IT Certification Profile: Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Data Center
April 04, 2016
Do you have at least one to three years of experience in your organization’s data center? And, are you interested in furthering your career as a data center administrator? We are highlighting the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Data Center as part of our monthly certification profile. Continue reading to learn more about the certification process and how you can advance in your IT career!
What is CCNA Data Center?
Businesses are interested in hiring data center professionals who are CCNA-certified, and according to Global Knowledge, those who are CCNA Data Center certified have an average annual salary of $107,045. You will stand out from the competition after obtaining this certificate as it reflects hands-on experience and the ability to maintain data centers. This certification is for associate-level specialists and is effective for three years. Upon completing the certification process, you will learn how to best implement and design data centers as well as gain deeper knowledge of industry best practices.
Additional certifications are available at the professional and expert-level: CCNP Data Center and CCIE Data Center; however, at the associate-level, you only need the CCNA certification. But, as you grow in the profession, you should definitely consider the professional and expert certifications. The Cisco Learning Network provides an in-depth description and comparison of the three levels of Cisco Data Center Certifications.
Steps to Becoming Certified
Individuals must pass two exams, which are distributed by Pearson VUE:
- 640-911 DCICN Introducing Cisco Data Center Networking
- 640-916 DCICT Introducing Cisco Data Center Technologies
Both exams are 90-minutes and are available in English. The exact cost should appear upon registering for the exam, but average costs for similar Cisco certification exams at the associate level range from $150-$295. There are no prerequisites for either exam, though Cisco’s website offers study options and specific material to help prepare for each exam. These materials include self-study courses, starting at $1,607, and assorted data sheets. It’s highly recommended to utilize these study materials as they will certainly prepare you for the types of questions on the exams. For additional information regarding the exams, study materials, or FAQ, please click here.
After three years, you will need to become recertified by passing one of several testing options. The comprehensive list can be found under the “Recertification” tab on the Data Center certification syllabus page.
Check out our other certification profiles here!
Posted By: Jaclyn Roman