2020 Great Change: New Cisco Certification Program 
February 5, 20202019 was a great year in the world of InformationTechnology. The industry has undergone significant changes, especially in theareas of certificates. 2020 is looking to continue the same line as 2019. It is expectedthat much will change and there will be numerous certification path updates forvarious vendors. In this blog post, thefocus will be on Cisco. We will explore the changes that will take place in theCisco certification program and how they will be useful for the professionalsin the field.
New Changes toCisco Certification and Training Programs
If you are planning to upgrade your skills andknowledge this year, Cisco has new learning options and credentials for you.According to this vendor, the new certification and training paths are designedto cover crucial skills in core IT areas and focus on the latest technology. Itis important to note that adjustments have been made to CCNA, CCNP, and CCIE.Also, there is an additional layer to the certification track, which is called Specialist.The level of these certificates is between CCNA and CCNP. Additionally, thereare new training courses that will be introduced soon, and the professionals inthe field will begin to earn badges for the courses they have completed. Thisis slated to commence after the launch of new exams on February 24, 2020.
While you prepare towards earning your Ciscocredential, it is important to bear in mind that the Cisco 100-105 ICND1 exam, whichis designed to lead to the award of the CCENT and other certifications, willexpire this year. As a matter of fact, February 23, 2020 is the last date for thiswell-known test. This means that those students planning to obtain CCENT as thefirst step towards their CCNA Routing & Switching, CCNA Security, CCDA,CCNA Collaboration, and CCNA Wireless will no longer be able to do this fromFebruary 24th. However, if you are still planning to take thiscertification test, you can do it before the final exam date.
Big Changes to CiscoCertifications in 2020
This year will be the end of many Cisco certificatesthat will be replaced by new streamlined credentials. Let’s look at somesignificant changes that will happen in 2020.
Changes to CCNA
Currently, there are nine CCNA certification pathsoffered by Cisco. However, from 2020, all credentials will be consolidated intoa single CCNA certificate. This new certification is designed for thoseprofessionals who are taking up job roles in associate-level technologies.There will be only one exam that will cover the different IT fundamentals, thelatest software development, networking technologies, as well as various jobroles. As already mentioned, all previous credentials will be withdrawn byFebruary. All these certificates will be replaced by a single CCNAcertification the next day. If you were preparing for any of the current CCNAcertificates, you can still take it before its expiration date. Yourcertification will be upgraded when the new credential is launched. It isessential to mention that there are no prerequisites for new CCNA. However, youhave to recertify your certificate by earning CE units in educationalactivities within a period of three years.
Changes to CCDP and CCNP
The professional-level CCNP and CCDP credentials arealso getting an overhaul. In the new edition of the certification path, CCNPWireless, CCNP Routing & Switching, and CCDP will be incorporated into CCNPEnterprise, and the candidates will have to pass two exams: one Core test andone Concentration exam. For the concentration test, the students will have theopportunity to choose the one based on their career paths. Additionally, CCNPCloud will be integrated with CCNP Data Center.
In summary, CCDP, CCNP Routing & Switching, andCCNP Wireless will be replaced by CCNP Enterprise. CCNP Collaboration, CCNPService Provider, CCNP Security, CCNP Data Center will remain unchanged, whileCCNP Cloud will be consolidated with CCNP Data Center. If you are preparing forany of the current CCNP or CCDP tests, you must complete them before thementioned date. There are no prerequisites for the CCNP credentials, and anyprofessional-level certification is valid for a period of three years.
Changes to CCIE
Some considerable changes have also been made to theCCIE certification track. As a matter of fact, some credentials under this pathhave been revised and will take effect from the specified date. Let’s look atthese changes. CCIE Routing and Switching and CCIE Wireless will be withdrawn,and CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure and CCIE Enterprise Wireless will be newlyintroduced. Also, when you pass the 350-801 CLCOR exam, you will be awarded theCisco Certified Specialist – Collaboration Core certificate. When you take the350-601 DCCOR test, you will be able to earn the Cisco Certified Specialist –Data Center Core credential. By passing Cisco 350-701 SCOR, you will have theopportunity to obtain Cisco Certified Specialist – Security Core. Those candidateswho pass the 350-501 SPCOR exam will get the Cisco Certified Specialist – ServiceProvider Core certification. All these certificates are valid for a period ofthree years. It is important to note that the CCIE credentials requirerecertification every two years. Instead of the 100 CE credit units, it will beincreased to 120. When you maintain your CCIE for twenty years, you getlifetime tenure for your certification.
Conclusion
As you can see, Cisco is going to significantly change its certification program, and this will affectall the credentials that the vendor offers now. The day when the new paths willtake the place of the old ones will be very soon. That is why you need toconsider the certificate you want so that you can start preparing for therelevant exam as soon as possible.