Triple CCNP vs single CCIE. Which way is better?

Hello guys.

Let's talk about two ways of development in Cisco networking. The first one is to get three CCNP (for instance R&S/Voice/Security). The second one is to be focused only on one certification way but on CCIE level. What would you say?

Thank you.

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Comments

joelsfood

My experience has been that HR/Recruiters search by the certification, not the track, so in that case, this boils down to just CCNP vs CCIE for initial resume culling, which makes that answer easy.

Overall though, I think it still holds true too. Most hiring managers I've met will trust a CCIE more, even out of their tested path. Whether or not that makes sense definitely depends upon the CCIE, but that is what I've seen.

So HR or hiring manager, the CCIE will help you more.

gorebrush

CCIE has more prestige - so I would say a single CCIE would be more impressive. Not biased.

NOC-Ninja

CCIE. The CCIE will help you connect all the dots.

SecurityThroughObscurity

A person holding multiple ccnp certifications is quite a bit suspicious.

sacredboy

Guys, thank you very much for your replies. You entirely dispelled my doubts as to which way to choose. Now, I understand that I should be focused more on one expert level track rather than on multiple professional level tracks.

gorebrush

Seeing as you are a CCNP:R&S too - natural progression would be to do CCIE and as NOC-Ninja says - R&S is the core of everything and you'll be able to pick up the other stuff very easy. I'll probably do another CCIE than worry about the NPs again.

jdballinger

In what way are they suspicious?

joelsfood

I wondered that myself. Maybe the suspicion that someone is a paper ccnp, and not actually learning the breadth of the material?

gorebrush

SecurityThroughObscurity wrote: »

A person holding multiple ccnp certifications is quite a bit suspicious.

I missed this post. What makes you say that?

spicy ahi

I too would like to know why being a multiple would be suspicious. That's my game plan going forward. CCIE is nice to have if you have the opportunity to pursue it. But it's not easy for everyone. I live in Hawaii and the cost just to fly to the mainland to take the practical (flight, hotel, car, etc.) is quite the expense. That doesn't include the cost for training materials and classes (which are also not readily available here in Hawaii and are another expense if you want to go to live classes vs. the virtual ones) So if you have some insight as to why my game plan is suspicious, please let me know so I can re-evaluate my plans.

SecurityThroughObscurity

I'm talking about quad CCNPs, for example.
If you know what I mean

azaghul

: So somebody holding multiple CCIE's is not considered suspicious, but somebody holding multiple CCNP's is

:

Not sure if I can get my head around this one...

edit: didn't think that through...CCIE's have to sit practical exams...

RouteMyPacket

Just get all of the CCNP's..collect them all if paper collecting is a hobby of yours.

I don't care how many CCNP's someone has if they cannot demonstrate any solid skills. One CCIE trumps any number of CCNP's.

lrb

Like most people have said, the CCIE is probably your best option for professional development.

In my opinion I don't think having lots of P level certs is particularly beneficial anyway. I know some people I've worked with who have CCNP R&S, DC, SP, Wireless, Security, but how hard do you think it is to keep on top of maintaining all of that knowledge at that level? If someone has a cert in some technology, then I expect them to be able to maintain that knowledge at the level that they are certified at. Thats not to say that you shouldn't have exposure to other things than one specific CCIE track, but collecting certs just for the sake of it doesn't make sense in my book. As an example, I have experience in using puppet, python, ansible, etc, but if those technologies ever had certifications associated (maybe they do?) with them I would never try to obtain them.

spicy ahi

SecurityThroughObscurity wrote: »

I'm talking about quad CCNPs, for example.
If you know what I mean

Ah yes. THOSE CCNP's. I thought I was being an idiot wanting to maintain CCNP R&S and Security. Those are the two tracks that I work with on a daily basis. I'm actually studying for the CCNA Voice just because we maintain our own internal phone system but don't think I'll ever go beyond that level of knowledge in that track. Hopefully one day if I have the money, or if I ever move off this rock, or maybe get lucky and find an employer willing to help finance/assist with this, I'll pursue an IE (or two, again probably R&S and Security). Until then, I guess I'll keep plodding away and be envious of everyone who has the shot to do it.

_Gonzalo_

spicy ahi wrote: »

to maintain CCNP R&S and Security.

One of my CCNP teachers advised me against CCNP security. Even if he had it (took him 6 years or so, and don´t come with any "he must be stupid" thing until you read this fully) he told me that there is no point of pursuing it fully, because it´s (obviosly) only focused on Cisco products.

His explanation was: Even if you might find a network formed exclusively by CISCO equipment, it is a certainty that, regarding security, you´ll be dealing with many different vendors. He had passed his exams whenever he started working with the relevant equipment (though he strongly recommended the ASA part)

gorebrush

I do find it a bit mind-boggling how someone can consider a multiple CCNP as suspicious, I really do.

Heero

Personally, I'm always suspicious of certifications. It's too easy to **** anything below the CCIE level. That being said, you just need to ensure that your hiring practices include some sort of evaluation to determine if the person actually knows those things.

Params7

Triple CCIE

bharvey92

I would rather 'specialise' in one or two fields eg: CCIE R+S and CCIE D.C for example instead of having 4/5+ CCIE certs. Like Gorebrush said imagine having to maintain all them certs!

gorebrush

You don't need to recertifiy every individual CCIE... You just take the written and it refreshes all other CCIE's for 2 years and CCNP/A level for 3..

I'll be taking a different written exam next and that will help extend my 2 years off the bat.

bharvey92

Ah apologies, I understand that. What I meant it would be hard retaining all that knowledge for all the certs to truly call yourself an IE in that field.

gorebrush

Oh yeah for sure. Though I still remember a lot of the MCSE 2003 I finished in 2006.... I reckon I could do the 2012 one in very short time, and I bet a lot of multiple CCIE's will still retain a lot - the understanding will always be there but maybe some of the finer details need brushing up on

fredrikjj

Params7 wrote: »

Triple CCIE

Triple CCDE is better.