Cisco CCNP Certification Training

The Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) certification is the perfect way for a mid-career networking specialist to give his or her skills (and resume) a bit of a boost. The CCNP credential builds upon Associate-level credentials like Cisco Certified Networking Associate (CCNA), making it highly sought after and respected by employers. CCNP certification can also improve salary potential: According to Global Knowledge's 2011 IT Skills and Salary Report, the average salary for a CCNA-certified professional was $79,536, while the average for a CCNP-certified pro was $97,296.

Who should consider CCNP certification?

According to Cisco's website, the CCNP certification is designed for networking specialists with at least one year of experience who are "ready to advance their skills and work independently on complex network solutions." Networking technicians, support engineers, systems engineers and network engineers are all suitable candidates. Candidates must be CCNA- or CCIE-certified before pursuing the CCNP certification.

What skills does CCNP certification provide?

The CCNP certification builds upon the skills mastered in the prerequisite CCNA. Those who pass the CCNP exams will be prepared to plan, implement and troubleshoot larger local and wide-area networks. They will also learn to collaborate with those specializing in more advanced wireless, video, voice and security solutions.

How is CCNP certification earned?

In order to be CCNP certified, one must pass each of the following exams:

Implementing Cisco IP Routing (642-902 Route): This 52-question exam validates one's ability to use advanced IP addressing and routing while implementing secure Cisco ISR routers connected to LANs or WANs. Candidates have two hours to complete the test.

Implementing Cisco IP Switched Networks (642-813 Switch): According to Cisco, this exam, also 52 questions or two hours long, certifies that one can successfully plan, configure and verify the creation of advanced enterprise switching solutions using Cisco's Campus Enterprise Architecture.

Troubleshooting and Maintaining Cisco IP Networks (642-832 TShoot): This is a 35- to 40-question exam testing one's ability to plan and maintain routed and switched networks and to maintain ITIL principles while performing network troubleshooting. Candidates have 135 minutes to complete this exam.

What are the CCNP certification exams like?

Cisco exams are administered online and in a controlled environment. The system does not allow one to go back to skipped questions or review past answers, so it is important to answer all questions the first time, and carefully. Candidates should be prepared for a variety of types of questions, including single- and multiple-answer multiple-choice; drag and drop; fill in the blank; and simulations. Simulations tend to take the longest and contribute the most toward one's final score.

How should candidates prepare for the CCNP exams?

It's recommended that CCNP hopefuls should prepare for at least a month before taking each exam. During this time, individuals must familiarize themselves with the curriculum, but also complete a number of practice tests and training modules. As with most tests, the ability to manage one's time and answer different types of questions is almost as important for a passing score as knowing the material. One can access official CCNA training materials through Cisco's official site, via IT training centers and courses, or through professional organizations like the Association for Computing Machinery.

Does a CCNP certification ever expire?

All of Cisco's professional-level certifications expire after three years. Candidates can choose to recertify by passing any current professional-level exam, or by passing select expert- or architect-level exams.