What is Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) Certification?

There has never been a better time to be involved with IT, than right now. In the recent past there have been job losses in this field, but according to the Certification Magazine, there are an expected 606,000 unfilled IT jobs expected in 2004. As IT jobs are left unfilled, wages have gone up worldwide. According to the Certification Magazine, the average salary for those with CCNP certificate is $68,910. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) confirms this position and says that over the next 8 years, 8 out of 10 jobs will be computer related.

Not only are job prospects good, a CCNP certificate validates an individuals achievement. It is also a credible measure of a high standard of education in this specific field. These days, employers will receive a large amount of résumés; they have also had to become more thorough in their recruitment procedures. How are they going to choose the right candidate for them? They will undoubtedly check experience and familiarity with similar IT systems, but one indicator they will be looking at will be the industry recognized certificates. Certification is the industry's method for ensuring competent standards and identifying those professionals who have mastered those standards. Employers also recognize the importance of certification.

CCNP stands for Cisco Certified Network Professional. It is a certified qualification that lasts for three years. It is a training program designed by Cisco, which is a huge and well-respected company with a large market share. The CCNP forms the professional level of the Cisco career certification program. To be eligible for this program, you need to have successfully achieved the CCNA certificate and have a basic knowledge of network support. There are four exams to be taken for the completion of the CCNP; they are BSCI, BCMSN, BCRAN and CIT. To achieve this certificate you will need to proficiently demonstrate an ability to install, configure, operate and troubleshoot in a range of networks, such as routed LAN and WAN, and switched LAN. This will be particularly useful for enterprises organizations with networks from 100 to more than 500 nodes. The content of the course emphasizes such topics as virtual private networks (VNP), security, converged networks, quality of service and broadband technologies.

The main medium of study is through web-based applications; this is both a cheap and an effective way of learning. It also has the advantage of focused study and immediate feedback. Specially designed assessment features can test your knowledge of the subject. The scenarios are designed to give a real world environment feel, which reinforces key concepts at the same time as understanding how all the technologies work together. The job opportunities include network administrator, level 2-support engineer, level 2 systems engineer, and network technician. With this user-friendly approach and the obvious benefits of this qualification, it is worthwhile to study for a CCNP certificate. It can improve your competitive edge and help to expand your professional options.

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