Detailed Overview of Cisco CCNP Certifications: All You Need to Know

Introduction

With their certification path that embraces everyone, Cisco has ensured there are enough competent IT professionals to provide support for its products as well as technology solutions to their customers.

This accreditation program is suitable for beginners and more experienced networking specialists. You can start with the entry, associate, or professional level and then move to the expert or architect levels depending on the path you would like to take.

This post is committed to the overview of Exam-Labs.com credentials and what options there are for you to choose from. Let’s start and learn what’s offered!

CCNP Certifications Overview

In case you are not aware of the changes that happened to this Cisco’s program, then you need to read this post further. In the CCNP category, some credentials were dropped on the 24 th of February 2020. In the current path, the badges are now more comprehensive, and candidates have to pass only two exams to earn any of them. Also, some of these tests will bring applicants Specialist certification in addition to the professional-level one. This ensures your accomplishments are recognized as you go through every step. Below, we’ll disclose the details of CCNP credentials available for you to help you pick the most suitable one.

CCNP Enterprise

This is a new certification introduced to replace several badges including Cisco 200-301 Premium , CCNP R&S, and CCNP Wireless. It proves that you are capable of providing enterprise-based solutions for networking. Candidates need to pass two tests to accomplish the requirements: the first one covers the core concepts while the concentration exam allows you to choose an area you want to specialize in.

The core test is 350-401 ENCOR. And there are six options for concentration assessments that involve topics like designing wired and wireless networks, implementing SD-WAN, working with advanced routing and services, and others.

CCNP Collaboration

Achieving CCNP Collaboration badge validates how capable you are in providing collaboration solutions. You need to pass a core exam assessing you in key technologies of this sphere and a concentration test that you select from four variants. The core test is 350-801 by code, and specializations to choose from include working with applications, automation, edge solutions, and call control.

CCNP Data Center

The new CCNP Data Center consolidates the old Exam-Labs Premium File Website and the CCNP Cloud badges. It proves your ability to efficiently maintain the named solution. Just like the other CCNP credentials already mentioned, there are two exams to be passed. The first is 350-601, while the second comes from the five concentration tests. These are 300-610, 300-615, 300-620, 300-625, and 300-635.

CCNP Security

With CCNP Security certification, candidates confirm that they can avail of security solutions when needed and are aware of modern tools, technologies, and strategies to protect various environments. One needs to first ace exam 350-701, and then select one concentration test from the existing six options: Download Premium File from Exam-Labs , 300-715, 300-720, 300-725, 300-730, and 300-735.

CCNP Service Provider

Passing the two tests that validate your ability to work with solutions for service provider enables you to get CCNP certified in the field. In this path, you begin with 350-501 core exam and then go for the concentration assessment. Here, the specializations involve the implementation of advanced routing, providing automation, and working with VPN services.

Other Cisco Professional Certifications to Earn

Apart from CCNP certifications, there are two other professional-level badges offered by Cisco in their new program. They are the Cisco Certified DevNet Professional and the Cisco Certified CyberOps Professional. Let’s take a look at these two credentials.

Cisco Certified DevNet Professional

This badge targets DevOps engineers and software developers. Earning it means you can develop and maintain applications designed on Cisco platforms. Its path involves 350-901 core exam and the concentration assessment chosen from the available eight options. These are exams Cisco CCIE 350-401 ENCOR Premium , 300-535, 300-635, 300-735, 300-835, 300-910, 300-915, and 300-920.

Cisco Certified CyberOps Professional

This certification will be coming later in November 2020 and certifies your skills in protecting, detecting, and defending against cybersecurity-related threats. The core exam required to obtain this credential is 350-201, while 300-210 is the concentration test.

Career Prospects

To be successful in a career like networking, you need something that will help you stand out from the rest. The right badge may serve you well in this case. Whether you wish to follow a networking path in operations or design, want to provide automation or develop applications, Cisco certifications are aptly positioned to ensure your desired role is fulfilled.

CCNP certified professionals qualify for various roles that enable them to prove their level of competence. These include network administrator, senior network engineer, network architect, network developer, and network security engineer just to name a few. PayScale reports the average compensation for those with CCNP badges as $95,000 annually.

Moreover, these professional-level credentials are valid for three years and need you to enroll in the recertification process. You shouldn’t think that this is a waste of money because it’s definitely not: with regular renewal, you will always keep your networking skills in line with the latest job market requirements which will make you a valuable employee worth promotions and salary rise.

Conclusion

If there is a time that IT professionals need to be serious about how they acquire their skills, then this is it. The Cisco CCNP credentials are for you if you wish to take charge of your IT career. And to be successful, you need to adhere to the correct path. You can choose to begin from the entry or associate level or jump right away to the professional stage. Take advantage of Cisco’s training as well as self-study resources to catapult you to the level you want!

The IT world is always changing. To ensure you are not left behind, you had better equip yourself with the required CCNP badge from Cisco. Good luck in your certification journey!