Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP)
The CCNP certification (Cisco Certified Network Professional) indicates advanced or journeyman knowledge of networks.
With a CCNP, a network professional can install, configure, and troubleshoot local and wide area networks for enterprise organizations with networks from 100 to more than 500 nodes. The content emphasizes topics such as security, converged networks, quality of service (QoS), virtual private networks (VPN) and broadband technologies.
The CCNP got its start several years ago and has been recently changed in the summer of 2003, with the introduction of the Composite exam. There is a four exam, three exam and two exam path to the CCNP. CCNP is valid for three years. To recertify, the candidate must pass the Composite exam.
A CCNP can do the following:
- Implement appropriate technologies to build a scalable routed network.
- Build campus networks using multilayer switching technologies.
- Improve traffic flow, reliability, redundancy, and performance for campus LANs, routed and switched WANs, and remote access networks.
- Create and deploy a global intranet.
- Troubleshoot an environment that uses Cisco routers and switches for multiprotocol client hosts and services
Job roles of those pursuing this certification generally include: network administrator, LAN administrator, and network infrastructure administrator.
A valid CCNA certification is a prerequisite for the CCNP certification. This certification level requires you to pass 4 exams.
- (642-801) 642-801 BSCI v2.0
- (642-811) 642-811 BCMSN
- (642-821) 642-821 BCRAN
- (642-831) 642-831 CIT
- (642-891) 642-891 Composite
Cisco has worked hard to build a good reputation for its certification program. The Cisco certification program enjoys wide industry recognition, which is positive for certified individuals. Cisco maintains the integrity of this program by keeping information current through exam updates and new exams, integrating hands-on components via on-line exam simulations and the CCIE lab component, and enforcing a recertification process to ensure that certified individuals skills are up-to-date.
In any study on the value of IT certifications, Cisco certifications invariably score in the top five. Cisco's market share in the networking market creates a demand for certified individuals, even in a slow market. Cisco certification can prove valuable for network professionals at all levels, so keep on studying.