Cisco Next Level Certifications

What is new With Cisco Next Level Certifications?

 

Cisco has changed Cisco Certification Suite with a new focus on latest technologies as Cisco Next Level Certifications. There are new technologies that drives today’s technoology professional. With its new Certification Suite, with Cisco Next Level Certifications, Cisco will provide many opportunity to network experts on latest technologies.

 

 

Cisco has announced this major change in Network Certifications on 10 June 2019. And accourding to this change announcement, new Cisco Certifications and exams will be launched at 24 February 2020. This is a major change, because some of the Cisco Certifications loose their values and new ones has announced. For example, having a CCNP Certification becomes easy and new software certification paths for software developers has added named DevNet. And there is also an additional “Specialist” level has added to certification paths. Beside, we will focus of all these changed one by one.

 

By the way, do not worry about your current studies, until 24 February 2020, you can enter old certification exams and with this old exams, you can get the new certifications!

So, what is new about Cisco Certifications! Let’s go deeper and learn the details of this New Cisco Certification Suite.

What are the Major Changes with Cisco Certification Suite?

 

In Cisco Next Level Certifications, there are some major changes. These changes are given below:

• New Certification Path for Software Developers : DevNet
• Only One CCNA
• Networking and Software Together
• A New Certification Level : Specialist
• CCNP in Two Steps
• Routing and Switching Path will be Replaced with Enterprise Infrastructure
• CCIE in Two steps
• CCIE Lab is Changing
• CCNP is Easier But CCIE is Harder
• No Prerequisites Anymore
• Two options for Network Technicians
• Lower Certification Cost
• Longer Certification Validity
• Recertification Credits
• CCIE Life Time Emeritus
• You Should Hurry Up!

Now, let’s focus on each of these major changes and see how will they affect us.

 

New Certification Path for Software Developers : DevNet

 

In Cisco’s new Certification Suite, there is a new path for Software Application Developers. It is DevNet Certificaiton Path.

According to Cisco, the Future of IT has two major paths and there are two major roles. These roles are :

• Infrastructure Engineering
• Software Developing

 

As a leader and an important player in IT world, to cover all these areas, Cisco announced its new certification paths with a major path addition. This new path is “Cisco Certified DevNet”. There are four major levels for this new Software Applicaiton Developer Certification. These are :

 

• Cisco Certified DevNet Associate
• Cisco Certified DevNet Specialist
• Cisco Certified DevNet Professional
• Cisco Certified DevNet Expert (Future)

 

 

The Expert level of DevNet Certification has not prepared yet. But, it will be added to Cisco Certified DevNet path in the future.

 

 

Only one CCNA!

 

Lastly, there are many CCNAs for various specialities. Beside common CCNA (CCNA Routing and Switching), there are CCNA Security, CCNA Collaboration, CCNA Datacenter, CCNA Service Provider. Now, with Cisco Next Level Certifications,  CCNA content will be updated and combined in only one exam. With a single  exam, the associate level can be achieved.

In the new CCNA content, there will be basics of networking, IP connectiviy and services, Security fundamentals, automation and programmability.

 

Networking and Software Together

 

In this new Cisco Certification Suite, network and sofware lessons will be together in some trainings and exams.For  example, new CCNA track will coıntain %80 networking lessons and %20 programminng lessons. It will provide both networking skills and basic software developing skills together.

 

 

Now and in the future, networking should walk together with software. So, Cisco’s new certification track, Cisco Next Level Certifications aims to achieve this  combination.

 

 

 

A New Certification Level : Specialist

 

You can be familier “Specialist” level in Juniper Certifications. As you remembers, there is a  JNCIS Certification in all spacialities of Juniper Certification Track. Now, Cisco also changed its Certification Paths and locate a “Specialist” level between Associate and Professional Levels.

After the common CCNA Certification exam, you should select a speciality that are given below:

• Enterprise
• Security
• Service Provider
• Collaboration
• Datacenter

According to your speciality, you should take the related courses and pass the required exams.

 

 

If you pass a Core Exam of one of the above areas, you will be a “Specialist”. After passing one of the Concentration Exams of the same track, you will ve “Professional”. And lastly, if you pass the “Lab Exam” of the same area, you will be “Expert ,CCIE”.

 

CCNP in Two Steps

 

Beginning with Cisco Next Level Certifications, in the professional certification level of Cisco, there are two common exams. These exams are :

• Core Exam
• Concentration Exam

 

 

Core Exam is the exam that will focus on the key concepts and fundamentals of the selected speciality. Concentration Exam will be an exam that will focus on a main lesson related with the selected speciality. It is a deep dive if you compare with core exam.

