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Last October, the Cisco Certifications Team alerted students about upcoming revisions to the CCNP certification in a brief post on Cisco’s Learning Network. Since then CCNP candidates have been waiting to hear the big news.
Today the announcements have been made — the BSCI, BCMSN, ISCW, ONT and the Composite BSCI & BCMSN exams will retire on July 31st, 2010 and will be replaced by three new exams.
Cisco points out that the revision is designed to be “more predictive of job readiness” and focuses on the competencies that are needed to run today’s networks.
The new CCNP Certification will include three exams:
- ROUTE Exam (642-902): Implementing Cisco IP Routing
- SWITCH Exam (6942-813): Implementing Cisco IP Switched Networks
- TSHOOT Exam (642-832): Troubleshooting and Maintaining Cisco IP Networks
New CCNP Certification: What the latest update means for you
If you are currently in the process of obtaining your CCNP, you have a few option on how to complete your certification. Cisco has outlined four CCNP Certification tracks that will be available until July 31st, 2010.
Please note that the new CCNP exams are not available yet, here are the start dates:
- ROUTE Exam (642-902) — available March 10th, 2010
- SWITCH Exam (6942-813) — available March 10th, 2010
- TSHOOT Exam (642-832) — available April 30th, 2010
- TSHOOT BETA Exam (642-832) — available February 16th – March 26th, 2010
CCNP Path 1: for those who passed (or at least attempted to pass) ISCW and ONT exams:
- ISCW Exam 642-825
- ONT Exam 642-845
- BCMSN 642-812 or SWITCH 642-813
- BSCI 642-901 or ROUTE 642-902
CCNP Path 2: for those who passed (or attempted to pass) ISCW and ONT exams, and are interested in taking the Composite exam:
- ISCW Exam 642-825
- ONT Exam 642-845
- Composite BCSI & BCMSN 642-892
CCNP Path 3: for those who have not attempted the ISCW or ONT exams:
- TSHOOT 642-832 or TSHOOT BETA
- BCMSN 642-812 or SWITCH 642-813
- BSCI 642-901 or ROUTE 642-902
CCNP Path 4: for those who completed (or plan on completing) the Composite BSCI & BCMSN exam but have not attempted the ISCW or ONT exams:
- Composite BCSI & BCMSN 642-892
- TSHOOT 642-832 or TSHOOT BETA
The New CCNP TSHOOT, SWITCH and ROUTE Exams
So what’s changed between the old and the new CCNP exams?
While the number of questions on the exams has remained the same (between 50 and 60), the time you have to complete each exam has gone up to 120 minutes from 90 minutes.
Judging from the certification paths outlined above, it looks like the content on the old ISCW and ONT exams has been revised and turned into the single TSHOOT exam. Similarly, the BCMSN exam is now the SWITCH exam and BSCI the ROUTE exam. Other than that, I’m sure the new exams will focus more on new technologies. As far as the specific exam topics and objectives are concerned, we’ll cover this in more detail in an upcoming post — so stay tuned for more on that.
Cisco also stated that the new CCNP track is more job relevant and also more rigorous than the previous track. More focus is being placed on troubleshooting, security, and supporting more complex networks. In sum, the changes in the certifications reflect evolving network professional job roles.
New Service Provider Operations Certification Track
Cisco also announced a new service provider operations certification track, which is the first of its kind in networking industry. The SP operations track will include associate (CCNA), professional (CCNP) and expert-level (CCIE) certifications and will focus on developing skill to operate large, complex SP networks.
Here’s more info and a quick 2 minute video about the SP operations track and the CCNP updates.
What Are Your Thoughts?
What do you think about the updated CCNP certification exams? Did Cisco give enough notice to CCNP candidates about the changes? Are the Certification Paths adequate?
And finally, what do you think about the new SP operations certification track?
Is there any option to make the following:
bsci
switch
tshoot
?
Or I must take the BSCI + BCMSN + TSHOOT in order to get the certification?
Yes, I believe that is possible, but only before July 31st, 2010.
You would then be following the CCNP Path #3:
– BSCI 642-901 or ROUTE 642-902
– BCMSN 642-812 or SWITCH 642-813
– TSHOOT 642-832 or TSHOOT BETA
taking the BSCI, SWITCH and TSHOOT as your selected exams since in this scenario, you have the option to do it.
I have passed all of the CCNP exams except one i.e ONT. Shall I have to appear in Tshoot Exam so as to complete my CCNP certification.
6 months notice is not enough to have all the exams finished (path 3). hope Cisco made it at least a year…
Hi Monty,
You’re absolutely right, six months is not enough to complete all of the exams required for a CCNP. I think these certification paths were created with people who are already in the process in mind — those who started working towards their CCNP and either prepared for or passed some of the exams.
If you’re just starting to study for your CCNP I would suggest going with the new exams.
Good luck!
Hi RaXa,
Have you attempted the ONT exam? From the info that Cisco released, it looks like those who have attempted the ONT and ISCW exams will be allowed to take them again before they expire on July 31st. However, if you have not taken the exam you might have to complete the TSHOOT, at least that’s what it looks like.
I would definitely suggest contacting Cisco to get more clarification, just to be sure, you know.
