Cisco Certifications have formed  the foundation for thousands of successful careers in networking.Cisco offers ,one of the most popular certification programs in the IT industry. The Cisco Career Certification program begins at the entry level, then advances to associate, professional and expert levels, and (for some certifications) caps things off at the architect level.
- Entry level Certifications
- Associate Certifications
- Professional Certifications
- Expert Level Certifications
- Specailist Certifications
- 1 Cisco Certifications – Entry Level Certifications
- 2 Cisco Certified Technicians (CCT)
- 3 Cisco Certifications – Associate Level Certifications
- 4 CISCO Certifications – Professional Level Certifications
- 5 Cisco Certifications – Expert Level Certifications
- 6 Specialist Certifications
- 7 Benefits of CISCO Certifications
Cisco Certifications – Entry Level Certifications
Cisco has two entry level credentials
- Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician(CCENT)
- Cisco Certified Technician(CCT)
In 2013, Cisco introduced new ICND1 and ICND2 exams (needed for the new CCNA Routing and Switching). ICND1: 100-101 (Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices Part 1 v2.0) became the new exam required for CCENT. With this change, CCENT became a sufficient pre-requirement for CCNA Security, CCNA Voice and CCNA Wireless.This certification is valid for three years
Cisco Certified Technicians (CCT)
Cisco Certified Technicians have the skills to diagnose, restore, repair, and replace critical Cisco networking and system devices at customer sites. Technicians work closely with the Cisco Technical Assistance Center (TAC) to quickly and efficiently resolve support incidents.
As of November 2017, there were 2 domains available for CCT certification:
- CCT Routing and Switching – Valid for 3 years.
- CCT Data Center – Valid for 3 years.
Cisco Certifications – Associate Level Certifications
The CCNA Routing and Switching certification covers skills necessary to administer devices on small or medium-sized networks. This certification requires the ICND1 100-105 and ICND2 200-105 exams.
There are various certification tracks that include are
- Cloud
- Collaboration
- Data Center
- Design
- Industrial/IOT
- Routing and Switching
- Security
- Service Provider
- Wireless
| Certification | Required Exams | Questions | Time Duration |
| CCDA | 210-451 CLDFND | 55-65 | 75 minutes |
| CCNA Cloud | 210-451 CLDFND | 55-65 | 90 minutes |
| CCNA Collaboration | 210-455 CLDADM | 55-65 | 90 minutes |
| 210-060 CICD | 55-65 | 75 minutes | |
| CCNA Cyber Ops | 210-065 CIVND | 55-65 | 75 minutes |
| 210-250 SECFND | 55-60 | 90 minutes | |
| CCNA Data Center | 210-255 SECOPS | 55-60 | 90 minutes |
| 200-150 DCICN | 65-75 | 90 minutes | |
| CCNA Industrial | 200-155 DCICT | 65-75 | 90 minutes |
| CCNA Routing and Switching | 200-601 IMINS2 | 65-75 | 90 minutes |
| 200-125 CCNA | 55-60 | 90 minutes | |
| OR | OR | OR | |
| 100-105 ICND1 | 45-55 | 90 minutes | |
| CCNA Security | 200-105 ICND2 | 45-55 | 90 minutes |
| CCNA Service Provider | 210-260 IINS | 60-70 | 90 minutes |
| 640-875 SPNGN1 | 65-75 | 90 minutes | |
| 640-878 SPNGN2 | 65-75 | 90 minutes | |
| CCNA Wireless | 200-355 WIFUND | 60-70 | 90 minutes |
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CISCO Certifications – Professional Level Certifications
CISCO Professional level Credentials include two main programs
- CISCO Certified Network Professional (CCNP)
- CISCO Certified Design Professional (CCDP)
The CCNP credential recognizes professionals who plan, deploy and troubleshoot local networks and wide area networks
| Certification | Required Exams | Questions | Time Duration |
| CCDP | 300-101 ROUTE | 45-65 | 120 minutes |
| 300-115 SWITCH | 30-40 | 120 minutes | |
| 300-320 ARCH | 60-70 | 75 minutes | |
| CCNP Cloud | 300-460 CLDINF | 55-65 | 90 minutes |
| 300-465 CLDDES | 55-65 | 90 minutes | |
| 300-470 CLDAUT | 55-65 | 90 minutes | |
| 300-475 CLDACI | 55-65 | 90 minutes | |
| CCNP Collaboration | 300-070 CIPTV1 | 55-65 | 75 minutes |
| 300-075 CIPTV2 | 50-60 | 75 minutes | |
