Since the certpocolypse of 2020, a lot has changed. The CCNP certifications have been completely revamped. The CCNP Wireless, CCNP R&S, and CCDP, for example, have all been retired. The changes make determining which CCNP exam you need to take for your particular career path more difficult.
The path for security engineers is CCNP Security. The majority of CCNP certificates are simple; the title of the certification indicates the specialism. If you wish to work on data center infrastructure, the CCNP Data Center is the correct choice. The CCNP Enterprise, on the other hand, is a little more complicated.
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 specialty tests, so there’s a lot to consider.
We’ll go over the current CCNP certification path and help you figure out which CCNP Enterprise specialty test is best for you.
Which CCNP Enterprise Specialty Exam Should I Choose? Answers in a Short Statement
For perspective, we recommend reading the entire article, but here’s a cheat sheet for you:
- Take the 300-410 ENARSI CCNP Enterprise specialty 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 solutions.
- Take the 300-420 ENSLD CCNP Enterprise specialty exam if you wish to design enterprise networks.
- Take the 300-425 ENWLSD CCNP Enterprise specialty 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 to be a network automation engineer.
With everything out of the way, let’s get into the specifics.
The CCNP is the Starting Point for Specialization: Make an Informed Decision
There were specialties available at the CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) level before certpocolypse. On the other hand, Cisco modified the structure of their certification path, 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. It would help if you began with a strong foundation of networking and hardware skills, which you can obtain at the CCNA level and specialize in a specific area.
For example, you could begin as a helpdesk technician who does a little bit of everything and then discovers that you 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 is Required to Take the 350-401 ENCOR Core CCNP Exam
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:
- Everyone who holds a CCNP certification has the same set of core skills and principles.
- The specialization tests can concentrate on the niche’s most critical issues.
Exams for the CCNP Enterprise 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 particular exam might be appropriate for as we go.
Implementing Cisco Enterprise Advanced Routing and Services (300-410 ENARSI)
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 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.
The CCNP Enterprise specialty exam 300-410 ENARSI is a suitable fit for:
- Network engineers
- Senior network administrators
Implementing Cisco SD-WAN Solutions (300-415 ENSDWI)
Edge routing and SD-WAN are becoming increasingly prevalent. The Cisco SD-WAN Solutions (300-415 ENSDWI) exam provides the skills you’ll need to keep up. 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 300-415 ENSDWI is a suitable choice for:
- Engineers for Wide Area Networks
- Solution designers who are primarily concerned with SD-WAN and edge technologies
Designing Cisco Enterprise Networks (300-420 ENSLD)
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. Creating Cisco Enterprise Networks (300-420 ENSLD) is a Cisco-based course covering enterprise network design. This may be the proper CCNP Enterprise specialty 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 exam 300-420 ENSLD is a suitable choice for:
- Network architects
- Network managers
Designing Cisco Enterprise Wireless Networks (300-425 ENWSLD)
Many exciting things are 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 developing WiFi solutions within enterprise networks. The test includes wired and wireless infrastructure, mobility, site surveys, 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
- Engineers that specialize in wireless design
Implementing Cisco Enterprise Wireless Networks (300-430 ENWLSI)
Let’s say you like wireless but want to be more involved in the setup and troubleshooting. You might want to take the Cisco Enterprise Wireless Networks (300-430 ENWLSI) exam.
The 300-430 ENWSLI, like the 300-425 ENWSLD, has a robust wireless concentration. However, it focuses on implementation rather than network architecture. That implies the ENWSLI covers enterprise wireless solutions topics like device hardening, monitoring, and setup.
Given its specialization, the CCNP Enterprise specialty test 300-430 ENWSLI is a suitable choice for:
- Wireless engineers
- Wireless integrators
Automating Cisco Enterprise Solutions (ENAUTO 300-435)
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 good 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 specialty test 300-435 ENAUTO is a suitable choice for:
- Engineers who specialize in network automation
- Engineers who work in DevOps
Why Didn’t We Discuss CCNP Salary?
We haven’t mentioned the typical CCNP salary or which certifications will give you the best bang for your dollars. There are three reasons why we purposefully avoided doing so:
- The majority of compensation figures like pass4sure will be for “CCNP” or “CCNP Enterprise,” therefore separating by specialty will be difficult.
- There hasn’t been enough time to collect relevant data to see what distinctions exist between the new CCNPs.
- CCNP certified professionals, regardless of specialty, make a good living. If you choose something that interests you and masters it, you’re more likely to make more in the long run.
Final Thinking: No Wrong Answer
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. SPOTO provides actual and up-to-date exam dumps and training courses to help you prepare for the CCNP exam.
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