Cisco CCDP Certification
(Please note that this is a Professional Level certification as per the levels defined by Cisco for its certifications. These are Entry, Associate, Professional, Expert, Specialist and Architect.)
What is this Cisco CCDP Certification all about?
The Cisco CCDP certification is part of the ‘Professional Level’ of Cisco Certifications. Starting from the Cisco CCENT certification (which was an Entry Level certification) we move on to the Cisco CCDA and CCNA Certifications (which were Associate Level certifications) and now the Professional Level certifications. These Certifications can be thought of as a build up on the Associate Level certifications.
The Cisco CCDA Certification, an Associate Level Certification, covered based skills revolving around Networking Design. Therefore the Cisco CCDP Certification covers further Advanced Network Design Concepts and Skills with the target infrastructures being Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and Wireless Domains.
The Cisco CCDP Certification covers the following skills:
- Discuss, design, and create advanced addressing and routing
- Discuss, design, and create security and network management
- Discuss, design, and create data centers
- Discuss, design, and create IP multicast complex multi-layered enterprise architectures
The Cisco CCDP Curriculum covers the following skills with regards to Advanced Network Design concepts. Thus a Cisco CCDP Certified Networking Professional will have the ability to comprehensively:
- Build scalable internetworks
- Build multilayer switched networks
Design network service architectures
What are the Pre-requisites of Cisco CCDP Certification?
According to Cisco, “Valid CCNA and CCDA or any CCIE Certification can act as a pre-requisite”.
However, we do also recommend that any person who sits for the exam in this certification come fully prepared for the exam. Allot yourself at the very least a few months to prepare for the exam. Additionally, we would recommend any individual who would like to get certified with this Certification to possess the Cisco CCDA Certification (which is an Associate Level certification that deals with Basic Network Design concepts and skills).
Who is the Cisco CCDP Certification for?
The Cisco CCDP Certification is for those Networking Professionals who (1) have the Cisco CCDA Certification (which is an Associate Level certification that deals with Basic Network Design concepts and skills) or (2) have the basic Cisco CCNA Certification and would therefore like to advance there skills.This is particularly for all Networking Professionals with a career orientation towards Network Design – those who have the Cisco CCDA Certification.
Why should I get certified? What benefits are there?
In case you are a basic Networking Professional who has the Cisco CCDA Certification and has a career orientation towards Network Design – then this Certification is essential for you to further your career. Just as Doctors study further and become General Surgeons and then further sit for exams on specific surgeries of organs in the human body like the heart, so do Networking Professionals require further specialization and advancement of their skills.
The benefits will be that you will now have a broader selection of career paths that will be higher paying than your existing job. Additionally, you will have that edge that is required during job selections – since employers look for what makes you as a networking professional unique
Cisco Certification Exams in General
What Are the Exams Like?
- The duration of most theoretical exams is one to two hours. Lab (practical) exams typically last eight hours.
- Questions include multiple-choice single answer, multiple-choice multiple answer questions, drag and drop, fill in the blank and simulations.
- Exams other than CCIE lab exams are delivered online
What Do They Cost?
- Computer-based certification exam prices range from $80 to $325 US dollars or equivalent worldwide. The ICND1 and ICND2 exams are $125 USD, the CCNA exam is $250 USD and the professional level CCNP and CCDP Composite exam is $300 USD, and CCIE written exams are $350 USD. Payment is made directly to the authorized test delivery partner Pearson Vue.
- CCIE lab exams are $1,400 USD. Payment is made online via credit card or wire transfer
How do I take the exams?
Exams are regularly administered worldwide by Pearson VUE http://www.vue.com/cisco which is Cisco’s examination delivery partner (just as Prometric is Microsoft’s partner). Pearson VUE routinely organizes exams on various dates
How do I prepare for the exams?
- Training through Institutions – The authorized source for Cisco IT training delivered exclusively by Certified Cisco Instructors. For a list of Cisco Learning Partners, use the Learning Partner Locator.
