HiddenOne

It seems that those of us studying for our CCNP certification have some decisions to make. For some time rumors have been floating around about an update to the CCNP exam (currently version 5.0). About one week ago, information that looked to be targeted to Cisco Network Academy partners was leaked. This information seems to substantiate the rumors that have been floating around.

Without getting into too many specifics (since Cisco has not made an official statement regarding the changes) it looks like CCNP 6.0 will bring some major changes. The current information shows that the BCMSN and BCSI exams will be replaced by applicable switching and routing exams. Further information seems to indicate that the ISCW and ONT exams will not be replaced. Finally, it appears that an exam geared towards troubleshooting will be added.

There is much discussion on what these changes will do to the perceived value of the CCNP certification. Others are concerned that they will be stuck with outdated study material if they only begin their studies now. History has shown that there will probably be some sort of phase-in period where both the new and old exam content will be available.

Personally, I have decided to purchase some training material anyway and continue my studies. My decisions were fueled by two major factors. First, the electronic training I purchased came with free updates. As the content of the CCNP exams changes, I will be entitled to free updates to the training material. The most important reason I choose to continue my studies is for personal advancement.

The ultimate goal of my study efforts is to obtain my CCNP certification. However, during this time I also want to build my networking knowledge and skills in order to advance myself both personally and professionally. If I study and learn a topic that is not covered on the new exams, I will still have knowledge of the topic that will no doubt come in handy at some point in my career. In my opinion, this is sometimes lost when studying for any professional certification. Many people find themselves studying just to pass the exam rather then also focusing on their personal advancement.