is a handy exam that approves a wide scope of cutting-edge cloud networking techniques. It's suggested for candidates to have impressive hands-on involvement in big-scale business Juniper networks.

Track 3 - Juniper Data Center

This certification track is intended for experienced data center networking experts with cutting edge information on the Juniper Networks Junos software. This test confirms the candidate’s comprehension of relevant data center platforms configuration, installation, technologies and troubleshooting skills.

At the point when individuals refer to Juniper Junos certification, they might be alluding to the Associate-level exam which is called the opening door for the Data Center, Switching, Service Provider Routing, and Enterprise Routing and Switching certification tracks. If you’re new with Juniper, or you’re a developer who is just keen on taking only one essential exam, the Juniper Junos certification is most likely the most ideal decision.

In this track, Juniper has four certifications to offer:

1. JNCIA-Junos
2. JNCIS-ENT
3. JNCIP-DC
4. JNCIE-DC

1- Juniper Certified Associate: Junos (JNCIA-Junos)

This associate-level certification is intended for novice networking experts. The JNCIA centers around networking fundamentals and directing basics — like what you may discover with Cisco's CCNA. This certification includes product-specific information, Junos device portfolio and the Junos CLI. The JNCIA-Junos approves a candidates’ comprehension of these concepts and aptitudes:

• Junos OS Fundamentals
• Networking Fundamentals
• Junos Configuration Basics
• User Interfaces
• Routing Fundamentals
• Operational Monitoring and Maintenance
• Routing Policy and Firewall Filters

Exam: Acquiring the JNCIA: Junos certification requires passing only one exam — the JNCIA: Junos (Code: JN0-103).

Prerequisite: None.

While this certification Juniper doesn't indicate the need for any experience, JNCIA: Juniper was intended for networking candidates with entry-level to intermediate-level information on networking, conceptual theory, best practices, tools and technologies.

2- Juniper Certified Specialist: Enterprise Routing (JNCIS-ENT)

This specialist-level certification is intended for networking experts seeking a specialization in either the Enterprise or Data Center certification tracks at the Professional and Expert skill levels. This JNCIS-ENT approves a candidate’s comprehension of these concepts and aptitudes:

• Layer 2 Security
• Spanning Tree
• High Availability
• Layer 2 Switching and VLANs
• IS-IS
• OSPF
• Protocol Independent Routing
• Tunnels
• BGP

Exam: Acquiring the JNCIS: JNCIS-ENT certification needs you to pass only one exam — the JNCIS: Enterprise Routing (Code: JN0-348).

Prerequisites: Before setting out for this certification, applicants must acquire the JNCIA: Cloud certification.

While Juniper doesn't indicate the need for any experience for this certification, JNCIS: Enterprise Routing was intended for experienced networking experts with entry-level to intermediate-level information on switching and routing usage in Junos.

3- Juniper Networks Certified Professional: Data Center (JNCIP-DC)

This professional-level certification is intended for networking experts to configure, manage and troubleshoot data centers. This JNCIP-DC approves a candidate’s comprehension of these concepts and aptitudes:

• Layer 2 Fabrics
• Layer 3 Fabrics
• Data Center Deployment or Management
• Data Center Interconnect
• VXLAN
• Multi-chassis LAG
• EVPN VXLAN Signaling
• Data Center Architecture and Security

Exam: Acquiring the JNCIP: DC certification requires passing only one exam — the JNCIP: Data Center (Code: JN0-681).

Prerequisites: Before setting out for this certification, applicants must acquire the JNCIS: ENT.

While Juniper doesn't indicate capabilities for this certification, JNCIP: Data Center was intended for skilled data center networking experts with cutting edge information on Junos and data center equipment.

4- Juniper Networks Certified Expert – Data Center (JNCIE-DC)

This expert-level certification is intended for networking experts working with cutting edge data center setup, management and troubleshooting. This JNCIE-DC certification approves a candidate’s comprehension of these concepts and aptitudes:

• Layer 2 Underlay
• Management
• Data Center Interconnect (DCI)
• Controllerless Overlay
• Layer 3 Underlay
• Class of Service (CoS)
• Security

Exam: Acquiring the JNCIE: DC certification requires breezing through only one exam — the JNCIE: Data Center (Code: JPR-980).

Prerequisites: Before setting out for this certification, applicants must acquire the JNCIP: Data Center certification.

JNCIA: Cloud was intended to approve networking experts' ability in deploying, designing, managing and troubleshooting Junos-based platforms. Since this is a practical exam, entrants are relied upon to have advanced aptitudes in Juniper data center setup and management

Track 4 - Juniper Design

The majority of a network engineers’ work is exclusively on the technical side, while Juniper design engineers are keen on building and designing networks without any preparation. It requires an alternate attitude, one that investigates an eventual fate of possibilities as opposed to the previous history of current network architecture.
In this track, Juniper has four certifications to offer:

1. Juniper Networks Certified Design Associate
2. Juniper Networks Certified Design Specialist: Data Center
3. Juniper Networks Certified Design Specialist: Service Provider  
4. Juniper Networks Certified Design Specialist: Security  

A ton of ingenuity is required for success, so designers should know a great deal about the tools, technologies and techniques of network structure before they begin working.

1- Juniper Networks Certified Design Associate (JNCDA)

This associate-level certification is intended for Juniper experts who design network architectures. This JNCDA approves an individual’s comprehension of these concepts and aptitudes:

• Network Security
• Business Continuity
• Network Design Architectures
• Network Management and Automation

Exam: Acquiring the JNCDA certification needs breezing through only one exam — the Juniper Networks Certified Design Associate (Code: JN0-1101).

Prerequisite: No prerequisite.

