Overview of Cisco Certification: Training Programmes and Jobs

Certifications can help you stay competitive and continue to develop in your career field. Cisco offers one of the most widely recognised certifications for those in computer networking. Learn more about Cisco certification, its requirements, and the opportunities it can bring.

What is a Cisco certification?

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

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

Being Cisco-certified involves four general steps.

• First, you need to learn about Cisco products. 

• Then, you will have your skills assessed. 

• Next, you'll validate your skills when you’re on the job.

• Finally, recertify. Certification lasts three years, so you’ll need to renew your credentials with continuing education.

What can you do with a Cisco certification?

Cisco certification is often a starting point for many IT careers. Although you may not work with Cisco equipment daily, you can still expect to have contact with this technology. 

You can work as a Cisco Certified Technician or a Cisco Technical Assistant with an entry-level Cisco certification. Associate-level certifications can help you work in networking technology, software development, programming, and cybersecurity roles.

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

Why should you seek Cisco certification?

With a Cisco certification, you can prove your knowledge regarding 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 while helping you get promotions or earn more.

Who needs a Cisco certification?

If you want to work at a larger organisation that uses Cisco products, you can expect they'll require certification. The certification can help you stand out, plus it can boost your salary. Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP)—Enterprise certification was one of the top-paying certifications of 2024, according to a global survey by Times Pro [1].

The Cisco Certified Network Associate credential can help network administrators and engineers, help desk and network support technicians, system engineers, network designers, and many more.

Cisco certification levels

Cisco has several levels of certification to expand your skills and give you added credibility. With Cisco certification, you can meet the business needs of network engineers, system engineers, security analysts, and other IT roles.

Entry level

The entry-level Cisco certification is a starting point. Certificates in this area include:

• Cisco Certified Technician (CCT), which demonstrates your ability to diagnose, restore, repair, and replace Cisco network devices and systems.

• CCT Collaboration, which focuses on supporting the maintenance of Cisco collaboration endpoints and operating environments

• CCT Data Center, which offers skills required for onsite support and maintenance of Cisco Unified Computing Systems and servers

• CCT Routing and Switching, which provides opportunities to learn about onsite support of Cisco routers, switches, and operating environments

Consider the Network Automation Engineering Fundamentals Specialisation from Cisco on Coursera as a starting point for more intermediate-level certifications:

Associate level

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

• Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) for mastery of the essentials of programmability, security, and automation

• Cisco Certified DevNet Associate for using Cisco products in applications and user experiences

• Cisco Certified CyberOps Associate for certifying your cybersecurity knowledge

Professional level

The Professional Certificate lets you focus on a core track to customise your technology track. You'll take a core exam on Cisco technology and another in your speciality area. The professional training options include:

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

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

• Cisco Certified CyberOps Professional helps you develop expertise in incident response, cloud security, digital forensics, and other active defence security.

• CCNP Collaboration, which expands your knowledge of Cisco's collaboration technologies.

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

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

• CCNP Data Center, which explores implementing and operating Cisco data centre tech with specialisations in troubleshooting, configuring, automating, and more.

Expert level

These certifications build on the previous levels and demonstrate that you have worked extra 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 designing, operating enterprise wireless or infrastructure, supporting collaboration tools, or optimising security.

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

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

• CCIE Data Center proves your expertise with data centre technologies.

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

• CCIE Service Provider validates your complex service provider networking skills, from planning and design to operating and optimising.

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

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

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

Other Cisco certifications

Cisco offers many other types of certification as well. These include:

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

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

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

Cisco's continuing education credits

Technology constantly evolves, so you should be a lifelong learner to keep up. Cisco's continuing education (CE) credits let you maintain your active certification status. Associates need to earn 30 CE credits every three years, while Professionals need to gain 80 over three years.

Continuing education credits are available from digital/self-paced courses or 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

Founded in 1984, Cisco is now an international IT powerhouse. To maintain its market share, the company must frequently adapt. Its certification programmes also evolve. For instance, Cisco recently phased out the Architect certification level. Keep up with these trends to maintain your marketability, skill level, and knowledge of Cisco technologies. 

How long do Cisco certifications last?

Once you get your Cisco certification, your credential is active for three years. You can take continuing education to keep your certificate valid for another three years.

How to maintain Cisco certifications

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

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 jobs such as:

• Network technician, ₹4,29,131 base pay per year [2]

• Network engineer, ₹5,50,000 base pay per year [3]

• Network architect, ₹25,08,123 base pay per year [4]

• Systems administrator, ₹5,30,000 base pay per year [5]

• Cybersecurity engineer, ₹7,75,000 base pay per year [6]

• Information security engineer, ₹9,00,000 base pay per year [7]

Next steps

To gain these credentials, you'll need to explore Cisco certification requirements. Cisco offers training courses and books, or you can take courses with third-party providers that offer digital or in-person learning options. 

Prepare for certification testing on Coursera with courses that boost your skills with Cisco technology. Specialisations include Network Automation Engineering Fundamentals and Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals. The same professionals who produced the CCNPs created both programmes. Each offers an excellent way to build foundational knowledge for more complicated and advanced certifications. Upon completing either specialisation, you’ll earn an extra credential to include in your resume, CV, or LinkedIn profile.