There is only one Core Exam for each speciality. This Core Exam is same for CCNP and CCIE. But there are multiple Concentration Exams in professional level that you should select one of them.

You can find CCNP Core Exams and related Concentration Exam Choices below:

 

 

Cicso Enterprise CCNP Exams

Cisco Enterprise Core Exam

• 300-401 ENCOR Implementing and Operating Cisco Enterprise Network Core Technologies

Cisco Enterprise Concentration Exams

• 300-410 ENARSI Implementing Cisco Enterprise Advanced Routing and Services
• 300-415 ENSDWI Implementing Cisco SD-WAN Solutions
• 300-420 ENSLD Designing Cisco Enterprise Networks
• 300-425 ENWLSD Designing Cisco Enterprise Wireless Networks
• 300-430 ENWLSI Implementing Cisco Enterprise Wireless Networks
• 300-435 ENAUTO Automating and Programming Cisco Enterprise Solutions

 

 

Cisco Service Provider CCNP Exams

Cisco Service Provider Core Exam

• 300-501 SPCOR Implementing and Operating Cisco Service Provider Network Core Technologies

Cisco Service Provider Concentration Exams

• 300-510 SPRI Implementing Cisco Service Provider Advanced Routing Solutions
• 300-515 SPVI Implementing Cisco Service Provider VPN Services
• 300-535 SPAUTO Automating and Programming Cisco Service Provider Solutions

 

Cisco Security CCNP Exams

Cisco Security Core Exam

• 300-701 SCOR Implementing and Operating Cisco Security Core Technologies

Cisco Security Concentration Exams

• 300-710 SNCF Securing Networks with Cisco Firepower
• 300-715 SISE Implementing and Configuring Cisco Identity Services Engine
• 300-720 SESA Securing Email with Cisco Email Security Appliance
• 300-725 SWSA Securing the Web with Cisco Web Security Appliance
• 300-730 SVPN Implementing Secure Solutions with Virtual Private Networks
• 300-735 SAUTO Automating and Programming Cisco Security Solutions

 

 

Cisco Collaboration CCNP Exams

Cisco Collaboration Core Exam

• 300-801 CLCOR Implementing and Operating Cisco Collaboration Core Technologies

Cisco Collaboration Concentration Exams

• 300-810 CLICA Implementing Cisco Collaboration Applications
• 300-815 CLACCM Implementing Cisco Advanced Call Control and Mobility Services
• 300-820 CLCEI Implementing Cisco Collaboration Cloud and Edge Solutions
• 300-835 CLAUTO Automating Cisco Collaboration Solutions

 

 

Cisco Data Center CCNP Exams

Cisco Data Center Core Exam

• 300-601 DCCOR Implementing and Operating Cisco Data Center Core Technologies

Cisco Data Center Concentration Exams

• 300-610 DCID Designing Cisco Data Center Infrastructure
• 300-615 DCIT Troubleshooting Cisco Data Center Infrastructure
• 300-620 DCACI Implementing Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure
• 300-625 DCSAN Implementing Cisco Storage Area Networking
• 300-635 DCAUTO Automating and Programming Cisco Data Center Solutions

 

Cisco DevNet Professional Exams

Cisco DevNet Core Exam

• 300-901 DEVCOR Developing Applications Using Cisco Core Platforms and APIs

 

Cisco DevNet Concentration Exams

• 300-435 ENAUTO Automating and Programming Cisco Enterprise Solutions
• 300-835 CLAUTO Automating and Programming Cisco Collaboration Solutions
• 300-635 DCAUTO Automating and Programming Cisco Data Center Solutions
• 300-535 SPAUTO Automating and Programming Cisco Service Provider Solutions
• 300-735 SAUTO Automating and Programming Cisco Security Solutions
• 300-910 DEVOPS Implementing DevOps Solutions and Practices using Cisco Platforms
• 300-915 DEVIOT Developing Solutions using Cisco IoT and Edge Platforms
• 300-920 DEVWBX Developing Applications for Cisco Webex and Webex Devices

 

Routing and Switching Path will be Replaced with Enterprise Infrastructure

 

As you know, the most popular certification path of Cisco is Routing and Switching. In the new certification suite, there will be now Routing and Swithing Path! But do not worry about it. It will be replaced with Enterprise Infrastructure Certification.

 

 

If you are studying for any certiifcation level of Routing & Switching, keep going. Beucase, in the new certification path, you will have credits to continue with your certification.

 

CCIE in Two Steps

 

Before, to have a CCIE certification, you should pass many exams. But for now, with two exams you can be a CCIE! Isn’t it very interesting? One Core Exam in any area and its lab exam will give you CCIE opportunity. But as you know, before, before the CCIE exam you had learend many network concepts in many areas. But now, you should learn many parts by yourself. Because, CCNP level are easier than before. It covers more areas but to have a CCNP only one area is enough.

