part0022

There are numerous benefits to obtaining a Cisco certification, and I am sure you are aware of how these certifications will benefit your career. There is, however, a drawback when it comes to these certifications – there is a validity period. These certifications are very different from other certifications in the sense that they expire. This is because the technology being used constantly changes and evolves. You cannot believe that technology will remain constant when innovations are happening every single day. There is always some new concept added to the syllabus every year by the Cisco team, and regardless of how painful it is, you must spend some time and update yourself with the changes that are taking place to the syllabus. If you think about this carefully, you will realize that this does make sense. Cisco constantly introduces new modules or adds information to the existing modules every year. It is for this reason that every Cisco certification expires in three years or less. To ensure that you are still certified in a specific module, you must recertify yourself in those modules. Let us take a look at the validity of each examination:

It isn't that good an idea to add expired certifications to your resume, but you can certainly mention them as an achievement. Since there are new developments in the technological industry, Cisco ensures that it includes these changes into the course material for any certification that it provides. It is for this reason that they have set validity on their certifications. Cisco will make some changes to the syllabus over time, and when you recertify yourself, you can ensure that you update your knowledge and skills.

If you want to renew an entry-level certificate, you'll either need to take the same exam once more or opt for a higher-level certification. For instance, if you've got a CCNA Routing and Switching Certification whose validity period is nearing expiration, you have the option to either sit for the CCNA Security examination or any other CCNA level certification exam. If you are not too keen on giving an associate-level examination, you can choose to give any other professional level examination. You can choose to clear any one of the CNNP-level exams, and a certification in any of these examinations can help you recertify your basic CCNA certifications. Alternatively, you can also choose to clear the CCIE examinations. There are no prerequisites to clearing the CCIE examinations, and it is for this reason that they are easy to do. A certification in this examination will automatically help you renew your certification.

As with entry-level certifications, even for professional-level certifications, you have got two choices - either take the same exam once more or choose a certification that is at a higher level. In this case, if you have a CCNP Routing and Switching certification whose validity period is expiring within a year, you can appear for the certification exam again or opt for a high-level examination. You can also choose to clear any other certification examination if you wish to renew the current certification that you have.

Every Cisco certification has a validity period, including the expert level certifications. As mentioned earlier in this chapter, there is a constant change in technology, and since these certifications are all related to technology, they need to be updated too. You must reappear for the CCIE certification examination if you want to recertify your expert-level Cisco certifications.