Cisco is one of the most popular systems in use around the world. Today, Cisco has over 16.5 million customers. Large companies, such as United States Department of Defense, United States Military, Pricewaterhouse Coopers, Walt Disney Co., General Electric Co. and PricewaterhouseCoopers are among the customers of Cisco Systems. Large enterprises rely on Cisco’s technology to provide solutions that will help them make the most of their resources. IT professionals can help large corporations create an integrated network and help reduce cost and risk.
There are three types of exams in Cisco Systems. One is the CCNA exam, which is intended for IT professionals who have obtained a Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) qualification. The second is the CCNP or CCPDP exam, which is designed for non-network professionals who desire to gain more information about Cisco systems. Finally, there is the CCIE or Cisco Certified Internet Professional (CCPI) exam, which is ideal for people who already possess a basic level of Cisco training and desire to enhance their skills. Most students wait until the CCIE exam expiration date to take this exam, but others prefer to complete their certification earlier to gain valuable preparation time.
The CCNA certifications do not need to be renewed after they are expires. It is recommended for students to obtain a renewal course just before they plan to expire the CCNA certification so as to maintain their existing Cisco knowledge. For any individual, it is important to check whether the CCNA exam has an expiry date, because a CCNA does not insure you for obtaining a CCNP or CCPDP, which is the highest level of certification. So you should renew your CCNA license if you want to continue learning.
The CCNA exam expiration date is calculated based on the date when the last CCNA exam credit applied. If there is a deficit, there is a valid period between the time of application and the CCNA exam expiration date. This could be six months or three years. The Cisco exam has been developed to ensure that different people have different experiences and this is why some exam dates are adjusted depending on the experience level of a candidate.
Students with any kind of existing IT contract will need to obtain a new certificate before they can take the exam for the third time. If there are no IT contracts, the IT department head can create an IT student certificate which can be used as the CCNA or CCPDP. To get an IT student certificate, the students will have to pass a course that is sufficient and up to date. A lot of people study for the CCNA certification exam in preparation for Cisco certification. There are a lot of advantages for studying for these two certifications. The CCNA certifications give you the foundation in networking while the CCPDP gives you practical experience in performing enterprise level tasks.
The CCNA certifications are more relevant to entry level IT professionals than the CCPDP, but both are equally good preparation for Cisco exams. The CCNA is the preferred exam by many an experienced professional and even small business owners. It covers more hardware and software topics than the CCPDP exams and hence, the exams are taken for a more comprehensive knowledge. With any luck, Cisco training will start with the CCNA, and you can then go on to the other Cisco certifications.
You need to renew your certification every three years or so and keep track of when the CCPDP exam expiration date will be. With the CCNA on your belt, you can then go and attempt the more difficult exams such as the CCSA or Cisco Certified Security Associate (CCSA) and the CCIE or Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA). When you look at the exams, you will note that CCSA and CCNA are more difficult than the Cisco exams. Hence, it is advisable to take the Cisco certification before you try out for the other certifications.
