How to Become a CCDP

Advance your career by further developing your networking design skills learned while obtaining the CCDA. Become a CCDP to fine tune your knowledge and expertise of designing networks and grow your reputation as a networking professional. Master CCDP skills and impress employers, gain admiration from colleagues and earn well-deserved respect from your network technology peers.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

1. Distinguish between the CCDA (or the Cisco Certified Design Associate) and the CCDP (or the Cisco Certified Design Professional). Realize a CCDP candidate must first complete not only CCDA training and pass certification testing but also CCNA training and certification. Become a CCDP and learn advanced intelligent network design principles and concepts after gaining knowledge of basic Cisco networking design with CCDA training.
2. Check out various certification tracks on the Cisco website. Know that the CCDP track is one of the 5 Professional track series. Locate Cisco approved training facilities and schools in your region with the "Participating in the Program" link if you've completed CCDA training in another town or state or want to switch schools where you are.
3. Realize that although many local colleges may offer Cisco networking courses, they may not offer higher level certification courses. Find private training facilities and online courses offering higher level Cisco networking certification curriculum. Compare courses and costs.
4. Recognize that Cisco networking certification training is intensive and tough; you know this if you've already completed requirements for the CCDA (and CCNA/CCENT). Prepare for the rapid pace, costs and tests.
5. Learn about discussing, designing and creating advanced architectures (including wireless) to become a CCDP. Finish the "Building Scalable Cisco Internetworks (BSCI)," "Building Cisco Multilayer Switched Networks (BCMSN)" and "Designing Cisco Network Service Architecture (ARCH)" training to test for and become a CCDP. Find programs taught by certified instructors that cover this Cisco approved CCDP curriculum.
6. Survey course details before signing up for a Cisco certification program and check out the school or training facility to make sure it is Cisco approved. Become a CCDP once you've successfully mastered the curriculum and completed the certification tests. Pass the 642-901 BSCI, 642-812 BCMSN and 642-873 ARCH or 642-871 ARCH required exams; or pass the 642-892 Composite and 642-871 ARCH required exams.

Tips & Warnings

• Know that the CCENT is now offered and recommended to prep networking beginners for CCNA coursework (valid CCNA as well as CCDA certifications are prerequisites for the CCDP).
• Look for the official "Cisco Systems" icon for approved Cisco training facilities and schools.
• Realize online course learning and independent study lack necessary hands-on experience and training.

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