How to Choose Your Path to the CCIE?

Cisco Systems Inc specializes in networking as well as communications products and services. The company is probably known to be the best for its business routing and switching products, which direct voice, video, and data traffic across networks around the world.

Certifications within Cisco's portfolio include the following credentials:

• Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician or CCENT

• Cisco Certified Technician or CCT

• Cisco Certified Network Associate or CCNA

• Cisco Certified Design Associate or CCDA

• Cisco Certified Network Professional or CCNP

• Cisco Certified Design Professional or CCDP

• Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert or CCIE

• Cisco Certified Design Expert or CCDE

• Cisco Certified Architect or CCAr

Cisco's associate-level Certifications:

Cisco's associate-level certifications would be included the Cisco Certified Network Associate or the CCNA Certification and the Cisco Certified Design Associate or the CCDA Certification. The candidates are needed to pass one or two certification exams for achieving a CCNA or CCDA credential, depending on the track which you would choose. The CCNA would be recognized basic skills in installation, support, and troubleshoot wired and/or wireless networks.

Cisco's professional-level certifications:

Cisco's professional-level Certifications include two main programs: the Cisco Certified Network Professional or the CCNP Certification and the Cisco Certified Design Professional or the CCDP Certification. In order to obtain the CCDP, the candidates are needed to clear three certification exams and possess both the CCDA and CCNA Routing and Switching credentials and any Cisco CCIE or CCDE certification.

Cisco's expert-level certifications

Cisco's expert-level credentials would be embracing two primary certifications: the coveted Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert or the CCIE Certification and the Cisco Certified Design Expert or the CCDE Certification. Neither certification would be imposing prerequisites, but the candidate would be needed to clear a written exam and a rigorous practical exam so as to earn either of these credentials.

Pros of CCIE:

Networking Opportunities:

Once you have obtained CCIE certification with a specific vendor or manufacturer, then you would have to join a unique group of certified skilled professionals as well as get ample of new job opportunities after the course completion.

Salary Packages:

Cisco CCIE professionals are the highest-paid IT professionals across the globe. This field is going to offer quite pleasing salary packages for all the CCIEs or other networking professionals as compared to other technical fields.

Growth Opportunities:

There would be ample growth opportunities if you’ll opt for Cisco CCIE security v5 certification. The career opportunities are vast. You’ll be experienced more growth opportunities because the IT industry needs CCIEs more. If a candidate has more than 5 years of experience in the relative field, then the salary package offered would be more than $28,619 USD per annum, which would be a great salary amount.

Cons of CCIE:

Expensive Exams:

Level of Difficulty

The Prep away certification requires that you pass the most difficult exams you have ever written in the field of IT. The depth of knowledge that you need to acquire in order to validate yourself makes this a formidable task. Cisco does not always provide exam objectives for its tests. The candidates pursuing CCIE Routing and Switching are required to know pretty much about everything.

Over-qualification:

The CCIE R&S credential puts you in a position to handle some demanding job roles. The certificate is designed for the expert-level engineers who plan, troubleshoot and operate converged complex network infrastructure. With this certification, you can take up job roles as a network architect or a senior network engineer with the capacity to run complicated networks.