| 300-080 CTCOLLAB | 55-65 | 75 minutes | |
| 300-085 CAPPS | 55-65 | 75 minutes | |
| CCNP Data Center | 642-999 DCUCI* | 65-75 | 90 minutes |
| Or | Or | Or | |
| 300-175 DCUCI | 60-70 | 90 minutes | |
| 642-997 DCUFI* | 65-75 | 90 minutes | |
| Or | Or | Or | |
| 300-165 DCII | 60-70 | 90 minutes | |
| And | And | And | |
| 642-998 DCUCD* | 65-75 | 90 minutes | |
| And | And | And | |
| 642-996 DCUFD* | 65-75 | 90 minutes | |
| Or | Or | Or | |
| 300-160 DCID | 60-70 | 90 minutes | |
| Or | Or | Or | |
| 642-035 DCUCT* | 65-75 | 90 minutes | |
| And | And | And | |
| 642-980 DCUFT* | 65-75 | 90 minutes | |
| Or | Or | Or | |
| 300-180 DCIT | 60-70 | 90 minutes | |
| CCNP Routing and Switching | 300-101 ROUTE | 45-65 | 120 minutes |
| 300-115 SWITCH | 30-40 | 120 minutes | |
| 300-135 TSHOOT | 15-25 | 120 minutes | |
| CCNP Security | 300-208 SISAS | 55-65 | 90 minutes |
| 300-206 SENSS | 65-75 | 90 minutes | |
| 300-209 SIMOS | 65-75 | 90 minutes | |
| 300-210 SITCS | 65-75 | 90 minutes | |
| CCNP Service Provider | 642-883 SPROUTE | 65-75 | 90 minutes |
| 642-885 SPADVROUTE | 65-75 | 90 minutes | |
| 642-887 SPCORE | 65-75 | 90 minutes | |
| 642-889 SPEDGE | 65-75 | 90 minutes | |
| CCNP Wireless | 300-360 WIDESIGN | 60-70 | 90 minutes |
| 300-365 WIDEPLOY | 60-70 | 90 minutes | |
| 300-370 WITSHOOT | 60-70 | 90 minutes | |
| 300-375 WISECURE | 60-70 | 90 minutes |
Cisco Certifications – Expert Level Certifications
Cisco expert level credentials include two main certifications
- Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE)
- Cisco Certified Design Expert(CCDE)
There are no prererequisites for either certification,but you have to pass the written exam and practical exam. A CCIE has expert technical skills and knowledge of Cisco network products and solutions in one of the CCIE technical tracks, which currently include Collaboration, Data Center, Routing and Switching, Security, Service Provider and Wireless. The CCDE identifies experts who design infrastructure solutions for large enterprise environments, which include technological, operational, business and budget aspects of a project.
Cisco Certifications – Architect Level Certifications
The Cisco Certified Architect (CCAr) certification assesses the experience and competency of network designers.Different domains in the cetifcations are
- CCIE Routing and Switching
- CCDE
- CCIE Collaboration
- CCIE Data Centre
- CCIE Security
- CCIE Service Provider
- CCIE Wireless
Specialist Certifications
Cisco also provides Specialist Certifications.The Specialisations that come under these certifications are as follows
- Business
- Collaboration
- Data Center
- Internet of Things
- Network Programmability
- Operating System Software
- Security
- Service Provider
Benefits of CISCO Certifications
- Cisco certified professionals are among the highest paid IT professionals in the world.
- Cisco certifications validate skills in networking, one of the fastest growing and most versatile IT domains.
- Resumes with Cisco certifications grab the attention of information technology recruiters and employers.
JOBS AND CAREERS : CiSCO Certifications help to gain related jobs and builds a good career .Following are the examples
- CCENT: Help desk or technician roles
- CCT: Engineer (field, network, application support) or systems administrator
- CCNA: Engineer (network, telecommunications), technician (network, network operations) or analyst (network, network operations center)
- CCDA: Engineer (network, system, design, lead), analyst (interface), interface developer, or technical specialist
- CCNP: Network administrator, engineer (support, network) or advanced technician, as well as senior-level roles
- CCDP: Senior-level roles; senior network design engineer, senior analyst, cyber protection analyst or network designer
- CCIE: Expert-level roles; network architect, engineer (lead, systems, network) or senior network administrator
- CCDE: Expert-level roles; systems engineer, senior network engineer, network architect, network design engineer or IT infrastructure team lead
- CCAr: Architect (lead, network, enterprise, voice data, and more)
