In the world of IT Infrastructure certifications, the majority of CCNP certificates are simple; the title of the certification indicates the specialism. The pathway for security engineers is the CCNP Security. If you wish to work on data center infrastructure, the CCNP Data Center is the right choice. The CCNP Enterprise, on the other hand, is a little more difficult.
The CCNP Enterprise now includes several specialties. That implies you’ll need to find the correct specialist test if you want to do something akin to the previous R&S or wireless certs. There are a total of six CCNP Enterprise Concentration Exams, so there’s a lot to consider.
We’ll go over the current CCNP certification path and help you figure out which CCNP Enterprise concentration test is best for you.
The CCNP (Cisco Certified Network Professional) certification offers several specialty exams for professionals looking to advance their skills in networking.
Candidates must first pass the core exam (350-401 ENCOR) and then choose one of the following CCNP Enterprise concentration exams:
1. 300-410 ENARSI
2. 300-415 ENSDWI
3. 300-420 ENSLD
4. 300-425 ENWLSD
5. 300-430 ENWLSI
6. 300-435 ENAUTO
Each exam offers different skills and specialties. We have discussed each exam and it's the specialty here.
● Take the 300-410 ENARSI CCNP Enterprise specialization exam if you desire a network engineering certification similar to the old CCNP Routing & Switching.
● Take the 300-415 ENSDWI CCNP Enterprise specialty exam if you wish to work with SD-WAN and edge routing technologies.
● Take the 300-420 ENSLD CCNP Enterprise specialty exam if you wish to design enterprise networks.
● Take the 300-425 ENWLSD CCNP Enterprise specialist exam if you wish to be a wireless design engineer (someone who designs wireless networks).
● Take the 300-430 ENWLSI CCNP Enterprise specialty exam if you want to be a wireless engineer (someone who configures, manages, and troubleshoots wireless networks).
● Take the 300-435 ENAUTO CCNP Enterprise specialist exam if you want to be a network automation engineer.
There were specialties available at the CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) level. Cisco, on the other hand, modified the structure of its certification program, making the CCNA more foundational now. When you earn a CCNP certification, you gain professional specialization.
When you consider the usual job path, this makes sense. You should begin with a strong foundation of networking and hardware skills, which you can obtain at the CCNA level, and then specialize in a specific area.
For example, you could begin as a helpdesk technician who does a little bit of everything and then discover that you really enjoy security along the way. You can earn a CCNP Security to help you take the next step now that you have the experience.
The key takeaway is that the CCNP is when you start to specialize. Make sure you pick a specialization that you enjoy.
Everyone should take the ENCOR Core CCNP Exam 350-401.
Regardless of which CCNP specialist course you take, you must pass the 350-401 ENCOR core test. This test covers the skills and principles of enterprise network configuration, troubleshooting, management, and security.
The core test covers concepts that are important to all specializations, which is why everyone who wants to get the CCNP must take it.
Breaking things up this way offers two advantages:
● The same set of essential skills and principles apply to all CCNP cert holders.
● Exams for specialization can concentrate on the topics that are most important to the specialty.
You can get your CCNP Enterprise by combining six specialist exams with the 350-401 ENCOR. We’ll go through each one in detail in the sections below. We’ll discuss which job titles a certain exam might be appropriate for as we go.
The 300-410 ENARSI (Implementing Cisco Enterprise Advanced Routing and Services) exam focuses on advanced routing technology and services. That means it includes Layer 3 routing and VPN services, among other things.
The 300-410 ENARSI is your best bet if you’re seeking for a replacement for the outdated CCNP Routing & Switching test.
Active CCNPs who passed the former ROUTE (300-101), SWITCH (300-115), and TSHOOT (300-135) examinations before February 24 were awarded the Cisco Certified Specialist – Enterprise Advanced Infrastructure Implementation and Cisco Certified Specialist – Enterprise Core certificates.
If you pass the 300-410 ENARSI and 350-401 ENCOR exams, you’ll receive the same two certifications.
