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Overview of Cisco CCNP certifications

Certification: Cisco CCNP Enterprise - CCNP Enterprise

The Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) is a leading credential in the field of IT. It is suitable for a wide range of specialty areas. This is a professional level course and identifies advance level networking skills and knowledge. The CCNP certification is available in 7 different areas. Each of these certification tests different set or technological skills in order to meet the requirements of various types of jobs. The specialized fields of CCNP certifications are:

  • CCNP Routing and Switching
  • CCNP Data Center
  • CCNP Security
  • CCNP Service Provider
  • CCNP Service Provider Operations
  • CCNP Voice
  • CCNP Wireless

The CCNP Routing and Switching certification demonstrates the candidate’s capability to plan, verify, implement and troubleshoot both local as well as wide area networks. It also judges the candidates competence in working together with specialists in the fields of security, wireless and voice solutions. This certification is suitable for those network professionals who have minimum one year of work experience, specifically in working with solutions related to complex networks. The knowledge and skills gained from the CCNP Routing and Switching certification will become a lifetime asset for the candidate, as it is in line with present day physical networks and tomorrow’s virtual network. The CCNP Data certification is appropriate for technology and business services architects, design engineers and implementation engineers who want to save both money and time in designing, installing and maintaining data center.

The CCNP Security certification program directly relates to the actual job of Network Security Engineers. This certification lets these professionals to work efficiently on Security in routers, networking devices and switches. The CCNP Service Provider certification allows professionals to be expert in providing scalable infrastructure which can go through quick expansion. The CCNP Service Provider Operations certification tests the candidate’s knowledge and skills needed to identify problems related to network performances, and apply proactive fault methods. The CCNP Voice certification tests the candidate’s skills in operating, implementing and troubleshooting IP network that is converged. CCNP Wireless certification is for professionals who deal with the design, operation and implementation of wireless networks.

Cisco CCNP certification creates opportunities in the following job positions:

  • Network Engineer
  • Support Engineer
  • Systems Engineer
  • Network Technician
  • Network Architects
  • Network Design Engineers
  • Network Specialists

CCNP certification provides advanced knowledge and skills needed by networking professionals in their everyday work. This advance level certification provides better recognition and promises higher salary.

Prerequisites for CCNP certification is a CCNA certification in respective areas or any a CCIE certification in any discipline.

Required exams

The CCNP Routing and Switching certification requires three exams: Exam 642-902, exam 642-813, and exam 642-832. The other fields of CCNP need four or five exams to be passed in order to be certified. Required courses: Formal CNP course or training is not mandatory, but are recommended before appearing for the exam. Cisco provides training courses in respective areas which the candidates can avail.

Study materials

The best way to learn for the CCNP certification exam is to study the CCNP books. The CCNP books cover all the topics that are in the exam syllabus. So, candidates can get a thorough knowledge on each topic. CCNP books PDF version files are available on the internet and so is easily accessible to the candidates. The CCNP books contain useful hints, practical examples, and exercises. Topics are organized according to the exam objectives in the CCNP books. First a summarized version of the objective is given in each chapter, followed by the details. At the end of each chapter of the CCNP books, there are questions and answers to sharpen your knowledge on the respective topics. Practice exams are also included in the CCNP books which will be helpful in assessing what you have learned so far. Practice tests are very useful tools as they highlight your strengths and weaknesses and so you can later work on the areas where you are weak. CCNP books are available from each area of specialization. CCNP Route book and CCNP Switch book is for the CCNP Routing and Switching track; CCNP Security books are for the CCNP Security track; CCNP Wireless books are for CCNP Wireless track, etc. For the CCNP Routing and Switching certification, both CCNP Routing Book and CCNP Switching book is available.