While Juniper doesn't indicate capabilities for this certification, JNCDA was intended for networking experts and architects with fledgling information on network design, conceptual theory, best practices, tools, and technologies.

2- Juniper Networks Certified Design Specialist: Data Center (JNCDS-DC)

This specialist-level certification is intended for Juniper experts with intermediate-level information on network configuration identified with data center configuration. This JNCDS-DC certification approves a candidate’s comprehension of these concepts and aptitudes:

• Data Center Security
• Traffic Prioritization
• Ethernet Fabric Architectures
• High Availability
• Virtualization
• Data Center Interconnect

Exam: Acquiring the JNCDS: DC certification requires breezing through only one exam — the JNCDS: Data Center (Code: JN0-1301).

Prerequisites: Before setting out for this certification, applicants must acquire the Juniper Networks Certified Design Associate certification.

While Juniper doesn't indicate capabilities for this certification, JNCDS: Data Center was intended for networking experts and engineers with moderate-level information on data center network structure, conceptual theory, best practices, tools and technologies.

3- Juniper Networks Certified Design Specialist: Service Provider (JNCDS-SP)

This specialist-level certification is intended for IT experts with moderate-level information on network configuration identified with data center configuration with Juniper platforms. This JNCDS-SP certification approves a candidate’s comprehension of these concepts and aptitudes:

• WAN Security
• WAN Connectivity
• Enterprise WAN
• SDN in the WAN
• WAN Management
• Service Provider Edge WAN Design

Exam: Acquiring the JNCDS: Service Provider certification needs passing only one exam — the JNCDS: Service Provider (Code: JN0-1331).

Prerequisites: Before setting out for this certification, applicants must acquire the Juniper Networks Certified Design Associate certification.

While Juniper doesn't indicate capabilities for this certification, JNCDS: Data Center was intended for networking experts and designers with moderate-level information on data center network structure, conceptual theory, best practices, tools and technologies.

4- Juniper Networks Certified Design Specialist: Security (JNCDS-SEC)

This specialist-level certification is intended for IT experts with moderate-level information on network configuration identified with data center configuration. This JNCDS-SEC certification approves a candidate’s comprehension of these concepts and aptitudes:

• Basic Security Concepts
• Virtualization Security
• Campus Security and Branch Security
• Service Provider WAN Security
• Enterprise WAN Security
• Data Center Security
• Advanced Security Concepts
• High Availability

Exam: Acquiring the JNCDS: Security certification needs passing only one exam — JNCDS: Security (Code: JN0-1361).

Prerequisites: Before attempting this certification, applicants must acquire the Juniper Networks Certified Design Associate certification.

While Juniper doesn't indicate capabilities for this cert, JNCDS: Security was intended for networking experts and engineers with intermediate-level information on data center network structure, conceptual theory, best practices, tools and technologies.

Track 5- JNCP Enterprise Routing and Switching

This certification track is valuable for people capable of networking technologies, especially Juniper Networks' enterprise routing and switching platforms. The four certifications in this track prove to be a certification stepping stool, with every certification going about as a prerequisite to the following cert sequentially:

1. Juniper Networks Certified Associate - Junos (JNCIA-Junos)
2. Juniper Networks Certified Specialist Enterprise Routing and Switching (JNCIS-ENT)
3. Juniper Networks Certified Professional Enterprise Routing and Switching (JNCIP-ENT)
4. Juniper Networks Certified Expert Enterprise Routing and Switching (JNCIE-ENT)

Starting at the base of the stepping stool, the JNCIA-Junos certification is a prerequisite to the JNCIS-ENT certification.

The JNCIS-ENT perceives networking experts with intermediate to basic level switching and routing, platform configuration and troubleshooting in Junos. Applicants must breeze through only one exam (Code: JN0-347). It’s a written test which contains 65 MCQ’s that must be finished in 1.5 hours.

JNCIS-ENT is a must for acquiring the expert level JNCIP-ENT certification, which is relevant to networking experts who have broad information on big-scale switching and routing technologies, platform configuration and troubleshooting in Junos. Applicants must pass only one exam JN0-647 which contains 65 MCQ’s that must be finished in 1.5 hours.

The JNCIP-ENT is a must for acquiring the Expert-level JNCIE-ENT certification, which is the most advanced certification in this certification track. This certification requires a pragmatic exam that tests the networking expert’s ability to send, configure, manage and troubleshoot Junos-based enterprise routing and switching platforms utilizing different protocols and features. Competitors can go for a JNCIE Bootcamp to plan for the JPR-943 exam, which takes eight hours.

Track 6 - Juniper Junos Security

Nobody should disparage the estimation of a strong network security implementation. Professionals in the Juniper Junos Security Certification track exhibit their ability to comprehend a large group of concepts and practices identified with security.

In this track, Juniper has four certifications to offer:

1. Juniper Networks Certified Associate: Security (JNCIA-SEC)
2. Juniper Networks Certified Specialist: Security (JNCIS-SEC)
3. Juniper Networks Certified Professional: Security (JNCIP-SEC)
4. Juniper Networks Certified Expert: Security (JNCIE-SEC)

Track 7 - Juniper Service Provider Routing and Switching

Similar information that helps engineers in the organization of data centers is useful to the individuals who support Enterprise or Service Provider Routing and Switching technologies. The initial two exams are the equivalent for both Enterprise and Service Provider Routing and Switching.

In this track, Juniper has three certifications to offer:

1. Juniper Networks Certified Specialist: Service Provider (JNCIS-SP)
2. Juniper Networks Certified Professional: Service Provider (JNCIP-SP)
3. Juniper Networks Certified Expert: Service Provider (JNCIE-SP)

We hope this ultimate guide for Juniper certifications has answered all your questions and concerns.

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