4 Causes Why Cisco Certifications Are Nonetheless the Finest Selection

At completely different instances of my profession, I discovered certifications to be a essential a part of my studying journey. My first position as a channel programs engineer at Cisco drove me to start my certification course of. Now, as a part of the Studying & Certifications group, it’s all about creating sources and pursuing coaching.

Once I discover a new know-how space I need to study, I search for a key vendor in that individual area to seek out out if they’ve a technical coaching program. Many instances I’ll pay for an examination simply to check and validate my very own data. However on the subject of Cisco, the coaching and certification atmosphere continues to be next-level, standing the check of time. Listed below are 4 explanation why Cisco Certifications are nonetheless your best option for my studying and certification journey.

#1: Cisco certifications prioritize lifelong studying

The cool factor about Cisco coaching is it creates a path for folks to study all through their careers. You’ll be able to progress from the CCNA to a CCIE, relying in your talent degree. Or, you possibly can transfer ahead down a siloed path towards one particular know-how. As an example, let’s say you begin out in a networking job and your employer needs you to develop your abilities for his or her information heart. You’ll be able to then take a deeper dive into information heart applied sciences with Cisco coaching. Or, you possibly can decide up a number of applied sciences and begin new paths. 

But it surely’s about greater than that. Cisco offers a constant, clear, logical path to certification that’s primarily based on the abilities it’s essential achieve success in the actual world. Even if you happen to don’t pursue the certification itself, you realize that you could belief Cisco coaching as a result of it’s aligned to a globally acknowledged IT certification program. And if you happen to full coaching particularly designed to organize you for a certification examination, then testing is all that’s standing between you and a shiny Cisco certification. So, why wouldn’t you are taking the examination that awards you the popularity your data deserves?

As for present Cisco certification holders, they must renew their lively Cisco certification standing earlier than their certification expires. If you need to study extra about how Cisco prioritizes lifelong studying, check out how the Cisco Recertification Coverage encourages licensed people to maintain their data rising — and preserve it present.  

#2: Cisco certifications keep forward of evolving applied sciences

As know-how evolves, Cisco certifications proceed to be acknowledged throughout the business, standing the check of time to stay related. That isn’t a coincidence, both. It takes a aware determination to replace and evolve your entire program and guarantee its certification holders have the instruments they have to be profitable and ready for what lies forward.

If I’m desirous about a technical job, comparable to networking, I don’t need my first certification to be from an organization no one has heard of. It is sensible to hunt certification from Cisco, the market chief in a number of applied sciences. Cisco certifications cowl so many merchandise and applied sciences that align with many job alternatives. In some areas, 40 to 50 % market share. 

Cisco’s Affiliate, Skilled, and Knowledgeable certifications signify your degree of experience with particular applied sciences and talk the place your abilities land in a globally acknowledged, revered approach. Hiring managers belief Cisco. They know that when you have your CCNA and have stored it present, your data isn’t previous. You’ve recertified and stored abreast of know-how modifications. 

In a approach, incomes a Cisco certification tells the world that Cisco has your again. And when an IT chief vouches in your data, you possibly can belief that their repute can get you within the door. CCNA, CCNP, and CCIE technical abilities or certifications are the usual markers in job-listing {qualifications}. 

#3: Cisco certifications’ expert-led neighborhood of learners

With 25 years of certifications from completely different organizations, I nonetheless consider Cisco has the very best methodology, constructing a constant path with a neighborhood that will help you put together and keep your data. With another organizations, you may have to earn 60 Cisco Configuration Skilled (CCP) hours. Positive, you possibly can learn all of the stuff from any supply you will discover, and perhaps they’ll settle for these hours. However with Cisco, you’re not scrambling to seek out your hours. The whole lot in your path is related.  

The Cisco Studying Community provides you a spot the place you possibly can focus on matters with Cisco enterprise unit sources, engineers, and your friends within the subject. After which there’s Cisco Dwell, which all the time delivers a ton of studying alternatives and other ways to carry Cisco Licensed professionals, learners, and specialists collectively (check out this 12 months’s CCIE celebration in Las Vegas), the place they might join and rejoice their neighborhood.

#4: Cisco certifications and… Cisco coaching  

Cisco is chock-full of related coaching supplies for learners to check in the best way that works finest for them. You may have Cisco Press know-how books in addition to cert-specific examine supplies. Digital lab merchandise, comparable to Cisco Packet Tracer and Cisco Modeling Labs, can be found to remain present and study new issues. And in case you missed it, Cisco Studying & Certifications has a wholly new digital studying expertise coming quickly.

I do know of no different vendor certification program that brings all of the completely different items to the desk, with coaching occasions, webinars, and lifelong studying paths that provide the incentive to grow to be an professional in a specific space. With Cisco certifications, I do know the subsequent logical step from a CCNA is a CCNP. I do know what books and coaching to get. Perhaps there’s an ELT or ILT course to begin prepping. Finally, the coaching, sources, and experience all merge to type an entire bundle. Once more, Cisco is constructing that path, and it’s a easy one to navigate.

My recommendation in your studying and certification journey

Whenever you’re able to embark by yourself certification journey, begin with one thing that pursuits you. Whether or not it’s simply one thing you need to know extra about or to grasp baseline abilities in an space that potential employers are in search of; the entire concept is to study — construct abilities and experience — and continue to learn. Certification is the checkmark that signifies that you have that data. It tells employers you perceive a sure know-how. On the finish of the day, employers acknowledge Cisco Certifications because the mile marker of what it means to be expert at an expert degree. 

I’ve named a number of the finest causes for acquiring a Cisco certification; lifelong studying, maintaining with present know-how, and entry to the neighborhood and sources. However as for me, I belief that my Cisco certifications will proceed to be your best option as a result of they’ve pushed me to grow to be the very best model of myself. 

Listed below are some sources that will help you get began:

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