Acquiring an IT certification is a highly recommended step for any individual planning a career in Information Technology. There are various kinds of certifications that one can go for. The kind of certification depends on the specific field chosen in IT. There are different certifications available for programming professionals, networking professionals, and technicians.
In the field of networking, Cisco is a company well known for its hardware equipment. Cisco systems form the backbone of many a computer networks across the world. Cashing in on this expertise, Cisco has also devised a system of certifications. CISCO certifications test an individual on various aspects of computer networking.

The basic certification level in Cisco is CCNA, which is an acronym for Cisco Certified Network Associate. This certification is designed to check skills such as installation and configuration of Cisco products. This is the basic certification that a candidate needs to acquire before progressing to CCNP and finally the CCIE.
The CCNA certification exam is designed in such a way that it attempts to test all basic aspects of networking specifically in respect to Cisco networks. The exam is a combination of various theory and practice-oriented questions. The CCNA exam generally covers concepts such as:
• TCP/IP
• LAN Technology
• WAN Technology
• OSI Model
• Communication Protocols
Just as other certification exams, the CCNA exam is an online exam, consisting of a set of multiple-choice questions. The result is declared immediately on completion of the exam. The minimum passing percentage is 84.9%, which means the candidate must get 849 questions right out of a total of 1000.
In the arena of computer networking, CCNA is a highly sought after qualification. Individuals possessing the CCNA certification are able to manage lucrative positions for themselves. Cisco networking equipment is use very widely across the world; hence there is a huge requirement of professionals trained on their use and operation. Moreover, the holding of CCNA by a candidate provides the potential employer a reasonable level of assurance that the person in question has a sound knowledge of Cisco networking devices.
CCNA even provides a tremendous scope for individuals planning to start up their own Network support services. There are millions of small companies around the world who do not employ full-time network engineers, but have a high dependence upon networking. These companies prefer to engage CCNA certified professionals to manage and support their systems on requirement basis.
Once a candidate clears the CCNA exam, he/she becomes eligible to appear for the next level of Cisco certification, i.e., Cisco Certified Networking Professional (CCNP). The CCNP certification exam tests the networking professional’s ability to install and configure large networks typically covering 100 to 500 nodes. It covers technologies such as Broadband and VPNs.
The number of professionals holding CCNP is comparatively less, which is one reason that employers aggressively hunt around for them, and pay them handsomely. The major reason for this hot demand for CCNP professionals is that they possess demonstrated knowledge about high-end concepts such as routers, switches and even wireless networking applications.
The last and the most prestigious level of Cisco certification is the CCIE (Cisco Certified Internetworking Expert). It is an Expert level certification provided by Cisco. Although there are no formal prerequisites, it is recommended by experts that the candidate must have around 3-5 years of networking experience before attempting the CCIE exam. As of September 2006, there were only 13,756 CCCCIE qualified individuals in the world.
Though it is quite a challenge to clear the CCIE certification exam, it is indeed very rewarding. Owing to the high level of complexity of the CCIE exam, it is assumed by the industry that a CCIE certified professional has an in-depth and expert level knowledge about the networking concepts. It is therefore not surprising that the salary levels of CCIE professionals often cross the $100,000 mark.
Besides the ones detailed above, there are some more certifications that fall under the Cisco brand:
• Cisco Certified Design Professional (CCDP): This certification is designed to test advanced knowledge of Cisco devices and network design.
• Cisco Certified Security Professional (CCSP): This certification is designed to test advanced knowledge of Cisco network security issues.
• Cisco Certified Internetwork Professional (CCIP): This certification is designed to test the use of protocols covering large networks.
• Cisco Certified Voice Professional (CCVP): This certification is designed to test all aspects of Internet telephony.
Since it is not easy to acquire a Cisco certification, experts recommend that the candidate must take adequate coaching and guidance before appearing for any such exam. Equally important is a fair amount of practical exposure to the networking industry. Cisco certifications undoubtedly provide a valuable boost to the career of any individual who is involved the computer-networking field.