4 Causes Why Cisco Certifications Are Nonetheless the Finest Selection

At totally different occasions of my profession, I discovered certifications to be a essential a part of my studying journey. My first function 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 expertise space I need to be taught, I search for a key vendor in that specific area to seek out out if they’ve a technical coaching program. Many occasions I’ll pay for an examination simply to check and validate my very own data. However in the case of Cisco, the coaching and certification surroundings continues to be next-level, standing the take a look at of time. Listed below are 4 the 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 individuals to be taught all through their careers. You possibly can progress from the CCNA to a CCIE, relying in your talent stage. Or, you’ll be able to transfer ahead down a siloed path towards one particular expertise. As an illustration, let’s say you begin out in a networking job and your employer needs you to develop your abilities for his or her knowledge middle. You possibly can then take a deeper dive into knowledge middle applied sciences with Cisco coaching. Or, you’ll be able to decide up a number of applied sciences and begin new paths. 

However it’s about greater than that. Cisco supplies a constant, clear, logical path to certification that’s based mostly on the abilities it’s essential to achieve success in the true world. Even in case you don’t pursue the certification itself, you realize that you may belief Cisco coaching as a result of it’s aligned to a globally acknowledged IT certification program. And in case you full coaching particularly designed to arrange you for a certification examination, then testing is all that’s standing between you and a shiny Cisco certification. So, why wouldn’t you’re taking the examination that awards you the popularity your data deserves?

As for present Cisco certification holders, they must renew their energetic Cisco certification standing earlier than their certification expires. If you need to be taught 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 expertise evolves, Cisco certifications proceed to be acknowledged throughout the business, standing the take a look at of time to stay related. That isn’t a coincidence, both. It takes a acutely aware choice to replace and evolve all the program and guarantee its certification holders have the instruments they have to be profitable and ready for what lies forward.

If I’m focused on a technical job, comparable to networking, I don’t need my first certification to be from an organization no person 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 Skilled certifications symbolize your stage of experience with particular applied sciences and talk the place your abilities land in a globally acknowledged, revered means. Hiring managers belief Cisco. They know that you probably have your CCNA and have stored it present, your data isn’t previous. You’ve recertified and stored abreast of expertise adjustments. 

In a means, incomes a Cisco certification tells the world that Cisco has your again. And when an IT chief vouches to your data, you’ll be able to belief that their fame 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 group of learners

With 25 years of certifications from totally different organizations, I nonetheless imagine Cisco has one of the best methodology, constructing a constant path with a group that can assist you put together and preserve your data. With another organizations, you may must earn 60 Cisco Configuration Skilled (CCP) hours. Positive, you’ll be able to learn all of the stuff from any supply you’ll find, and perhaps they’ll settle for these hours. However with Cisco, you’re not scrambling to seek out your hours. Every part in your path is related.  

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

#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 could have Cisco Press expertise 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 be taught new issues. And in case you missed it, Cisco Studying & Certifications has a completely new digital studying expertise coming quickly.

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

My recommendation to your studying and certification journey

If 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 know baseline abilities in an space that potential employers are in search of; the entire thought is to be taught — construct abilities and experience — and continue learning. Certification is the checkmark that signifies that you have that data. It tells employers you perceive a sure expertise. On the finish of the day, employers acknowledge Cisco Certifications because the mile marker of what it means to be expert at an expert stage. 

I’ve named a number of the finest causes for acquiring a Cisco certification; lifelong studying, maintaining with present expertise, and entry to the group 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 turn out to be one of the best model of myself. 

Listed below are some sources that can assist you get began:

• Be a part of a Cisco Studying & Certifications Dialogue Matter and join with the bigger group. 
• Study extra about the backgrounds of these in search of Cisco Certifications right here. 
• Getting Began with Cisco Certifications Podcast

 

Observe Cisco Studying & Certifications

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