For those of you that haven’t heard, Cisco is significantly changing certification paths in 2020. So, what does this mean for you? Let us help clear the air by answering the following high-level questions:
- Which Cisco certifications are going away in 2020?
- What new certification options will be available?
- What will happen to current or past efforts?
What’s Going Away
First, let’s start with which certifications are going away. Many current Cisco certification exams will be retired as of February 24th, 2020. The last day to take any current exams will be February 23rd, 2020, after you will no longer be able to sit for any of the current exams. However, the new exams will become available at that time.
If you are planning to attain your CCNA Routing and Switching certification, you’ll need to take and pass both ICND1 and ICND2 before February 24th. Moving forward, there will no longer be multiple CCNA certifications (i.e., CCNA Security, CCNA Collaboration, etc.). Also, certification tracks for Cloud, Design, Wireless, Cyber Ops, and Industrial will be retiring and will not have direct replacements. Cloud, Wireless, and Design will have some of their content now included in the new Enterprise track.
*For more information on retiring Cisco certifications, please visit, Cisco exam portfolio in transition to Certifications 2.0.
So, if all these exams and certifications are going away, then what options are available, and how will this affect you?
CCNA
First, let’s start with the CCNA. As of February 24th, there will be a single certification that is called CCNA, and it only has a single exam (200-301 CCNA). This new exam and certification covers a breadth of topics, including:
- Network access
- IP services
- Security fundamentals
- Automation and programmability
- And more
If you complete any current CCNA/CCDA certification before February 24th, you’ll receive the new CCNA certification and a training badge in the corresponding technology area. If you have your CCENT certification and would like to earn your CCNA, you have until February 23rd to complete your CCNA certification in the current program. On or after February 24th, you will need to take the new exam to complete your CCNA certification. Next, let us talk about each of the CCNP certification tracks beginning with Enterprise.
CCNP Enterprise
Enterprise is the spiritual replacement for Routing and Switching. But, no longer is the CCNA required for the CCNP. There is no hard prerequisite for this certification track. However, we do recommend that you start with your CCNA as it contains fundamental knowledge that is expanded upon in all CCNP certifications.
For the Enterprise CCNP certification, students will have to train and pass the core exam (350-401 ENCOR). This exam focuses on core enterprise network technologies like:
- IPv4
- IPv6
- Virtualization
- Network assurance
- Security and automation
To earn your CCNP, you will have the choice of concentration exams. Only a single concentration exam is necessary to round out this certification, and for Enterprise these exams are:
- 300-410 ENARSI (Implementing Cisco Enterprise Advanced Routing and Services)
- 300-415 ENSDWI (Implementing Cisco SD-WAN Solutions)
- 300-420 ENSLD (Designing Cisco Enterprise Networks)
- 300-425 ENWLSD (Designing Cisco Enterprise Wireless Networks)
- 300-430 ENWLSI (Implementing Cisco Enterprise Wireless Networks)
- 300-435 ENAUTO (Implementing Automation for Cisco Enterprise Solutions)
If you have started working toward the current CCNP Routing and Switching, CCNP Wireless, or CCDP certifications, keep going. For instance, if you’ve passed both ROUTE and SWITCH, then you’ll receive credit towards the new CCNP Enterprise Core exam and will only need to take one of the concentration exams listed above.
For more information about how to migrate your certification in progress, visit the corresponding CCNP migration tools for each track (Routing and Switching, Wireless, and Design).
CCNP Collaboration
As for the CCNP Collaboration, you’ll need to pass two exams: a core exam and a collaboration concentration exam of your choice. The CCNP Collaboration core exam (350-801 CLCOR) focuses on your knowledge of collaboration infrastructure. Next, you’ll need to choose one of the concentration exams:
- 300-810 CLICA (Implementing Cisco Collaboration Applications)
- 300-815 CLACCM (Implementing Cisco Advanced Call Control and Mobility Services)
- 300-820 CLCEI (Implementing Cisco Collaboration Cloud and Edge Solutions)
- 300-835 CLAUTO (Implementing Automation for Cisco Collaboration Solutions)
If you have started working toward the current CCNP Collaboration certification, keep going. In the new program, you’ll receive credit for work you’ve completed in the current certification. For instance, if you’ve passed both CIPTV1 and CIPTV2, then you’ll receive credit towards the new CCNP Collaboration Core exam and will only need to take one of the concentration exams listed above.
