Cisco is a widely-respected Information Technology company that designs and produces networking and communications technology and devices. In addition, the Cisco Certifications division offers several levels of certification in general and specialist IT areas.

Completing Cisco Certification involves completing and passing examinations at Associate, Professional, or Expert level. IT professionals who obtain this certification can be considered as experts in working with Cisco-created products and networks.

Cisco Certifications include three levels of certification: Associate, Professional, and Expert, with each requiring the successful completion of increasingly more specialized examinations. The Associate level can be thought of as an ‘apprenticeship’ level, at which little specialized knowledge or work experience is necessary.

Each successive level of Cisco Certification requires more specialized knowledge, and provides IT professionals with the ability to obtain specialist qualifications in areas such as network security, routing and switching, network design, service providers, storage networking, and VoIP.

Cisco Certifications include three levels: Associate, Professional, and Expert. Within the Associate level are two certifications, covering network configuration and design. Candidates for Professional-level certification must complete Associate-level examinations to be eligible. There are no formal requirements for Expert-level certification; however Cisco recommends that applicants have at least three to five years’ experience in networking.

Cisco Certification-holders who apply for positions in networking must typically hold at least a Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology or a related field in addition to Cisco Certification.

The US Department of Labor predicts faster-than-average (up to 16%) growth in available career opportunities for qualified Network Administrators and Engineers through to the year 2016, largely based on society’s growing dependence on and need for computerized networks and information systems. Highly-qualified individuals with at least a Bachelor’s degree in addition to Cisco Certification or other types of certification will be able to take advantage of the best career opportunities.

Network Administrators and Engineers may earn salaries of between $37,000 and more than $100,000, depending on their level of education, experience, and certification.

IT professionals with Cisco Certification can expect to receive a significant boost in salary depending on their level of certification. Professionals who hold Cisco Expert or Specialist Certification, for example, can achieve a 10% to 15% increase in salary, if their experience is on par with their level of training.

However, because technology is advancing at an extremely rapid pace, IT workers with Cisco Certifications must ensure they keep their qualifications up-to-date and relevant, to keep pace with the demands of new technology.

Cisco’s Associate Certifications level is the first of the certification levels. This certification level involves first gaining Cisco’s Certified Entry Networking Technician (CCENT) before proceeding to Associate-level examinations. CCENT covers basic networking knowledge and skills, rather than highly technical concepts.

Following successful completion of CCENT, candidates can proceed to Associate-level training. Candidates may sit either Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) for network operations, or Cisco Certified Design Associate (CCDA) for network design. CCNA tests a candidate’s ability to install, configure, operate, and trouble-shoot medium sized routed and switched networks, including security issues. CCDA tests a candidate’s skills in designing routed and switched networks including LAN, WAN, and broadband for businesses.

Associate Certification is valid for three years. After this time, a CCNA or CCDA-holder must either resit the Associate examination, or pass a Professional or Specialist-level examination (CCIE).

CCENT-level certification is typically a requirement for most entry-level technical networking support positions, such as Help Desk Technicians and Technical Support workers. IT professionals who obtain a CCNA can obtain Network Specialist or Associate Network Engineer positions.

Following successful completion of an Associate-level Cisco Certification, candidates may sit examinations for Professional-level Certification. This level of certification tests a candidate’s knowledge of more technical aspects of network design and maintenance.

There are currently five Certification tracks for Professional level certification, including Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP), Cisco Certified Design Professional (CCDP), Cisco Certified Internetwork Professional (CCIP), Cisco Certified Security Professional (CCSP), and Cisco Certified Voice Professional (CCVP).

CCNP candidates must hold a valid CCNA Certification to proceed to Professional-level examinations. During CCNP examinations, a candidate’s ability to install, configure, and troubleshoot LAN and WAN systems with 100 to 500 nodes is tested. Completing CCNP involves successfully completing three or four examinations. Candidates can sit four separate examinations; alternatively they may choose to sit three, including one which combines aspects of two different exams.

CCNP certification is valid for three years; after this time the candidate must re-sit and pass any of the four practical exams, or sit a Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) exam.

Cisco’s Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) level of certification is the highest provided by Cisco. Candidates can demonstrate their expertise in routing and switching, security, service providing, VoIP, and storage networking.

Candidates for CCIE certification need not hold any previous levels of Cisco Certification. Instead, they must sit and pass a written CCIE examination, after which they will be eligible to sit the practical examination. Although there are no formal requirements for sitting CCIE examinations, Cisco recommends that candidates have at least three to five years’ worth of networking experience.

CCIE-holders comprise less than three percent of all Cisco Certifications-holders. As such, they are in high demand, and are qualified for the most advanced level of employment.

Cisco Certified Network Administrators typically hold a Cisco Certified Network Associate certification, which qualifies them for a career as a Network Specialist or Associate Network Engineer. Cisco Certified Network Administrators provide support for networks that includes installation, configuration, and maintenance of LAN and WAN systems, as well as trouble-shooting and testing. In some jobs, network design may also be involved.

Candidates must hold a CCNA, have excellent problem-detection, problem-solving, and analytical skills, and good written and verbal communication skills. To best manage a network it is important to:

• prioritize tasks
• time-management
• prioritization
• organization skills

Cisco Network Engineers design data networks, and configure and manage networks including routers, switches, firewalls and other network appliances. Cisco Network Engineers typically hold at least Professional-level certification in one or more Cisco tracks, such as:

• networking engineering
• network design
• security
• VoIP

Cisco Network Engineer positions typically require at least three to five years’ experience in installing, maintaining and configuring Cisco routers, switches and other components, in addition to problem-solving and analytical skills, communication skills, and often interpersonal and customer service skills.