Overview of Cisco Certification: Training Programs and Jobs

Cisco certification demonstrates your understanding of the latest Cisco technologies by building skills through training programs. Founded in 1984, Cisco is now an international IT powerhouse. For those in the IT field, Cisco offers one of the most widely recognized certifications available, issuing over 4 million certifications to date [1]. Certifications can help you stay competitive and continue to develop in your career field. 

In this article, you'll learn more about Cisco certifications, requirements, and the opportunities they can bring.

What is a Cisco certification?

A Cisco certification is a credential that helps you become more marketable. It shows that you have technical expertise with the Cisco equipment that underpins much of today's networking hardware and software.

Cisco certifications begin with entry-level training for the Cisco-certified technician or engineer. Associate, professional, expert, and specialist-level certificates go deeper into the skills needed for IT and network technology careers.

Being Cisco-certified involves four general steps.

1. Learn about Cisco products. 

2. Have your skills assessed and receive certification. 

3. Validate your skills when you’re on the job.

4. Recertify. Certification lasts three years, so you may need to renew your credentials with continuing education.

What can you do with a Cisco certification?

Entry-level IT careers can start with Cisco certification. With an entry-level Cisco certification, you can work as a Cisco Certified Technician (CCT) or a Cisco Technical Assistant (CTA). Associate-level certifications can help you work in networking technology, software development, programming, and cybersecurity roles.

If you have a professional-level certification, you can position yourself for a role focused on technology for larger organizations, data centers, or Cisco collaborative tools, such as phones and video conference devices.  

Why seek a Cisco certification?

With a Cisco certification, you can prove your knowledge of connecting, securing, and automating Cisco networks. Cisco networks are in use globally, so this certification can help IT professionals open up more opportunities. The different certification levels can be a roadmap to continued professional development, helping you get promotions or earn a higher salary.

Who needs a Cisco certification?

If you want to work at a larger organization that uses Cisco products, you can expect that it requires certification. Cisco certification can help you to stand out; plus, it can boost your salary. Cisco Certified Networking Professional (CCNA) certification is in the top 20 paying certifications, according to the Global Knowledge 2023 IT Skills and Salary Survey [1].

This credential can help network administrators and engineers, connecting desk and network support technicians, system engineers, network designers, and many more.

Cisco certifications for all levels and technologies

Cisco has several levels of certification to help you expand your skills and give you added credibility. Following Cisco certification paths can meet the professional needs of network engineers, system engineers, security analysts, and other IT roles. The five levels of Cisco certification include:

• Entry

• Associate

• Professional

• Expert 

• Specialist

Each level corresponds with Cisco certifications that pertain to the level of skill required to earn the certification. You earn specialist Cisco certifications when you pass a professional- or expert-level exam in a particular technology. 

Entry

The entry-level Cisco certification is a starting point in a career in networking, IT, or cybersecurity and is a launching point for Cisco associate certifications. The certification at this level is the Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST). It is ideal for those in or aspiring to be in IT support role positions, such as:

• Customer support technician

• Tier 1 help desk support

• IT end user support

• IT help desk support

• IT help desk analyst

• Computer support specialist 

Read more: CCNA vs. Network+: Overview, Differences, and Certifications

Associate

The three associate offerings focus on your networking skills. It includes three certifications: 

• Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA): The CCNA focuses on mastery of the essentials of programmability, security, and automation.

• Cisco Certified DevNet Associate: The Cisco Certified DevNet Associate certification teaches you how to use Cisco products in applications and user experiences.

• Cisco Certified CyberOps Associate: This option is useful for certifying your cybersecurity knowledge.

Professional

The Professional Certificate lets you focus on a core track to customize your technology track. You can take one core exam on Cisco technology and another in your specialty area. The professional training options include:

• CCNP Enterprise: The CCNP Enterprise focuses on enterprise infrastructure (dual-stack architecture, virtualization, security, network assurance, and more) as well as a concentration of your choice (options include network design, SD-WAN, wireless, and automation).

• Cisco Certified DevNet Professional: The Cisco Certified DevNet Professional certificate focuses on software development and design, including using APIs, Cisco platforms, application deployment and security, and infrastructure and automation. You can also select an automation concentration area such as enterprise, collaboration, data center, service provider, security, DevOps automation, IoT, or Cloud.

• Cisco Certified CyberOps Professional: The Cisco Certified CyberOps Professional helps develop your expertise in incident response, cloud security, digital forensics, and other active defense security.

• CCNP Collaboration: The CCNP Collaboration expands your knowledge of Cisco’s collaboration technologies.

• CCNP Service Provider: The CCNP Service Provider certifies that you know Cisco’s service provider infrastructure. You can concentrate on automation, VPN, or advanced routing.

• CCNP Security: CCNP Security tests your fundamental understanding of core security for Cisco technology and lets you specialize in web or email security, firewalls and IPS security, and more.

• CCNP Data Center: The CCNP Data Center explores implementing and operating Cisco data center tech with specializations in troubleshooting, configuring, automating, and more.

