NEW: Cisco Network Programmability Specialist Certifications
Cisco has recently introduced four brand new Network Programmability Specialist certifications. These credentials have been developed with the goal to enhance candidates’ networking skills through foundational networking knowledge, and help them use their software skills to develop network applications in programmable environments.
Network Programmability certifications are a great way to enhance your network skills and your value as an employee. There are total of 4 certifications for Network Programmability Specialists:
Each certification requires candidates to pass 2 exams (see details below). While only one of them (Business Application Engineer Specialist) does not have any formal prerequisites, the Network Application Developer Specialist credential requires candidates to have any valid CCNA, and the remaining certifications ( the Network Programmability Designer Specialist and Network Programmability Engineer Specialist) are only open to CCNP holders.
In this video from Cisco, the project manager of Cisco Network Programmability Specialist Certifications gives an overview of these credentials:
Cisco Business Application Engineer Specialist
The Cisco Business Application Engineer Specialist certification targets application engineers involved in designing, developing and building business applications and are willing to leverage the programmability capability of the new open network environment as well as the API in order to collect information from the network. This credential helps application engineers enhance their networking skills through foundational networking knowledge and foundational knowledge of the Programmability features.
To become Cisco Certified Business Application Engineer Specialist, candidates need to pass 2 exams: 600-501 NPIBA and 600-509 NPIBAACI (coming soon later this year).
Cisco Network Application Developer Specialist
The Cisco Network Programmability Developer Specialist certification has been developed for software programmers who focus on the development of the network applications layer, which can live in any of the Cisco provided programmable components, and will enable service provider, campus, and data center use cases. This credential equips candidates with the indispensable foundation skills required to develop network applications in popular programmable environments. Candidates who would like to pursue this certification should be able to program in Python, C, or other languages in an open networking environment, as well as hold any valid CCNA certification.
Those willing to become Cisco Network Programmability Developer Specialists need to pass the following exams: 600-502 NPDEV and 600-510 NPDEVACI (600-510 exam will be available later this year).
Cisco Network Programmability Designer Specialist
Cisco Network Programmability Design Specialist credential is suitable for engineers who possess both architectural and application development expertise. Within this certification, candidates learn to better collect customer requirements and use this information combined with knowledgeable about the applications to leverage the infrastructure and translate requirements into a recommended open infrastructure. The holders of this certification are able to have architecture-level conversations with senior-level application developers and network programmability developers. Cisco Network Programmability Design Specialist certification is only open to CCNP holders. Required exams: 600-503 NPDES and 600-511 NPDESACI (coming soon).
Cisco Network Programmability Engineer Specialist
The Cisco Network Programmability Engineer Specialist is for engineers who deploy network applications into a programmable environment and make them operational. Key skills covered with this certification include implementing and troubleshooting an open network infrastructure designed by the network designers and architects. This certification is only open to CCNP holders. Candidates must pass the 600-504 NPENG and 600-512 NPENGACI exams to become Cisco Network Programmability Engineer Specialists.
Which Cisco Network Programmability certification draws your attention? Any plans to boost your career with one of them?