Guys, I havent read the posts on what really is best to pursue after ccna. Id like your opinions on what I should work towards next. Im looking at EITHER CCDA or starting on CCNP. Any insight on which direction I should go and why? Id appreciate the input. Thanks.

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I think that it depends on what your career goals are. If you are looking to become a presales engineer then the CCDP may be the certification you desire, therefore, you may consider knocking out the CCDA. On the other hand, if you are leaning toward a network support (repair) position then you might consider diving into the CCNP curriculum.

If your long term goal is to obtain the CCIE, then you may consider picking up both the CCNP and the CCDP (many CCIE's have gone this route). The decision is yours. I think it all depends on your goals.

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Dude,

That really depends on where your interests lie. If you are into design and management, then you should go with the CCDA. If you'd like to go more in-depth with everything, then go for the CCNP. Remember, the CCDA is just one more test, the CCNP is four more (unless you do Foundations, then it is two more). One good thing though; once you get the CCDA, and if you decide to do CCNP, then you can be a CCDP too!
Good luck on whatever you decide!

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Really my goals are this: My interest lie in support and implimentation. But, if there are things to learn by going CCDA first, then CCNP, then Im open for it. But, considering my interest, if CCDA would be a waist of time for me, then I would go strait for CCNP. Ultimately, yes, CCIE is my goal. But I want the very best foundation I can possibly get. Not to mention that I want to be "well rounded". Im not sure that pursing both would accomplish that or not. That is why Im asking you pros.

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After i finished up my ccna, i got into the ccda studies. my reason is: i want to finish this cert out and then get the ccdp and ccnp.

Having a ccda and ccna makes a good match to start consulting Lan/Wan design and since i do work with routers and switches and other net/telecom stuff i consult and design networks.

The ccda is not an easy exam, it takes knowledge of the network and putting together a good enough design to meet customer's needs.

Consulting should be the goal, a cisco consultant will make good money.

also it is pretty honorable to be at top of the design and support world.

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CCDx is oriented towards sales and design.

If you plan to take the CCDx track, then I would recommend:

CCNA, CCDA, CCNP, CCDP

Reasoning: After you pass the CCNP, taking the CCDA will seem like "going backwards". The CCDA also may give you more "context".

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Realistically speaking, after you knock down CCNP or CCDP your one test away from the other. Both require Routing, Switching and Remote Access exams.

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If you tackle only the required CCNP courses, you're two exams away from CCDP...

640-441 Designing Cisco Networks
640-025 Cisco Internetwork Design

Surprisingly, passing 640-025 is not enough.

Granted, it should be easy for a CCNP.

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My last post for a while...heheheh

Here is what decided my carrier goals for me.

When I started in this industry (Information Technology) everything was very new. To put things in perspective when you typed cars into the Yahoo search engine you got about 15 hits.

I was always interested in PC’s and someone mentioned something to me called Novell. It was a Network OS that allowed PC’s to speak to one another and share files and all kinds of neat stuff. So I decided to investigate and became intrigued. I pursued my CNE and completed it. This was back when there were around 2000-3000 CNE’s in the world. It wasn’t much for that time. Sometime later Microsoft started to creep into the scene. It paid amazing money to have both certs so I went after the MCSE (long time ago) and got it. I can’t begin to tell you how many jobs I turned down. Companies were crazy and wouldn’t leave you alone.

After working for a couple of years as a network administrator, I found that more and more I was being drawn into the area of PC’s. When a user had a problem it was always the network. Never the user. Well as things turned out it was almost always the user and could be attributed to the fact that they needed more training. A lot of folks today still don’t know how to use a PC.

Dealing with end users all the time started to drive me crazy. I was a Server/Network administrator but out of association was being drawn into the PC Support field. I then realized I wanted to get as far and as fast as I could from the end user. I needed to change my area of expertise. By chance I landed a job with a large company that had approximately 3000 Cisco routers on an Enterprise Network (honest at least 3000 Cisco routers on the network world wide). This was like a dream come true. I became part of a support group that managed all these routers 7/24/365. Finally I got away from the end user and it was awesome. All I dealt with were techs in the field and the telcos. After a while things started to become old. Same problems same solutions. I felt like I was on an assembly line. I realized then that I needed something fresh. Cisco was becoming very popular and the field was getting crowded. Don’t get me wrong I still think it is a good field to be in but I remember when a CCNA could get 65-75 K a year. Not anymore unfortunately. Those days are gone.

I then decided to look at the big picture and find the next hottest thing. Something a lot of folks still were not into. Well I found it. Network/Internet Security. Again by chance an old Director of mine called me and brought me on with a technology company that is the same size if not bigger then Cisco. I went to work in their Internet Security Group and that’s where I am now. It’s kind of funny that I finally got around to acquiring my CCNA. I always got by on my knowledge and not my certs. But I understand that eventually you have to legitimize your skills with proof. I.e. Certifications. So that’s why I have started to certify.

Now getting to point. I would sit down and decide how hard you want to compete. If you pursue your Cisco Certification you will be competing with 1000’s and 1000’s of folks who also have their Cisco Certifications. Even in the 3rd world every 14 year kid has the same certs you do. When times get better the Government will up the H1B visas and you will have to compete for a job that he is willing to do for 2/3rd’s the money.

What you want to do is find a field less crowded but still very important like I did. Ever wonder why Oracle Administrators are not out of work and get paid better then Cisco people? Because there is so few of them to go around. Not telling you to go into Oracle but think hard about how far you want to pursue the Cisco track. I will say this. CCNA is a must. A CCNP is excellent. But I wouldn’t go any further along that track. It is just not worth it. We have a CCIE in our group. He gets paid less then the Senior Oracle Eng/Admin. Sad but true.

Anyway, think about what I have said and decide for yourself what the smartest decision is and how hard you want to compete. I will say this…its get harder and harder to compete the older you get…heehehehe…

Best Regards,

Krugar…

P.S. I hope I didn’t bore you…your post had me reflect on my choices.

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Have you ever considered owning your own business as a contractor? That's usually the direction I see experienced people, like yourself, turn to.

-- Ron

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