Which networking certification is best

Though certifications are often not required, they can be a good way for employers to quickly validate your skill level. If you think getting a network certification will bring you the skills needed to make you more competitive for the jobs or promotions you want, getting a certification can be a solid way to invest in your career.

If you're just getting started in IT and are still not sure about which path in IT you want to take, consider an entry-level IT certification instead. People with network certifications can go on to become network technicians, network administrators , network engineers, network architects, or other network-related professionals.

Knowledge of networks can also be useful for some system administration positions. Widely regarded as a staple in network certifications, the CCNA is an associate-level early career credential that covers a wide range of networking fundamentals. Cisco is one of the largest companies in the networking industry, making the credential useful to have for many network professionals. An Entry-Level Networking Certification. It aligns with IT jobs such as senior systems administrator, senior network administrator, systems engineer, senior network engineer and cloud engineer.

CompTIA foundational and networking certifications are designed to be stacked, as each certification builds upon and relates to the others. They also provide a foundation of knowledge for vendor-specific skills and certifications because the skills covered by CompTIA certification can be applied to any device or system.

For example, any of the above CompTIA certifications could be followed with vendor-specific certifications like:. CompTIA certifications also create a strong foundation for Cisco networking certifications, although they are not a formal prerequisite. You can combine CompTIA certifications with vendor-specific certifications to validate your job role expertise and apply those skills to a specific tool. Cisco certifications are categorized by experience level — associate, professional and expert — and apply networking skills to Cisco devices.

But which is the best computer networking certification for you? Prepares IT pros for specific job roles, such as network field technician, network administrator, network field engineer and more. Well-known by employers and may hold more weight on a resume and give an IT pro more credibility. Sarah K. But getting certified can feel overwhelming. Choose your CompTIA certification.

Study for your certification exam. To ensure you pass your certification exam, CompTIA provides you with learning resources that prepare you to ace the exam. Lab exams must be attempted within 18 months of the written exam. CCIE candidates may not schedule a lab exam until receiving a passing score on the written exam. Candidates must retake the written exam if they do not pass the lab exam within three years.

All written exams are 90 to questions, minutes. CCIE Collaboration :. CCIE Security :. CCIE Wireless :. Note : New CCIE Enterprise Wireless Written and Lab Exams will be utilized beginning on February 24, , though candidate's progress to-date before the cutover will be transferred to the new program. CCIE learning opportunities include study documents, recommended reading, test examples, training opportunities, online communities and study groups, all available through the Cisco Learning Network.

The Cisco Certified Network Professional CCNP takes aim at platforms and products from a leading networking equipment vendor found at most communications and internet service providers , not to mention enterprises and businesses of all sizes, including government, research, and academia.

It's hard to go wrong with Cisco certification nowadays, and the CCNP is its most important midrange credential across a wide variety of specialties. The primary CCNP certification Enterprise requires the core exam plus one of the concentration exams below:. Self-study materials include books, flash cards, practice tests, and virtual and physical labs.

If you're just starting out, this is a certification for you. Some vendor-specific certification programs even include it as a prerequisite. Exam objectives and sample questions can be downloaded from the certification page URL listed above.

Study books include:. Practice exams are available through Certification. It covers essential IT skills and knowledge such as the functions and features of common operating systems, establishing network connectivity, security best practices and how to identify common software applications.

The certification exam covers networks, infrastructure, IT concepts and terminology, applications and software, security, database fundamentals and software development. The certification consists of two exams — one that covers mobile devices, networking technology, hardware, virtualization and cloud computing and network troubleshooting, and a second exam that covers installing and configuring operating systems, expanding security and troubleshooting software and operational procedures.

The certification verifies your ability to troubleshoot and solve problems with networking, operating systems, mobile devices and security. The certification focuses on validating nine major IT skills, including hardware, operating systems, software troubleshooting, networking, hardware and network troubleshooting, security, mobile devices, virtualization and cloud computing and operational procedures.

The certification is designed for junior network administrators, network field technicians, junior system engineers, IS consultants and network field engineers. The exam verifies your knowledge with configuring, managing and maintaining network devices, implementing and designing functional networks, network troubleshooting and network security.

The minute exam covers threats, attacks and vulnerabilities, risk management, architecture and design, technology and tools, cryptography and PKI and identity and access management.