CCNA vs. CCNP: Which is more difficult?

The wise thing to do before starting a new project is to "consider the cost." It is also true for folks who are just getting started in a Cisco (or networking-related) job.

"How does the CCNP certification compare to the CCNA certification, especially in terms of difficulty?" is one of the questions people at this stage of their careers ask. In this article, we'll look at how to respond to this question (and its numerous versions) and put things in context for possible applicants so they can plan appropriately.

Certifications from Cisco

The acronyms CCNA and CCNP stand for Cisco Certified Network Associate and Cisco Certified Network Professional, respectively. Cisco Systems is the firm behind these certificates, as can be observed by the names. Cisco has a market valuation of over $200 billion and controls over 50% of the worldwide enterprise switching and routing market.

With these numbers in your mind, it's easy to see why people desire to keep their certificates. Apart from the fact that any company you work for is likely to have a Cisco device, Cisco certifications can help you land a job. Cisco acknowledges this and has dedicated a significant amount of resources and work to its certification program, which has five levels:

• Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician (CCENT)

• CCNA Routing & Switching Associate

• CCNP Security (Certified Computer Networking Professional)

• Service Provider: Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE)

• Cisco Certified Architect is the architect for this project (CCAr)

The fundamental idea behind these certification levels is that they progress from Entry to architect, with Entry being the lowest and architect being the highest. It isn't always the case, though. You can acquire a CCNA without first becoming a CCENT, for example. Similarly, while taking the lower-level tests is recommended, you can become a CCIE without passing the Associate and Professional certification exams.

A closer look at the CCNA and CCNP certifications

Let's talk about what the CCNA and CCNP certifications are and how they differ, especially in terms of difficulty, now that we know how they fit into the Cisco certification structure.

What is the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) credential?

The CCNA certification is the most widely held Cisco credential. When I first entered the networking field, I was unaware of the CCENT certification and pursued the CCNA. Even though this certification is primarily on Cisco devices (as opposed to vendor-neutral credentials like CompTIA Network+), it still provides a good understanding of networking technologies. It prepares candidates for positions such as Network Administrator, Network Support Engineer, and Associate Security Analyst.

Previously, there was only one CCNA certification (known as CCNA). On the other hand, Cisco has divided the CCNA certification into numerous categories for each IT specialization, such as CCNA Routing and Switching (which is essentially the original CCNA), CCNA Security, CCNA Collaboration, and so on, each with its own set of prerequisites and tests. To summarize, to obtain CCNA-certified, you must:

• If there are any, meet the certification's prerequisites. While some CCNA certificates (such as CCNA Routing and Switching and CCNA Cloud) have no requirements, others (such as CCENT, CCNA Routing and Switching, and CCNA Cloud) have.

• Pass the necessary exam (s). Most CCNA credentials only require you to pass one test. However, some may require you to take up to two.

More information about the CCNA certifications can see here. A decent series on the CCNA Routing and Switching certification can see here.

What does it’s mean to become a Cisco Certified Network Professional?

The CCNP certification is one step higher in the Cisco certification structure. This certification delves deeper into the technologies covered by the CCNA. It can help you get a job as a network consultant, a senior network engineer, or a data center engineer.

Many CCNP certificates depend on a specialization, such as CCNP Routing and Switching, CCNP Security, CCNP Data Center, and so on, similar to the CCNA certifications. To get a CCNP, you must first:

• Meet the certification's prerequisites, which are the relevant CCNA-level requirements. To become CCNP Routing and Switching qualified, you must first have CCNA Routing and switching certification.

• Pass the required exams, which range from three to four in number depending on the specialty.