CCNP vs. CCNP Wireless

Dr_Atomic

Does anyone know what the job demand between the general CCNP and CCNP-Wireless certs/knowledge is like? I was about to earnestly go after the general CCNP certification, but it appears that wireless is really hot right now, and I'm wondering that it may be a better track to follow - as well as to be able to mention that one has a really good understanding of wireless on one's resume. Wireless isn't really covered in the general CCNP track. Plus, it seems that wireless may turn out to be a bit more "hands-on" than someone who just uses CCNP skills (although there are exceptions to everything), and that's something that appeals to me.

It seems to me that someone with a CCNP-Wireles cert. wouldn't be stuck at a desk all day long, looking at configurations, but would instead be moving around the office environment (especially more so than a regular CCNP). I'm also wondering if the demand for good wireless people is as good as or better than CCNPs?

rogue2shadow

I'm not by any means a CCNP but I would probably say grab the CCNP first at a company that has wireless positions and as you're working on the CCNP-Wireless track slowly make your way internally to that position.

I'm also hearing wireless is hot but in terms of certs, I've been seeing the CWSP/CWNA certs in more job postings than NP Wireless.

stuh84

I guess it depends on your location, over here people still seem to view wireless as voodoo only used by witches.

The thing with the CCNP is it gives you a good base to work with, to which you can then specialise beyond that. I'm wanting to go down a more Service Provider route, so I got the CCNP to get the base, and am now heading towards the CCIP. If I went straight for the CCIP, BGP would probably seem like a dark art.

Dr_Atomic

rogue2shadow wrote: »

I'm not by any means a CCNP but I would probably say grab the CCNP first at a company that has wireless positions and as you're working on the CCNP-Wireless track slowly make your way internally to that position.

I'm also hearing wireless is hot but in terms of certs, I've been seeing the CWSP/CWNA certs in more job postings than NP Wireless.

Getting a basic CCNP first - then a CCNP-wireless - might be a good route to take if you wanted to study, study, study. After looking at Cisco's requirements for a CCNP-Wireless cert., if one already had a CCNP, one would need to take an additional FIVE tests in order to get the CCNP-Wireless. Since I'm just now starting the CCNP, this would entail me taking/passing eight Cisco tests - not something I would be fired up about.