What to do after CCNP?

adassus

The obvious choice would be CCIE. But whats the best path towards CCIE? Would it be better to go for other professional/specialization certs or directly to CCIE? Depending on how much overlapping there is between CCIE and other specilization certs, it might be worth it to go that route.

Need input from experts and people pursuing CCIE!!

Thanks

mikej412

First of all.... get lots and lots of real world experience. The people who work for business partners seem to get the most valuable and diverse experience. People working in large corporations may have access to lots of cool equipment, but they seem to learn only "one way" that things are done.

Doing both the CCNP and CCIP are good if you want to do the Routing & Switching CCIE. The BGP and QoS exams for the CCIP should get you up near the CCIE Routing & Switching Level in those topics. And passing the MPLS exam should let you waltz through the MPLS questions on the Routing & Switching Written Exam.

With the last changes to the Security and Voice CCIEs, it does look like there is a clear path from the Professional Level Certifications (CCSP & CCVP) to the CCIE Voice and Security Certifications. I think Doyle's Routing TCP/IP is in the CCIE reading lists for those, so the CCNP does still help with those. If you were thinking about the Voice or Security CCIE tracks, then doing the corresponding Professional Level Certification would make sense.

I've always thought the Service Provider CCIE built on the R&S Knowledge, but I've met a couple people doing it as their first CCIE. I guess it's possible since one time the CCIE SP "first-timer" had the same glazed look as the R&S CCIE taking their first SP Lab exam.