Cisco certification changes Feb 24th 2020

Mike R

This affects a lot of people but for those of us enrolled in WGU: Network operations and Security it really affects us. I'd encourage you to reach out to your mentors to see if there is a plan yet for what will become of our degree plans. https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/training-events/training-certifications/next-level-certifications.html

Losing the CCENT, CCDA, and CCNA:S removes 16 credits from our term and possibly 22 credits depending on how ICND2 is treated in the degree. Yikes!

stryder144

If you get your certifications before the 24th of February, you should be good to go.  As for a plan, I seriously doubt that WGU was given a heads up on the change, so it is quite likely that it will be several months before they have a plan in place.  For further reference:  Kevin Wallace site.

Mike R

Yeah, sadly a 30+ credit term isn't in the cards.

Infosec_Sam

Oh whoa, this is a pretty big change! Thanks for the heads up, I'll have to hurry up with my ICND2 before the Cisco certification changes!

nisti2

Wow... Bye bye! CCNA Cyber Ops and others... Crazy change! 

NetworkNewb

The DevNet cert sounds interesting... 

chriscurtis83

This is AWESOME!!! So I was looking it is seems the new CCT sort of replaces the CCNA and the new CCNA is going to be way harder. The new CCNA certification replaces the current CCNA certifications for:
CCNA Cloud
CCNA Collaboration
CCNA Cyber Ops
CCNA Data Center
CCDA
CCNA Industrial
CCNA Routing and Switching
CCNA Security
CCNA Service Provider
CCNA Wireless

Spiegel

This is an insane overhaul. Haven't take the CCNA Security or CCDA class yet at WGU. But based on the information provided, if I manage to pass my ICND2 before Feb 24 2020 and become CCNA R & S certified that should earn me the new CCNA, and if my thinking is correct (if WGU haven't updated their NOS program by then) the new CCNA cert will cover my Security and CCDA courses.So I essentially clear 3 classes with one cert. 

Lunchbocks

Wow, this is crazy. Am I to understand that the new CCNA will be the equivalent to taking the exams for all of the 10 CCNA exams? I took CCNA R&S as a single exam back in the mid-'90s, and that was tough. If they do that, plus throw in all of the others, that would be a very difficult exam.

I'm currently studying for the ICND1 and plan on testing before the end of August. Planning on taking ICND2 by the end of October. I also wanted CCNA security and CCNA Cyber Ops, but I'm not sure what I'm going to do now. I guess I need to wait and see what all of this means. But I am still going for ICND 1 & 2.

chriscurtis83

Lunchbocks said:

Wow, this is crazy. Am I to understand that the new CCNA will be the equivalent to taking the exams for all of the 10 CCNA exams? I took CCNA R&S as a single exam back in the mid-'90s, and that was tough. If they do that, plus throw in all of the others, that would be a very difficult exam.

I'm currently studying for the ICND1 and plan on testing before the end of August. Planning on taking ICND2 by the end of October. I also wanted CCNA security and CCNA Cyber Ops, but I'm not sure what I'm going to do now. I guess I need to wait and see what all of this means. But I am still going for ICND 1 & 2.

Any flavor or CCNA just becomes the new CCNA. So no need to take anymore. It seems like the CCT is what the CCNA R&S was. Look at the description it’s even labeled CCT R&S

Lunchbocks

OK, well that seems to be a bonus. From what I can see, once you have CCNA, the next logical move is CCNP. I’m hoping to have CCNA by the end of October.

If I get CCNA Security before February, is it still good for 3 years?

chriscurtis83

I don't think it matters. From my understand it is just rolled up into the new CCNA. I looked at the CCNP and CCIE and there are no prerequisites for either. So if you want a CCNP Sec you can just do it off the street. Also the core exam of the CCNP is the first exam of whatever CCIE fits the CCNP. So basically if you have a CCNP all you need is the CCIE lab and that's it.....crazy.

Lunchbocks

I just finished reading that on Cisco's website. I never considered CCIE, but with this new CCNP core exam, i might look at CCIE wireless.

chrisone

I actually like it!

One core exam and 1 or two electives.

Shows that Cisco is seeing the industry trend of specializations. 

DFTK13

Well, looks like Cisco has finally decided to add programming concepts into the objectives with their Automation and Programmability topics. I'm glad I decided to go ahead and jump into Python. 