 

 

CCIE Lab is Changing

 

The format of CCIE Lab exam is changing with Cisco Next Level Certifications Suite. With this new CCIE Lab Format, there are two modules. These are:

• Design (3 Hours)
• Deploy, Operate, Optimize ( 5 Hours)

In the CCIE Lab, there will be also automation and programmability skills will be required.

 

 

CCNP is Easier But CCIE is Harder

 

As you know, to have a CCNP certification, you should pass three or four certification exams after CCNA exam. This is almost four or five  certifications from the beginning of your certification career. Now, CCNP is easier than before. Because to have a CCNP certification, you should pass one Core Exam and one Concentration Exam.  You can be a CCNP with two exams.

 

As you can see with these examples above and below, there are CCNP Example paths for Service Provider, Security and Data Center areas. With the specified exams, you can get your CCNP Certification in these areas. Other professional level certifications are also similar.

 

 

Although CCNP Certification is easier now, CCIE Certification is harder than before. Especially after an easy CCNP study period, CCIE Lab can be difficult to achieve. So, in a short time maybe we will see low number of new CCIEs in networking world.

 

 

 

No Prerequisites Anymore

 

In the old Cisco Certification program, there are some prerequisites to enter the certification exams. For example, you should pass CCNA exam before any CCNP exams. With Cisco Next Level Certifications Suite, there is no need for this. For Associate and Professional level certifications, there is no prerequisites. You can start with any of them.

 

 

Two options for Network Technicians!

 

In Cisco’s new Certification track, the beginning certification is CCT (Cisco Certified Technician). This beginning certification is very important especially for network technicians.

There are two paths for CCT (Cisco Certified Technician). These are:

• CCT Routing and Switching
• CCT Data Center

 

 

Network technicians can select one of these paths and get their certifications with passing only one CCT exam.

For CCT Routing and Switching, the required training is “Supporting Cisco Routing and Switching Network Devices” and “640-692 RSTECH” Exam must be pased.

For CCT Datacenter, the required training is “Supporting Datacenter Devices” and “010-151 DCTECH” Exam must be pased.

 

Lower Certification Cost

 

The total cost of Cisco Certifications has reduced with this new certification tracks. The number of the required exams for CCNP and CCIE is reduced also. So, with this new Cisco Cerification Suite, you can have Cisco Associate, Specialist, Professional and Expert Level certifications with lower prices. This is true for the beginning network technician certification, CCT and for the top certification, CiscoArc.

 

Longer Certification Validity!

 

Cisco Certifications are valid for different years according to its level. CCNA and CCNP level certifications are valid for 3 years. CCIE certification is valid for 2 years. Especailly this is, a little short for a network engineer who achieves CCIE certification with excellent studies and efforts. After every 2 years, they need to pass an exam to recertify for a valid CCIE Certification. With this new Cisco Certification program, CCIE validity is extended to 3 years.Associate and Professional Level certifications will be valid still  3 years. A new level, Cisco Specialist Certification will be also valid for 3 years. Beside, Cisco Architect Certification will be still valid for 5 years.

• Associate Certification (Valid for 3 years)
• Specialist Certification (Valid for 3 years)
• Professional Certification (Valid for 3 years)
• CCIE Certification (Valid for 3 years)
• CCDE Certification (Valid for 3 years)
• Cisco Architect (Valid for 5 years)

 

Recertification Credits

 

With this the new certification trackof Cisco, there are new recertification credits. As we discusesed above, the validity of each certification is extended. This also make recertification a little more difficult, not too much. The required credits for recertification is given below:

• To recertify CCNA (30 education credits)
• To recertify Specialist Level (40 education credits)
• To recertify CCNP (80 education credits)
• To recertify CCIE (120 education credits)

 

CCIE Life Time Emeritus

 

CCIE Emeritus status can be activated after working  10 years as CCIE with an application form and yearly fee. Beginning form 24 February 2020 Lifetime Tenure will be given to CCIE Emeritus users. The requirement is maintaining their CCIE Active or CCIE Emeritus status for 20 years. After gaining this opportunity, these CCIEs can use these benefits throughout thier Lifetime without any fee.

You Should Hurry Up!

 

The new exams are coming at 24 February 2020. After this date, you can take only new versions of the exams. Till 24 February 2020, you can complete your certification track. If you complete your certificaiton till this time, even you have completed old certification exams, you will have a new certification. For example, if you have passed ICND 1 and become CCENT and till 24 February 2020 if you pass ICND 2 to complete your CCNA track, you will have the new CCNA certification.