Professional certifications

Professional certifications


Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP)
The CCNP is considered proof of having the ability to work with medium-sized networks (between 100 and 500 end devices) and with technology such as QoS, broadband, VPNs, and security-minded features. To acquire a CCNP one must possess a CCNA certification first and then pass three or four tests, depending on the path one chooses. The four tests path requires the candidate to pass the following tests:
642-901 BSCI: Building Scalable Cisco Internetworks (BSCI)[5]
642-812 BCMSN: Building Cisco Multilayer Switched Networks (BCMSN)[6]
642-825 ISCW: Implementing Secure Converged Wide Area Networks (ISCW)[7]
642-845 ONT: Optimizing Converged Cisco Networks (ONT)[8]
The BSCI and BCMSN tests can be taken as one single composite test known as the 642-892 Composite[9] which covers subjects for Building Scalable Cisco Internetworks (BSCI) and Building Cisco Multilayer Switched Networks (BCMSN).
In order to retain the certification one must either re-certify or upgrade to a CCIE every three years. Additional resources and tools to aid in preparing for the certification are available on the CCNP Prep Center.[10]