Expert

Expert-level Cisco certifications build on the previous levels and demonstrate that you have put in the extra work to become an expert. The training at the expert level covers end-to-end IT lifecycle skills and shows that you are an expert at what you do. You can demonstrate skills in planning and design, operating enterprise wireless or infrastructure, supporting collaboration tools, or optimizing security.

• CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure: The CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure helps you demonstrate leadership skills within complex enterprise infrastructure solutions.

• CCIE Enterprise Wireless: CCIE Enterprise Wireless covers the entire wireless network lifecycle, from designing and deploying to operating and optimizing.

• CCIE Data Center: The CCIE Data Center certification proves your expertise with data center technologies.

• CCIE Security: CCIE Security helps you develop your skills in designing, deploying, operating, and optimizing security technologies and solutions.

• CCIE Service Provider: The CCIE Service Provider certification validates your complex service provider networking skills, from planning and design to operating and optimizing.

• CCIE Collaboration: The CCIE Collaboration certification allows you to learn more about leading your organization in automation to scale and secure its collaboration solutions.

• Cisco Certified Design Expert (CCDE): Cisco Certified Design Expert validates your technological and strategic expertise and demonstrates your mastery of network design.

• Cisco Certified DevNet Expert: This certification proves you have expert skills in planning, designing, developing, and maintaining complex automation-driven network environments.

Additional Cisco certifications

Cisco offers other types of certifications as well. These include:

• Cisco Certified Technician (CCT): The CCT demonstrates that you can diagnose, restore, repair, and replace Cisco network devices and systems.

• Cisco Meraki Solutions Specialist: A Cisco Markai Solutions Specialist certification validates your ability to design, implement, and operate Meraki technologies.

• Cisco Customer Success Manager: This certification focuses on providing the skills to help you deliver immediate value to customer relationships.

• Cisco Renewals Manager: The Cisco Renewals Manager certification tests your knowledge of Customer Experience (CX) concepts.

Read more: 6 Network Certifications for Your IT Career

Cisco certification vs. Ubiquiti certification

Though you gain skills in Cisco products by earning Cisco certifications, Ubiquiti offers similar certifications and training in using their products through the Ubiquiti Academy. Ubiquiti (UniFi) products look to build unified networks that allow you to oversee all aspects of the network from a singular overview. 

If you’re looking to gain skills in the UniFi ecosystem, explore its featured courses, such as:

• UniFi Full-Stack Professional (UFSP)

• UniFi Wireless Admin (UWA)

• The UniFi Routing, Switching & Cybersecurity Admin (URSCA)

• The UISP Broadband Wireless Specialist (UBWS)

• The UISP Broadband Wireless Admin

• UniFi Network Professional (UNP)

After you demonstrate knowledge of the necessary skills and proficiencies in UniFi products, you can earn a certification from Ubiquiti. 

Cisco’s continuing education credits

Cisco’s continuing education (CE) credits let you maintain your active certification status, and becoming a lifelong learner helps you keep up with the constantly evolving technology. Associates need to earn 30 CE credits every three years, while professionals need to earn 80 CE credits over three years.

Continuing education credits are available from digital and self-paced courses, instructor-led courses delivered by Cisco, or live eligible sessions at Cisco events. Passing a core Cisco exam is another way to earn CE credits.

Transitioning to new Cisco certifications

To maintain its market share, a company must frequently adapt, which means it must transition to new Cisco certifications as its programs evolve. For instance, the architect certification level was recently phased out. Keep up with these trends to maintain your marketability, skill level, and knowledge of Cisco technologies. 

How much do Cisco certifications cost?

The pricing for each Cisco certification exam varies depending on what certification you want to earn. Below is a brief overview of what some common exams cost:

-Entry-level exams: $125

- Associate-level exams: $300

- Professional-level exams: $300 to $400 

- Expert-level exams: $450 to $1,900

- Specialist-level exams: $250 to $300

How to maintain Cisco certifications

You can maintain a Cisco certification by earning continuing education credits or retaking a Cisco certification exam. By participating in instructor-led training, e-learning courses, and technical presentations at Cisco Live, you can recertify without having to sit the exam again.

Cisco certification job and salary outlook

Cisco skills and certification can play a vital role in your IT career. Having Cisco certification can make a difference in median annual salary in jobs such as:

• Cisco certified entry networking technician: $57,272 [2]

• Network engineer: $94,885 [3]

• Network architect: $142,302 [4]

• Systems administrator: $84,083 [5]

• Cybersecurity engineer: $111,812 [6]

• Information security engineer: $131,792 [7]

Next steps to earn Cisco certifications

Earning a Cisco certification proves to potential employers that you have the necessary understanding of the Cisco products and processes they use. 

Prepare for certification testing on Coursera with courses that boost your skills with Cisco technology, including Cisco’s Network Automation Engineering Fundamentals Specialization and Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals Specialization. These two programs are a great way to build foundational knowledge for Cisco certifications. Upon completing either Specialization, you will earn a shareable certificate to include in your resume or LinkedIn profile.