Cisco is one of the leading certification vendors in the information technology field. Cisco certifications are designed for students who design, implement, maintain, secure and troubleshoot network and multi-service network infrastructures based on Cisco's hardware solutions, as well as Cisco Channel Partners and Resellers who sell Cisco network, network security and multi-service network infrastructure solutions.
Cisco Certification Levels:
Cisco Certifications are available at three levels:
Associate, which has three paths: Cisco Certified Design Associate (CCDA), Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), and Cisco Sales Associate (CSA)
Professional, which has five paths Cisco Certified Design Professional (CCDP), Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP), Cisco Certified Security Professional (CCSP), Cisco Certified Internetwork Professional (CCIP), and Cisco Certified Voice Professional (CCVP)
Expert, which is the various Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) tracks. CCIE represents the highest level of Cisco certification.
Cisco Certification Paths:
The Cisco certification cover six different career paths by offering six different certification tracks so that students can match their certification track to their job role or industry. The six Cisco certification tracks are:
Network Design which consists of the CCNA or CCDA certification followed by the CCDP certification
Routing and Switching which consists of the CCNA followed by the CCNP. Alternatively, the CCIE Routing and Switching certification
Storage Networking which consists of the CCIE Storage Networking certification
Network Security which consists of the CCNA followed by the CCSP. Alternatively, the CCIE Security certification
Voice which consists of the CCNA followed by the CCVP. Alternatively, the CCIE Voice certification
Service Provider which consists of the CCNA followed by the CCIP. Alternatively, the CCIE Service Provider certification
Cisco Specialization Certification
In addition, Cisco also offers specialist certification in specific technology areas. These are:
Five Access Routing and LAN Switching
Specialist Certifications
One Content Networking Specialist Certifications
Three Foundation for Channel Partners Specialist Certifications
Ten IP Communications Specialist Certifications
One Optical Specialist Certifications
Three Storage Networking Specialist Certifications
Seven VPN and Security Specialist Certifications
Four Wireless LAN Specialist Certifications
Cisco Recertification:
Recertification in a key feature of Cisco certification. A successful Cisco Certification student will hold the Cisco certification for two years only, in the case of Specialist certifications, and three years only, in the case of Associate and Professional certifications. After this period the student must re-validate their Cisco certification by retaking and passing the relevant certification exam(s), or by taking and passing the Cisco exam(s) at a higher certification level, or by taking and passing the Certified Internetwork Expert written exam.
Preparing for a Cisco Certification:
There are plenty of Cisco Certification study materials available on the Internet. These range from the official Cisco Certification Training courses and official Cisco Self Study Training Guides from Cisco Press, to the Testking practice exams and Testking study guides. Online practice exams and braindumps are also available online.
More Cisco Information:
You can find more information about the Cisco certifications on the internet on websites like at www.testking.com, www.certifyexpress.com and at www.cisco.com itself.
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