6.1 Explain how automation impacts network management

6.2 Compare traditional networks with controller-based networking

6.3 Describe controller-based and software defined architectures (overlay, underlay, and fabric)

• 6.3.a Separation of control plane and data plane
• 6.3.b North-bound and south-bound APIs

6.4 Compare traditional campus device management with Cisco DNA Center enabled device management

6.5 Describe characteristics of REST-based APIs (CRUD, HTTP verbs, and data encoding)

6.6 Recognize the capabilities of configuration management mechanisms Puppet, Chef, and Ansible

6.7 Interpret JSON encoded data

AvgITGeek

The CCIE Lab is no joke and it isn't cheap either. Head on over to reddit /r/ccie and read some of the horror stories.

DFTK13

NetworkNewb said:

The DevNet cert sounds interesting... 

I agree! I'm glad that Cisco is addressing the fact that it's becoming necessary to know programming and Software development to do more in today's networks. 

kaiju

WGU will have to make some changes. CCT = ICND1 + ICND2. Reading through the recertify section of the exams is kind of confusing. INCD1/2 can be used to recertify CCT. You would think ICND1/2 would fall to the wayside after the release of the new exams. I imagine we will get more info as we get closer to the new exam start date.

Zorodzai

I can only imagine how hard this new CCNA is going to be.....

Lunchbocks

Zorodzai said:

I can only imagine how hard this new CCNA is going to be.....

Yea, that was my thought. That's why I'm stepping up my exam schedule. I'm planning on ICND1 no later than mid-August and ICND2 no later than the end of October.

Lunchbocks

chrisone said:

I actually like it!

One core exam and 1 or two electives.

Shows that Cisco is seeing the industry trend of specializations. 

Now that I've read more on Cisco's site and had time to staret digesting this, I agree with you. The core exams cover the same material as the current extra exams, such as security, virtualization, infrastructure, etc. So with the core exam, that eliminates the need to take these other exams. Then you start the specialization exams to hone in on your specific requirements.

I guess if I wanted both CCNP enterprise and security, I would need to take 1 core and the specialization exams and then take the second core. Either way, I think I'm going to like the new certifications.

stryder144

Here is a little perspective from Wendell Odom.  Here is the second blog.
(fixed links)

Lunchbocks

He just posted another blog: https://blog.certskills.com/cert2019-03/

DFTK13

As far as I can see, It looks a lot like a trimmed down CCNA R&S with Security and Automation/Programming thrown in. So thankfully it’s not too much more to study. Although I have been meaning to learn more about security. 

yoba222

Wonder how CEUs are going to work and also grandfathering existing Cisco cert holders.

k4ppla

Finally .... 

Any idea about pricing for every cert ? 

NetworkNewb

k4ppla said:

Finally .... 

Any idea about pricing for every cert ? 

 There is a "frequently asked questions" PDF link on that page that briefly talks about the pricing in it.  Says it will be reduced... 

fitzlopez

yoba222 said:

Wonder how CEUs are going to work and also grandfathering existing Cisco cert holders.

I'm on the same boat.

Does this mean that the old CCNA concentrations like Cyber Ops, will stop being valid after they expire?

I was wondering if I should study for the CCNP Security and if I pass they'll expire my old CCNA Cyber Ops, then give me the new CCNA besides the CCNP Security.

chriscurtis83

fitzlopez said:

yoba222 said:

Wonder how CEUs are going to work and also grandfathering existing Cisco cert holders.

I'm on the same boat.

Does this mean that the old CCNA concentrations like Cyber Ops, will stop being valid after they expire?

I was wondering if I should study for the CCNP Security and if I pass they'll expire my old CCNA Cyber Ops, then give me the new CCNA besides the CCNP Security.

fitzlopez said:

yoba222 said:

Wonder how CEUs are going to work and also grandfathering existing Cisco cert holders.

I'm on the same boat.

Does this mean that the old CCNA concentrations like Cyber Ops, will stop being valid after they expire?

I was wondering if I should study for the CCNP Security and if I pass they'll expire my old CCNA Cyber Ops, then give me the new CCNA besides the CCNP Security.

They are valid but don't exist Feb 24, 2020. You will have just one CCNA no matter what you have now. I do think you get little endorsements of the stuff you did have. But after this change I don't think that will mean much of anything. How could it be a requirement for a position if no one can get them after the 23rd.

DZA_

I think at this point in my career that I am going to retire my CCNA at the end of August. The upkeep for certificates are just getting out of hand. 

NetworkNewb

fitzlopez said:

Does this mean that the old CCNA concentrations like Cyber Ops, will stop being valid after they expire?

The CCNA:Cyber Ops will just become CCNA and the expiration date of that cert will be the same date. 

• For CCNA, Specialist and CCNP: Your current certification is still valid and will be active until its expiration date. When the new program goes into effect February 24, 2020, your current certification will be transitioned to an equivalent in the new program.

This is gone over in the "Frequently Asked Questions" PDF link on the page...