CCNP

<h2 id="professional-certifications">Professional certifications</h2>
<p>Prior to February 2020 there were approximately eight professional-level certification programs within Cisco Career Certifications.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a>
</p>
<ul><li>CCDP</li>
<li>CCNP Cloud</li>
<li>CCNP Collaboration</li>
<li>CCNP Data Center</li>
<li>CCNP Routing and Switching</li>
<li>CCNP Security</li>
<li>CCNP Service Provider</li>
<li>CCNP Wireless</li></ul>
<p>Cisco has announced that as of February 2020, the above format has been retired and replaced with the following:
</p>
<ul><li>CCNP Enterprise (integrating CCNP Routing and Switching, CCDP and CCNP Wireless)</li>
<li>CCNP Data Center (integrating CCNP Cloud)</li>
<li>CCNP Security</li>
<li>CCNP Service Provider</li>
<li>CCNP Collaboration</li>
<li>Cisco Certified <a href="/facts/Cisco_DevNet/0VqTamjA">DevNet</a> Professional</li></ul>
<p>Migration guides to the newer certification exams are available from Cisco at its <a href="https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/training-events/training-certifications/certifications/professional/ccnp-migration-tools.html">CCNP Migration Tools</a> page.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a>
</p>
<h2 id="required-exams">Required exams</h2>
<p>Before February 2020 relevant entry-level certifications needed to be passed in advance if a candidate wanted to attempt the professional level exams. Starting February 2020, no entry-level certification will be required to attempt the CCNP exams.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a>
</p>
<h2 id="validity">Validity</h2>
<p>The validity of CCNP Certification is 3 years. Renewal requires certification holders to register for and pass same or higher level Cisco recertification exam(s) every 3 years or obtain 80 continuing education credits.
</p>
<h2 id="related-certifications">Related certifications</h2>
<ul><li>Associate-level certification: <a href="/facts/CCNA/9GDPNcsx">CCNA</a></li>
<li>Expert-level Certification: <a href="/facts/CCIE/8wX1YNJa">CCIE</a></li></ul>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1"><p>CCNP Routing and Switching - IT Certificates and Career Paths - Cisco Systems <a href="http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/certifications/professional/ccnp/index.html" target="_blank">http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/certifications/professional/ccnp/index.html</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:2"><p>"Professional Certifications". <a href="http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/training-events/training-certifications/certifications/professional.html" target="_blank">http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/training-events/training-certifications/certifications/professional.html</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:3"><p>"Certifications - Training & Certifications". <a href="https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/training-events/training-certifications/certifications.html#~stickynav=3" target="_blank">https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/training-events/training-certifications/certifications.html#~stickynav=3</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:4"><p>"CCNP Routing and Switching". Cisco. <a href="https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/training-events/training-certifications/certifications/professional.html#~stickynav=1" target="_blank">https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/training-events/training-certifications/certifications/professional.html#~stickynav=1</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:5"><p>"CCNP Infographic" (PDF). cisco.com. Cisco. Retrieved 30 November 2023. <a href="https://www.cisco.com/c/dam/en_us/training-events/certifications/professional/ccnp-infographic.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.cisco.com/c/dam/en_us/training-events/certifications/professional/ccnp-infographic.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
</ol>

CCNP open-in-new

CCNP