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 techniques engineer at Cisco drove me to start my certification course of. Now, as a part of the Studying & Certifications workforce, it’s all about creating assets and pursuing coaching.

Once I discover a new know-how space I wish to study, I search for a key vendor in that exact house to search 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 information. However in the case of Cisco, the coaching and certification atmosphere continues to be next-level, standing the check of time. Listed here are 4 the explanation why Cisco Certifications are nonetheless the only 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 may progress from the CCNA to a CCIE, relying in your ability degree. Or, you’ll be able to transfer ahead down a siloed path towards one particular know-how. 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 information heart. You may then take a deeper dive into information heart applied sciences with Cisco coaching. Or, you’ll be able to choose up a number of applied sciences and begin new paths. 

Nevertheless it’s about greater than that. Cisco gives a constant, clear, logical path to certification that’s primarily based on the talents you have to achieve success in the actual world. Even in the event you don’t pursue the certification itself, you already know which you can belief Cisco coaching as a result of it’s aligned to a globally acknowledged IT certification program. And in the event 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 are taking the examination that awards you the popularity your information deserves?

As for present Cisco certification holders, they need to renew their energetic 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 information 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 acutely aware resolution to replace and evolve the whole program and guarantee its certification holders have the instruments they have to be profitable and ready for what lies forward.

If I’m curious about a technical job, resembling networking, I don’t need my first certification to be from an organization no person has heard of. It is smart 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 p.c market share. 

Cisco’s Affiliate, Skilled, and Professional certifications characterize your degree of experience with particular applied sciences and talk the place your abilities land in a globally acknowledged, revered manner. Hiring managers belief Cisco. They know that if in case you have your CCNA and have saved it present, your information isn’t outdated. You’ve recertified and saved abreast of know-how adjustments. 

In a manner, incomes a Cisco certification tells the world that Cisco has your again. And when an IT chief vouches on your information, you’ll be able to belief that their popularity 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 consider Cisco has the most effective technique, constructing a constant path with a group that will help you put together and keep your information. 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 yow will discover, and perhaps they’ll settle for these hours. However with Cisco, you’re not scrambling to search out your hours. Every part in your path is related.  

The Cisco Studying Community offers you a spot the place you’ll be able to talk about subjects with Cisco enterprise unit assets, engineers, and your friends within the area. After which there’s Cisco Reside, which all the time delivers a ton of studying alternatives and alternative ways to deliver Cisco Licensed professionals, learners, and consultants 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 review in the way in which that works finest for them. You’ve got Cisco Press know-how books in addition to cert-specific research supplies. Digital lab merchandise, resembling 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 totally different items to the desk, with coaching occasions, webinars, and lifelong studying paths that provide the incentive to turn out to be an knowledgeable 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, assets, and experience all merge to kind an entire package deal. Once more, Cisco is constructing that path, and it’s a easy one to navigate.

My recommendation on 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 wish to know extra about or to grasp baseline abilities in an space that potential employers are on the lookout for; the entire thought is to study — construct abilities and experience — and continue learning. Certification is the checkmark that signifies that you have that information. 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 few of the finest causes for acquiring a Cisco certification; lifelong studying, maintaining with present know-how, and entry to the group and assets. However as for me, I belief that my Cisco certifications will proceed to be the only option as a result of they’ve pushed me to turn out to be the most effective model of myself. 

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