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Cisco Certifications - CCNP Certification

Cisco CCNP Certification

(Please note that this is a Professional Level certification as per the levels defined by Cisco for its certifications. These are Entry, Associate, Professional, Expert, Specialist and Architect.)

What is this Cisco CCNP Certification all about?

The Cisco CCNP certification is part of the ‘Professional Level’ of cisco Certifications. Starting from the Cisco CCENT certification (which was an Entry Level certification) we move on to the Cisco CCDA and CCNA Certifications (which were Associate Level certifications) and now the Professional Level certifications. These Certifications can be thought of as a build up on the Associate Level certifications.

The Cisco CCNP Certification is a Professional Level certification that can be thought of as the second certification after the Cisco CCNA Certification that deals with Routing and Swicthing. Initially, Local Area Networks (LANs) were covered. Now, the Cisco CCNP Certification covers Local and Wide Area Networks (WANs) which are larger and more complicated than Local Area Networks (LANs). The Cisco CCNP Certification therefore tests the knowledge and skills of a Networking Professional with regards to installation, configuration and troubleshooting of LANs and WANs with “500 or more nodes” as per Cisco’s guidelines.

The Cisco CCNP Certification tests the following skills with regards to Local and Wide Area Networks:

Manage the routers and switches that form the network core
Manage edge applications that integrate voice, wireless, and security into the network

The Cisco CCNP Curriculum covers the following with regards to Advanced Local and Wide Area Networks. Thus a Cisco CCNP Certified Networking Professional will have the ability to comprehensively:

Build scalable Cisco networks,
Build Cisco multilayer switched networks
Secure converged wide area networks
Optimizing converged networks IP routing

What are the Pre-requisites of Cisco CCNP Certification?

According to Cisco, “Valid CCNA or any CCIE Certification can act as a pre-requisite.”

However, we do also recommend that any person who sits for the exam in this certification come fully prepared for the exam. Allot yourself at the very least a few months to prepare for the exam. Additionally, we would recommend any individual who would like to get certified with this Certification to possess the Cisco CCNA Certification (which is an Associate Level certification that deals with Basic Network troubleshooting and maintenance concepts and skills).

Who is the Cisco CCNP Certification for?

The Cisco CCIP Certification is for those Networking Professionals who are working in or would like to work in an Organization that is responsible for management of large Local Area Networks (LANs) and Wide Area Networks (WANs).

This is particularly for all Networking Professionals with a career orientation towards Network Maintenance and Troubleshooting.

Why should I get certified? What benefits are there?

In case you are a basic Networking Professional who has the Cisco CCNA Certification then this Certification is essential for you to further your career. Networking Professionals require further specialization and advancement of their skills. This Certification will allow you to work with regards to large networks such as Wide Area Networks (WANs). Thus, this certification allows you to upgrade your Cisco Certification to a more advanced level – a professional level.

The benefits will be that you will now have a broader selection of career paths that will be higher paying than your existing job. Additionally, you will have that edge that is required during job selections – since employers look for what makes you as a networking professional unique.

Cisco Certification Exams in General

What Are the Exams Like?

The duration of most theoretical exams is one to two hours. Lab (practical) exams typically last eight hours.
Questions include multiple-choice single answer, multiple-choice multiple answer questions, drag and drop, fill in the blank and simulations.
Exams other than CCIE lab exams are delivered online

What Do They Cost?

Computer-based certification exam prices range from $80 to $325 US dollars or equivalent worldwide. The ICND1 and ICND2 exams are $125 USD, the CCNA exam is $250 USD and the professional level CCNP and CCDP Composite exam is $300 USD, and CCIE written exams are $350 USD. Payment is made directly to the authorized test delivery partner Pearson Vue.
CCIE lab exams are $1,400 USD. Payment is made online via credit card or wire transfer

How do I take the exams?

Exams are regularly administered worldwide by Pearson VUE http://www.vue.com/cisco which is Cisco’s examination delivery partner (just as Prometric is Microsoft’s partner). Pearson VUE routinely organizes exams on various dates

How do I prepare for the exams?

Training through Institutions – The authorized source for Cisco IT training delivered exclusively by Certified Cisco Instructors. For a list of Cisco Learning Partners, use the Learning Partner Locator.

