What is Cisco Certification?
Cisco career certification is a computer networking certification provided by the company Cisco Systems, Inc. (or Cisco for short)-a company that provides networking solutions and devices for the internet. Why obtain a Cisco career certification? It makes you more marketable in the job world. Employers feel confident knowing that they have an IT employee with standardized and up-to-date training concerning their network infrastructure. If you already have a job, a Cisco career certification can give you greater knowledge (thus greater value) for the devices you work with.
Types of Cisco Certification
Cisco career certifications come in the following six separate categories according to Cisco Systems, Inc. :
- Routing and Switching
- Network Security
- Voice
- Design
- Storage Networking
- Service Provider
In addition, Cisco offers three levels of education depending upon how much you want/need to know about each category. The levels, represented here in order of lowest to highest achievement, are as follows:
- Associate
- Professional
- Expert
There is one more training option Cisco offers-the specialist. The 'Specialist' is a certification focused on a specific technology, solution, or job role according to www.cisco.com. Wireless, Internet Protocol (IP) telephony, and security are just some of the specializations available to interested IT professionals. Furthermore, Cisco frequently adds new specializations.
Some Practical Advice
Naturally, it will be cheaper for you or your company to obtain Associate-level training in one category specific to your job than to obtain Expert-level training in all the categories. Evaluate your networking need, your learning style, and your budget to find the best program for you. Also, check www.cisco.com for special discounts. For example, Cisco offers learning credits, which are good towards training sessions. These credits can be obtained from purchasing Cisco products among other ways.
To Learn More
Training is available from instructor-led courses, remote access labs, e-learning solutions, and seminars. Cisco even offers some free online classes. To learn more, search www.cisco.com for a listing of all available training options, locations, and prices.