CCNP or Cisco Certified Network Professional is a proof of skills and knowledge required to troubleshoot, install and configure wide and local area network for enterprise organizations with a 500 or more nodes. Cisco certified network professional is an intermediate-level of certification for IT experts. This level of certification is given to an individual with the skills needed in the computer networking. This certification has the Cisco Certified Associate (CCNA) as a prerequisite. The CCNA certification only covers only the overview of the Cisco technology however, the Cisco certified network professional track is a more extensive learning of the Cisco technology. In addition, the Cisco certified network professional path is a prerequisite in achieving the CCIE certification also known as Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert.

There are several ways to gain the CCNP certification. The first one is by passing for exams, which are BSCI 642-801, CIT 642-831, BCMSN 642-811 and BCRAN 642-821. BSCI 642-801 is an exam on building scalable Cisco internetworks that has 55 to 65 questions that last for 55-65 minutes. CIT 642-831 is on internetwork troubleshooting while BCMSN 642-811 is on building Cisco multilayer switched networks. The last one, which is BCRAN 642-821, is on Building a Cisco Remote Access Networks.

The other way of getting CCNP certification is by taking three exams. These exams includes Cisco internetwork troubleshooting (CIT 642-831), building Cisco remote access networks (BCRAN 642-821) and the last one is on building Cisco multilayer switched networks and building scalable Cisco internetworks (642-891 Composite). Passing all of the exams in either of the tow sets would award the examinee with the title of Cisco Certified Network Professional.

The CCNP certification exams were last updated in 2004. It now involves simulation questions to test the skills of the examinee in Cisco technology. Each of the exams would have 55 to 70 questions with a time limit of 75 to 90 minutes, depending on the topic of the exam. The certification is only valid for 3 years, to recertify the individual may have to take the 642-811 and 642-801 exams or the 642-891 composite exam. An individual with a professional level passing these exams would automatically renew his or her certification.

IT professionals should consider the benefits of passing having this kind of certification. This is because there are many job positions for a Cisco certified network professional such as Level 2 system engineer, Level 2 support engineer, deployment engineer, network technician and network engineer. It will also include LAN administrator, network administrator and network infrastructure administrator. These are just some of the few job positions that a CCNP is eligible to apply to.

With the certification, a network professional can use his or her skills in the management of switches and routers that form the network core. He or she can also manage edge applications that have an integration of wireless, voice and security into the network.

If you are interested in such certification, you can browse through the Internet to find additional information regarding the topic.