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Looking at the Cisco catalog can be daunting: they offer a great deal of different certifications, each of which may have several different subsets of certifications beneath them! The distinction between them all can be tough; let’s take a look at the big ones and see which certification is right for you!

CCNA

The CCNA is the entry-level certification for Cisco. Who should take it? Well, just about anyone interested in furthering his or her career in the network / system administration field (developers need not apply). The CCNA is not only a very solid test for learning the nitty-gritty of networking, but it is also a stepping stone for any of the higher level Cisco certificates; as per Cisco’s own guidelines, you need an active CCNA to obtain or maintain any of the higher Cisco certifications. As a result, the CCNA should be on everyone’s list, whether you are a desktop support analyst or a junior system administrator!

If you are curious about which specialized track to take, that depends on your particular scenario: in general, however, those looking to score sysadmin or network admin jobs should take either CCNA-Security or CCNA-Switching and Routing!

CCNP

The CCNP is the next step up the Cisco ladder, after you have gotten your CCNA. The CCNP is much higher-level than the CCNA, and if you are happy as a desktop support analyst or small-time, junior system administrator, a CCNA might be enough for you (though a CCNP would completely help your knowledge base, given the wide depth of knowledge it requires). For anyone looking to advance further up the ladder, however, the CCNP is one of the first steps on the path to senior system or network administrator position!

There are other professional-level certifications besides the CCNP, including the CCNP-Security, CCDP, CCIP, and others. None of them, however, have quite the general appeal the CCNP has; unless your job requires a specific application of one of the other certifications, the CCNP will probably be the most beneficial for you!

CCIE

Here it is: the big Kahuna of Cisco certification. the CCIE is considered to be one of the most difficult certifications in the world, and very few networking professionals have it. In fact, it is most likely complete overkill for the vast majority of networking professionals out there, and it is possible that, in the course of an IT career, you may never have a need to obtain a CCIE.

The true reason to get a CCIE, however, is career advancement and knowledge. CCIE certificate holders consistently rank very high in salary lists for the IT sector, and having a CCIE on your resume is very attractive to employers looking to fill their high-level, well-paying positions!

Conclusion

Cisco certifications and their specialties can be a tough nut to crack; hopefully this guide has helped you understand which Cisco cert is right for you, and how far up the chain of certification you really need to go. Always remember, however, that training and studying for a certification gives you knowledge and insight you may not have had before, which is something that’s always worth it!