- Training through Books – A variety of Cisco Press titles may be available for this exam. These titles can be purchased through the Cisco Marketplace Bookstore, or directly from Cisco Press.
- Resources, Assistance and guidance through the online Cisco Learning Network
- Exam Cram Books – Exam Cram has a wide array of preparation tools for the popular CCNA, CCNP, and CCSP certifications, including simulation-based practice questions along with other late-stage study vehicles to get you ready for test time.
- Safari Bookshelf – The premier electronic reference library for programming and IT professionals with more than 1,200 titles.
- Cisco Networking Academy – http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/netacad/index.html
- Cisco Certification Study Groups – https://cisco.hosted.jivesoftware.com/groups
What certifications and exams come under Cisco CCDP Certification?
There are two possible options that consist of a number of exams each. These are:
- Option 1: 642-901 BSCI , 642-812 BCMSN and 642-873 ARCH
- Option 2: 642-892 Composite and 642-873 ARCH
Option 1
642-901 BSCIBuilding Scalable Cisco Internetworks
| Exam Number: | 642-901 |
| Associated Certifications: | CCNP , CCIP and CCDP |
| Duration: | 90 minutes (50-60 questions) |
| Available Languages: | English, Japanese |
| Register for Exam: | Pearson VUE |
| Exam Policies: | Read current policies and requirements |
| Exam Tutorial: | Review type of exam questions |
| Register for Course: | BSCI courses and other offerings |
AND
642-812 BCMSNBuilding Cisco Multilayer Switched Networks
| Exam Number: | 642-812 |
| Associated Certifications: | CCNP , CCIP and CCDP |
| Duration: | 90 minutes (50-60 questions) |
| Available Languages: | English, Japanese |
| Register for Exam: | Pearson VUE |
| Exam Policies: | Read current policies and requirements |
| Exam Tutorial: | Review type of exam questions |
| Register for Course: | BCMSN courses and other offerings |
AND
642-873 ARCH
Designing Cisco Network Service Architectures
| Exam Number: | 642-873 |
| Associated Certifications: | CCDP |
| Duration: | 75 minutes (60 – 70 questions) |
| Available Languages: | English, Japanese |
| Register for Exam: | Pearson VUE |
| Exam Policies: | Read current policies and requirements |
| Exam Tutorial: | Review type of exam questions |
| Register for Course: | ARCH courses and other offerings |
OR
Option 2
642-892 Composite BSCI and BCMSNComposite Exam
| Exam Number: | 642-892 |
| Associated Certifications: | CCNP , CCIP and CCDP |
| Duration: | 90 minutes (50-60 questions) |
| Available Languages: | English, Japanese |
| Register for Exam: | Pearson VUE |
| Exam Policies: | Read current policies and requirements |
| Exam Tutorial: | Review type of exam questions |
| Register for Courses: | BSCI and BCMSN Courses and other offerings |
AND
642-873 ARCHDesigning Cisco Network Service Architectures
| Exam Number: | 642-873 |
| Associated Certifications: | CCDP |
| Duration: | 75 minutes (60 – 70 questions) |
| Available Languages: | English, Japanese |
| Register for Exam: | Pearson VUE |
| Exam Policies: | Read current policies and requirements |
| Exam Tutorial: | Review type of exam questions |
| Register for Course: | ARCH courses and other offerings |
Validity of the Cisco CCDP Certification
This Certification is valid for upto 3 years after the certification has been awarded. After 3 years any and every networks professional will have to re-sit an exam in the Professional Level category of Cisco Certifications so as to be re-certified. Cisco has created this system to ensure that all network’s professionals stay up to date with latest trends and changes in networking technologies and standards.
Resources for the Exams
- Several Resources are available at the Cisco Learning Network –https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/community/certifications/ccdp
- Cisco Certification Exams Tutorial –http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/le3/learning_certification_exam_tutorial.html
Link to Official Cisco CCDP Website
http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/le3/le2/le37/le5/learning_certification_type_home.html