Have you ever heard of the soon-to-be changes within the Cisco certification program? This includes the outset of new programs in replacement of old tracks. So, if you’re planning to get Cisco certified this year, you should check this out.
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Cisco and its latest move
Almost everyone knows how prime Cisco is in the IT industry, let alone its broad range of certifications across many domains from entry, associate, professional, expert and architect levels. Up to this day, it is not to be undermined that Cisco still seats at the apex of the networking and IT stairwell. However, not everyone has been able to catch up with the latest update the reputable IT provider has made to its popular certification.
One of Cisco’s highly-favored expert-level credentials is part of the many updates by the company. And this is the CCNA Practice Test CCNP Routing and Switching certification, which will now be switched into CCNP Enterprise Infrastructure certification by February 24, 2020. This latest move on the highly-coveted networking certification is no reason for you to get the heebie-jeebies though. So, before this remarkable credential gets replaced, let’s have a thorough discourse about Cisco itself, CCNP R&S, its required exams, and best exam study materials.
A Glimpse of the old CCNP R& S Certification
To make it clear, those who have already gone through the arduous process of getting their CCNP R&S certification need not worry. The work you’ve done will not be put to waste since it will be credited. Hence, before we venture to the soon-to-be-new certification, let’s first double back to the Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert Routing and Switching (CCNP R&S) certification. Ever since it first launched in the certification market, many professionals, particularly expert-level engineers, have studied, paid, and devoted their time on pursuing it. The certification has simply become a touchstone in assessing an engineer’s expertise in network infrastructures.
Getting to know the exam requirements
Passing both the written qualification and hands-on lab exam allows you to obtain this credential. No standard prerequisites or training courses are required to pursue the certification. Nevertheless, you still need to have at least three to five years of professional experience to surely excel in the certification exams. Once you become certified, you will get to demonstrate your top-tier skills in operating and troubleshooting skills in network infrastructures, among other things.
Firstly, the written qualification exam lasts for 120 minutes. It is also widely known as Exam 400-101 and is comprised of 90-110 questions. The topics include essential networking concepts, important equipment commands, and infrastructure components. The lab-exam, on the other hand, lasts for eight hours and serves as a significant determiner of your certification success. Before you can take the actual lab exam, you should successfully pass your written exam. Note, that the last date for the CCNP Routing and Switching old exams is up to February 23, 2020.
Highly-recommended study materials
Steer clear of outdated training materials by settling for accurate and regularly updated study resources offered by PrepAway. This is a good platform that caters candidates who want to prepare for the Cisco 400-101 exam, as well as for the certification tests issued by other top IT vendors, such as Microsoft, Oracle, CompTIA, etc. It has a premium bundle that consists mainly of practice exams, along with a comprehensive training course and a study guide. The practice questions set will help you familiarize the exam questions and the environment. Plus, its lectures are also well-discussed by insightful instructors.
And since nailing the CCNP Enterprise Infrastructure exams is definitely not an overnight success, don’t be afraid to dig deep and expand your understanding. Make sure to utilize different self-study materials offered by Cisco that includes Mobile CCNP Routing and Switching Labs Overview, CCNP Routing and Switching Expert-level Training, and Cisco CCNP Lab Builder.
A Preview of the new CCNP Enterprise Infrastructure certification
Say hello to the CCNP Enterprise Infrastructure certification. If you want to establish yourself as a credible and esteemed technical leader, this new Cisco certification will help you do just that. Securing this certification validates your capabilities in the approach of even more complex enterprise infrastructure solutions. It aims to showcase your cutting-edge lifecycle, network programmability, networking automation, and design skills. CCNP Enterprise Infrastructure is basically designed to suit expert-level job positions that IT aspirants can pursue in enterprise infrastructure technologies. Furthermore, the certification is valid for three years.
Getting to know the exam requirements
Similar to the current certification, the qualifying exam and the lab exam makes up the CCNP Enterprise Infrastructure exam certification path. The qualifying exam evaluates your expertise in enterprise networking infrastructure and technologies. This is known as ‘Implementing and Operating Cisco Enterprise Network Core Technologies or ENCOR 300-401. Additionally, the hands-on lab exam is entitled as CCNP Enterprise Infrastructure v1.0.’ It encompasses the entire lifecycle of enterprise networks and must be completed within 8 hours. Candidates who want to pursue this certification must successfully complete both qualifying and lab exam.
Conclusion
The revisions within Cisco’s top certification tracks connote the need for both companies and professionals to stay current in the changing industry. The IT sector is always on the lookout for recent, reliable, and remarkable advancements. And these advancements are not just meant to improve business value but also provide prevalent knowledge and skills to professionals.
So, if you want to earn a distinct badge of Cisco expertise, then make use of this detailed guide and take advantage of the CCNP R&S certification before it is gone!