Training through Books – A variety of Cisco Press titles may be available for this exam. These titles can be purchased through the Cisco Marketplace Bookstore, or directly from Cisco Press.

Resources, Assistance and guidance through the online Cisco Learning Network

Exam Cram Books - Exam Cram has a wide array of preparation tools for the popular CCNA, CCNP, and CCSP certifications, including simulation-based practice questions along with other late-stage study vehicles to get you ready for test time.

Safari Bookshelf - The premier electronic reference library for programming and IT professionals with more than 1,200 titles.

Cisco Networking Academy - http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/netacad/index.html

Cisco Certification Study Groups – https://cisco.hosted.jivesoftware.com/groups

What certifications and exams come under Cisco CCNP Certification?

There are two possible options that consist of a number of exams each. These are:

Option 1: 642-901 BSCI , 642-812 BCMSN , 642-825 ISCW and 642-845 ONT
Option 2: 642-892 Composite , 642-825 ISCW and 642-845 ONT

Option 1:

642-901 BSCIBuilding Scalable Cisco Internetworks

Exam Number:	642-901
Associated Certifications:	CCNP , CCIP and CCDP
Duration:	90 minutes (50-60 questions)
Available Languages:	English, Japanese
Register for Exam:	Pearson VUE
Exam Policies:	Read current policies and requirements
Exam Tutorial:	Review type of exam questions
Register for Course:	BSCI courses and other offerings

AND

642-812 BCMSNBuilding Cisco Multilayer Switched Networks

Exam Number:	642-812
Associated Certifications:	CCNP , CCIP and CCDP
Duration:	90 minutes (50-60 questions)
Available Languages:	English, Japanese
Register for Exam:	Pearson VUE
Exam Policies:	Read current policies and requirements
Exam Tutorial:	Review type of exam questions
Register for Course:	BCMSN courses and other offerings

AND

642-825 ISCWImplementing Secure Converged Wide Area Networks

Exam Number:	642-825
Associated Certifications:	CCNP
Duration:	90 minutes (50-60 questions)
Available Languages:	English, Japanese
Register for Exam:	Pearson VUE
Exam Policies:	Read current policies and requirements
Exam Tutorial:	Review type of exam questions
Register for Course:	ISCW courses and other offerings

AND

642-845 ONTOptimizing Converged Cisco Networks

Exam Number:	642-845
Associated Certifications:	CCNP
Duration:	90 minutes (50-60 questions)
Available Languages:	English, Japanese
Register for Exam:	Pearson VUE
Exam Policies:	Read current policies and requirements
Exam Tutorial:	Review type of exam questions
Register for Course:	ONT courses and other offerings

Option 2:

642-892 Composite BSCI and BCMSNComposite Exam

Exam Number:	642-892
Associated Certifications:	CCNP , CCIP and CCDP
Duration:	90 minutes (50-60 questions)
Available Languages:	English, Japanese
Register for Exam:	Pearson VUE
Exam Policies:	Read current policies and requirements
Exam Tutorial:	Review type of exam questions
Register for Courses:	BSCI and BCMSN Courses and other offerings

AND

642-825 ISCWImplementing Secure Converged Wide Area Networks

Exam Number:	642-825
Associated Certifications:	CCNP
Duration:	90 minutes (50-60 questions)
Available Languages:	English, Japanese
Register for Exam:	Pearson VUE
Exam Policies:	Read current policies and requirements
Exam Tutorial:	Review type of exam questions
Register for Course:	ISCW courses and other offerings

AND

642-845 ONTOptimizing Converged Cisco Networks

Exam Number:	642-845
Associated Certifications:	CCNP
Duration:	90 minutes (50-60 questions)
Available Languages:	English, Japanese
Register for Exam:	Pearson VUE
Exam Policies:	Read current policies and requirements
Exam Tutorial:	Review type of exam questions
Register for Course:	ONT courses and other offerings

Validity of the Cisco CCNP Certification

This Certification is valid for upto 3 years after the certification has been awarded. After 3 years any and every networks professional will have to re-sit an exam in the Professional Level category of Cisco Certifications so as to be re-certified. Cisco has created this system to ensure that all network’s professionals stay up to date with latest trends and changes in networking technologies and standards.

Resources for the Exams