For more information about how to migrate your certification in progress, visit the CCNP Collaboration migration tool.
CCNP Data Center
The new CCNP Data Center certification, like the other CCNP tracks, requires you to pass two exams: one core exam that covers data center technologies and one concentration exam of your choice. The CCNP Data Center core exam (350-601 DCCOR) focuses on:
- Data center technologies, including:
- Network
- Compute
- Storage
- Automation
- Security
Next, you’ll need to choose one of the concentration exams:
- 300-610 DCID (Designing Cisco Data Center Infrastructure)
- 300-615 DCIT (Troubleshooting Cisco Data Center Infrastructure)
- 300-620 DCACI (Implementing Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure)
- 300-625 DCSAN (Configuring Cisco MDS 9000 Series Switches)
- 300-635 DCAUTO (Implementing Automation for Cisco Data Center Solutions)
If you have started working toward the current CCNP Data Center certification, keep going. In the new program, you’ll receive credit for work you’ve completed in the current certification. For instance, if you’ve passed both DCII and DCUCI, then you’ll receive credit towards the new CCNP Data Center Core exam and will only need to take one of the concentration exams listed above.
For more information about how to migrate your certification in progress, visit the CCNP Data Center migration tool.
CCNP Security
The new CCNP Security certification, like the other CCNP tracks, requires you to pass two exams: one that covers core security technologies and one security concentration exam of your choice. The CCNP Security core exam (350-701 SCOR) focuses on:
- Implementing and operating core security technologies, including:
- Network
- Cloud
- Content security
- Endpoint protection and detection
- Secure network access
- Visibility and enforcement
Next, you’ll need to choose one of the concentration exams:
- 300-710 SNCF (Securing Networks with Cisco Firepower Next-Generation Firewall)
- 300-715 SISE (Implementing and Configuring Cisco Identity Services Engine)
- 300-720 SESA (Securing Email with Cisco Email Security Appliance)
- 300-725 SWSA (Securing the Web with Cisco Web Security Appliance)
- 300-730 SVPN (Implementing Secure Solutions with Virtual Private Networks)
- 300-735 SAUTO (Implementing Automation for Cisco Security Solutions)
If you have started working toward the current CCNP Security certification, keep going. In the new program, you’ll receive credit for work you’ve completed in the current certification. For instance, if you’ve passed any current individual CCNP Security exam (SENSS, SIMOS, SITCS, SISAS), then you’ll receive credit towards the new CCNP Security concentration exams and will only need to take the new CCNP Security Core exam listed above.
For more information about how to migrate your certification in progress, visit the CCNP Security migration tool.
CCNP Service Provider
Lastly, the new CCNP Service Provider certification also requires you to pass two exams: one that covers core service provider technologies and one service provider concentration exam of your choice. The CCNP Service Provider core exam (350-501 SPCOR) focuses on:
- Implementing core service provider network technologies, including:
- Core architecture
- Services
- Networking
- Automation
- Quality of services
- Network assurance
Next, you’ll need to choose one of the concentration exams:
- 300-510 SPRI (Implementing Cisco Service Provider Advanced Routing Solutions)
- 300-515 SPVI (Implementing Cisco Service Provider VPN Services)
- 300-535 SPAUTO (Implementing Automation for Cisco Service Provider Solutions)
If you have started working toward the current CCNP Service Provider certification, keep going. In the new program, you’ll receive credit for work you’ve completed in the current certification. For instance, if you’ve passed both SPCORE and SPROUTE, then you’ll receive credit towards the new CCNP Service Provider Core exam and will only need to take one of the concentration exams listed above.
For more information about how to migrate your certification in progress, visit the CCNP Service Provider migration tool.
If you have additional questions regarding to what is going away and/or changing, what new options are available, or how your progress will transfer into this new landscape, please reach out to us at support@stormwind.com!