Given its specialization, the CCNP Enterprise specialist exam 300-410 ENARSI is a suitable choice for:
● Network engineers
● Senior network administrators
Edge routing and SD-WAN are becoming increasingly prevalent. The Cisco SD-WAN Solutions (300-415 ENSDWI) exam provides the abilities you’ll need to stay current.
This exam covers subjects such as Zero Touch Provisioning (ZTP), Cisco’s SD-WAN overlay, and SD-WAN monitoring and management in depth.
Given its specialization, the CCNP Enterprise specialist exam 300-410 ENSDWI is a suitable choice for:
● WAN Engineers
● Solution designers focusing on SD-WAN and edge technologies
It takes a lot of effort to design an enterprise network. You must move a project from the requirements stage to the solutions stage while keeping cost, performance, and security in mind.
Designing Cisco Enterprise Networks (300-420 ENSLD) is a Cisco-based course that covers enterprise network design.
This may be the ideal CCNP Enterprise specialist test for you if your objective is to create networks from the ground up.
The exam covers advanced routing, campus networks, software-defined access (SDA), and network and security services, among other subjects.
Given its specialization, the CCNP Enterprise specialist test 300-420 ENSLD is a suitable choice for:
● Network architects
● Network managers
There are a lot of exciting things happening in the world of wireless with WiFi 6 and WiFi 6e. Designing Cisco Enterprise Wireless Networks (300-425 ENWSLD) is a fantastic choice if you want your CCNP Enterprise specialty exam to focus on designing WiFi solutions within enterprise networks.
The test includes topics such as wired and wireless infrastructure, mobility, site assessments, and wireless local area networks (WLANs) (wireless local area networks).
Given its specialization, the CCNP Enterprise specialist test 300-425 ENWSLD is a suitable choice for:
● Wireless sales engineers
● Wireless design engineers
Check our CCNP Wireless Certification
Let’s say you like wifi but want to be more involved in the setup and troubleshooting. You might want to take the Cisco Enterprise Wireless Networks (300-430 ENWLSI) test.
The 300-430 ENWSLI, like the 300-425 ENWSLD, has a strong wireless concentration, however, it focuses on implementation rather than network architecture. That implies the ENWSLI covers enterprise wireless solutions subjects like device hardening, monitoring, and setup.
Given its specialization, the CCNP Enterprise specialist test 300-430 ENWSLI is a suitable choice for:
● Wireless engineers
● Wireless integrators
Also, Check CCNP Wireless Controller training
The CCNP Enterprise and Cisco Certified DevNet Professional certifications are earned by passing the core exam and the Automating Cisco Enterprise Solutions (ENAUTO 300-435) exam.
This certification is a fantastic choice if you want to focus your career on the convergence of DevOps and Cisco equipment. Python programming, network programmability, NETCONF/RESTCONF/YANG, and automation tools are all covered in ENAUTO 300-435.
Given its specialization, the CCNP Enterprise specialist test 300-435 ENAUTO is a suitable choice for:
● Network automation engineers
● DevOps engineers
Here is the salary categorization for different specialties.
Specialization | Exam Code | Average Salary (USD) |
---|---|---|
Advanced Routing and Services | 300-410 ENARSI | $108,474 |
SD-WAN Solutions | 300-415 ENSDWI | Varies, typically aligns with CCNP range |
Network Design | 300-420 ENSLD | $100,000 and higher |
Wireless Design | 300-425 ENWLSD | $90,000 - $120,000 |
Wireless Implementation | 300-430 ENWLSI | $80,000 - $110,000 |
Network Automation | 300-435 ENAUTO | Around $110,000 |
We hope that this post assisted you in determining which CCNP Enterprise specialization exam was the best fit for you. It’s critical to remember that there is no such thing as an incorrect answer.
The idea is to align your certification journey with your professional objectives. Decide where you want to go and take the CCNP Enterprise specialty exam that corresponds to your goals.
Explore more Cisco Enterprise Certifications