Here’s the contact info for Cisco Learning (they’re really good about responding): https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/community/help
Good luck! And let us know what you find out!
Hi,
I just passed my CCNA 2 days ago – and was dissapointed to see that Cisco is changing their CCNP curriculum in 5 months time. I was so psyched up to start it – now I cant.
Question:
I have not done any of the existing four modules of CCNP – If I manage to finish the first module / a module of the existing CCNP training – What does that mean – do I have to start fresh 10 July any way? What does the curriculum change mean for people who want to start their CCNP now?
Thank-you in advance…
Great question Balthezor!
Since you haven’t started on your CCNP yet, you will not be able to take the ONT and ISCW exams at all — from now until July 31st only those who have attempted to pass the exams will have this option.
But you still have the option to take the BCMSN and BSCI exams if you like and follow the CCNP Path #3:
- TSHOOT 642-832 or TSHOOT BETA
- BCMSN 642-812 or SWITCH 642-813
- BSCI 642-901 or ROUTE 642-902
From what I know, if you only pass 1 or 2 of these exams before July 31st, you will be able to complete your CCNP but only by taking the new exams.
So, what does this mean for you? Well, if you prepare for either (or both) the BCMSN or BSCI exams and don’t have a chance to pass them before the deadline, then you will still have to prepare for the new exams. The content might be very similar, but you will still need to get updated materials and spend extra time preparing for the updated exam.
What you need to do is establish a time line to see if you will be able to successfully complete any of the old exams. What you should take into consideration into making your decision is:
- How long do you think it would take you to prepare for each CCNP exam?
- How long did it take you to prepare for your CCNA?
- Do you already have the study materials for the old exams?
- Have you already began to study for them?
Take a close look at the pros and cons before making your final decision, you might find that it’s better to just switch over to the new exams now.
Now just to be 100% sure, I would definitely suggest contacting Cisco to verify all of this info and get their input on this. I’m sure they know something we don’t and might be able to advise you better.
Good luck!
Kasia
Hi,
it’s better from certification perspective, but previous CCNP V5 covers almost everything included security, vpns, Qos, now its more specific studends have to included others track as well to find out the career in industry.I myself is confused i have passed CCNP Composite now what should i do, should i go for the Tshoot exam to get it complete or i should do ONT & ISCW because both of these modules will help me alot to make my CV sound good! what is your suggestion ?
Hi all,
I already completed ISCW Exam 642-825, ONT Exam 642-845, BCMSN 642-812 exams, I left with BSCI 642-901.
My Question is: Is this new exam going to affect my last exam or can I wait for new exam? Pls help.
Hi Vunene,
Since you already completed the ISCW, ONT and BCMSN exams, you have the choice now to take either the BSCI (642-901) exam or the ROUTE (642-902) exam — passing either one of these exams will earn you your CCNP certification.
Also, you don’t have to wait for the new exam anymore, the ROUTE exams became available March 10th.
Let me know if you have any other questions!
Kasia
Hi,
I’m a bit confused, i have completed BCMSN and ISCW and learning for ONT. If i pass the ONT before Juli 31ste, will the results of these three exams stay valid after Juli 31ste? So i only have to take BSCI or ROUTE to complete my CCNP certification?
Thanks in advance!
Hi Leon,
According to Cisco the retiring CCNP exams will remain valid for 3 years from the date you complete them.
Here’s a handy tool that Cisco made available for candidates that will allow you to see which exams you still need to complete after entering the exams you’ve already taken:
http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/le3/le2/le37/le10/ccnp_exam_combo_tool.html
Leave me another comment if you have questions.
Kasia
Hi,
I left with ISCW only rest of the three exams are complete….What should I do now to complete my CCNP certification…? Thanks..
Hi Gurmeet,
If you already passed the ONT, BSCI and BCMSN then you only need to take the TSHOOT. But make sure you complete it before your other 3 exams retire — which is 3 years from the date you passed them.
Let me know if you need help with anything elese, ok?
Best of luck!
Kasia
Hi,
Just realised i have 2 months left to recertify as CCNP and im facing a choice of 3 new exams. Just wondering is it posible to prepare for any of them 3 using older version CCNP 5.0 curriculum and which one of them has changed reasonably less than others so would be better option to recertify for ppl who got their CCNP cert studying old curriculum. Any info or feedback would be appreciated. Thanks
Paulius
Hi Paulius,
The CCNP curriculum has undergone a major change; we put together an article that outlines which topics existed in the previous curriculum and which have been added:
http://www.trainsignal.com/blog/ccnp-curriculum-update-route-switch-tshoot-exams
Hope this helps! Let me know if you have more questions.
Kasia
Hi All
I passed my BCMSN in Apr 2008 and BSCI in Sept 2008 but havent appeared for any exam after it to complete CCNP. Now as pattern is changed and just by passing TSHOOT, i will get CCNP certification. Is this case still valid or again I have to appear for all exams.
Please advise..
Thanks
Veday
Hi Veday,
The retired exams (BCMSN & BSCI) will be accepted until their expiration date, which is 3 years from the date you took the exams. So you have until April of 2011 to pass TSHOOT and obtain your CCNP.
Please let me know if you have any other questions. And good luck!
Kasia