Frequently Asked Questions - Cisco Certification

 Learning Paths for Cisco Certification

Cisco certification learning paths differ depending on your level, emphasis, and prior knowledge and expertise. Someone is seeking a job working with networks in a data center. For example, let's begin with the entry-level CCT Data Center certification, then progress to the professional-level CCNP Data Center certification as a core focus, and finally to the expert-level CCIE Data Center certification. However, you are not required to follow a specific path from one level to the next.

"Individuals can become certified at any level without first obtaining certification at a lesser level," says Brad Haynes, a client solutions specialist at training provider Global Knowledge. "Candidates can enter at any level for certification if they believe they meet the required qualifications."

Why Would You Want to Get a Cisco Certification?

According to Art Zeile, CEO of DHI Group, the parent company of recruitment site Dice, many preeminent firms use Cisco products in their technology infrastructure. Cisco certifications demonstrate that technologists have the expertise to work with these products, giving them an advantage in a competitive job market.

"As we've seen time and time again, specialization can be a key to unlocking higher salaries and other perks," Zeile says. "Employers don't want to lose technologists who have really important information that takes years (and a lot of effort) to acquire."

How Does Employee Certification Benefit Them?

IT professionals who earned a certification increased their income by about $13,000. Someone with six or more qualifications earns $13,000 more in North America than someone with only one certificate.

Beyond the pay raise, individuals polled for the report said certification increased the quality of their work, made them more involved in their employment, and made them faster at their tasks.

What Value Does Certification Bring to Employers?

Hiring workers with Cisco qualifications isn't always going to make a company more successful. However, Zeile will reduce downtime and other negative consequences that a business may face when network difficulties arise.

"The Cisco training program verifies that the engineer truly understands networking principles and isn't just turning up and trying to solve an issue by reading the user's manual on the spot," Zeile explains. "You can't wing it through the certifications; you have to know the material inside and out."

Cisco Certification Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Cost of Certification?

• The cost of the entry-level CCT exam is $125.

• The cost of the associate's level exam is $300.

• The cost of the professional core exam is $400.

• The cost of a professional concentration exam is $300.

• Each specialist exam costs $300.

• Written exam at the expert level costs $450.

• $1,600 for an expert-level practical exam.

Other costs, according to Haynes, include time spent at work and outside of work, training preparation courses, practice examinations, and recertification every three years. Preparation classes vary in price. You can take online instructor-led classes or try self-study courses.

What Impact Will Certification Have on My Salary?

According to ZipRecruiter labor economist Julia Pollak, relatively few positions on ZipRecruiter expressly specify entry-level certification as necessary. Those who do tend to pay an average income of roughly $74,000.

Associate and professional credentials are a must for many more occupations, with incomes ranging from $90,000 to $116,000, respectively. According to Pollak, fewer positions require expert-level certification, but those who do earn an average of approximately $135,000 per year.

Is Certification a Good Investment?

According to Pollak, courses, study materials, and exam fees for higher certifications can cost thousands of dollars. However, the most increased cost of acquiring these credentials is your time. Professional and expert certification exams can be time-consuming, requiring many hours of study every day for up to a year in each case.

Do some study to see if certification is a good fit for you. Determine where you want to go with your profession and research what is in demand.

Is there a High Demand for These Skills?

Cisco certifications and skills have become increasingly important for certain types of jobs. According to Zeile, Cisco-related skills are a must for 26% of network engineer and architect jobs, 16% of network/systems administrator jobs, and 8% of cybersecurity and information-security engineer jobs.

According to Zeile, cisco-related jobs must grow by more than 32% over the next ten years.

How Do I Begin Studying for Certification Exams?

Cisco provides links to digital learning courses, a training catalog, a classroom training locator, an e-learning network store, certification communities, training books, and other tools to help you study and prepare for certification exams. Cisco also offers a complete list of all the exams.