Top 6 Network Certifications for Career Growth in 2024

In today's rapidly evolving IT landscape, obtaining the best networking certifications is essential for professionals looking to enhance their skills and advance their careers.

Certifications such as Cisco and Check Point provide comprehensive IT infrastructure training, equipping individuals with the knowledge needed to manage complex networks effectively. A list of networking courses, including CCNA, CompTIA Network+, and JNCIA, offers various pathways for beginners and experienced professionals alike.

These certifications not only validate expertise but also open doors to lucrative job opportunities in the networking domain. In this article, we will discuss the top 5 network engineer certifications that are great to start a career in network technologies.

What are Networking Certifications?

Networking certifications are essential qualifications that validate expertise in designing, implementing, and maintaining computer networks. Prominent certifications include Cisco certifications, which cover networking fundamentals and specialized technologies, respectively. CompTIA offers vendor-neutral options like Network+ for foundational skills and Security+ for network security.

Check Point’s CCSA certification focuses on managing security products. Additionally, Juniper’s JNCIA and AWS Certified Advanced Networking cater to specific technologies. These certifications enhance job prospects and demonstrate proficiency, making them valuable assets for IT professionals seeking to excel in the ever-evolving networking landscape.

Best Networking Certifications

Here is the list of the best network certificates you can get to validate your skills:

1. CCNA

2. CCNP

3. CCIE

4. CompTIA+

5. Checkpoint

6. CEH

Best Networks Certificates and Courses

Here we will discuss the top networking certificates along with their exam information and relevant courses for training.

1. CCNA

CCNA stands for Cisco Certified Network Associate. It is an entry-level certification offered by Cisco. The training course for CCNA delivers the skills required to manage, troubleshoot, configure, and track the requirements of network and operations at the associate level.

Earlier, there were different certifications for different domains like CCNA Cloud, CCNA Collaboration, CCNA Data Center, CCNA Industrial, CCNA Routing and Switching, CCNA Service Provider & CCNA Wireless, which was later converted into only one exam.

Presently, Cisco offers only one certification and training course under CCNA that takes sections of all the above-mentioned domains. This was done to upgrade the quality of CCNA with more challenges and to validate multi-skilled individuals.

CCNA Certification Exam Details

● Exam Code: CCNA 200-301

● Exam Duration: 120 minutes

● Available Languages: English & Japanese

● Conducted by: Cisco

● Exam Fees: 300 USD

Schedule the CCNA exam at Pearson Vue (https://home.pearsonvue.com/cisco)

● The validity of Certification: 3 years

2.  CCNP

CCNP certifications are the professional-level certifications offered by Cisco. This stands for Cisco Certified Network Professional which validates the skills of configuration, installation, troubleshooting, and managing the network and related devices at a professional level.

The CCNP certification and training course is one step higher than the CCNA and hence validates deeper knowledge and skills.

The CCNP level has different certifications for different levels as this certification training is more precise. The domains of CCNP are:-

1. CCNP Enterprise

2. CCNP Data Center

3. CCNP Security

4. CCNP Service Provider

5. CCNP Collaboration

6. Cisco Certified CyberOps Professional

7. Cisco Certified DevNet Professional.

3.  CCIE

The topmost level of Cisco certification is the CCIE certification referring to Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert. The certification is tough to get as it validates the supremacy over the network domain. The expert certified with the CCIE certificate is capable of handling complex network devices and troubleshooting them along with having the idea and capability of designing the network.

The CCIE certification is the domain specified hence it has several certification options, such as:-

1. CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure

2. CCIE Enterprise Wireless

3. CCIE Collaboration

4. CCIE security

5. CCIE Data Center

6. CCIE service provider

The candidate having the CCIE certification or training is eligible for many highly reputed and paid jobs, some of them are:-

1. Network Engineer

2. Senior Network Engineer

3. Network Security Engineer

4. Lead Network Engineer

5. Customer Support Engineer

6. Network Architect

7. Solution Architect

4.  CompTIA Network+

The all-rounder certification and training for network automation can be termed CompTIA Network+. The CompTIA certification course includes many complex and important topic areas all covered at once.

Training for this certification can help the candidate land many decent job designations, especially for freshers. The designations like:-

1. Junior network administrator

2. Network field technician

3. Network field engineer

4. Computer technician

5. Help desk technician

6. System Engineer

The certification exam will test the candidate on the following domains:-

● Networking concepts

● Network security

● Infrastructure

● Network troubleshooting & tools

● Network operations

CompTIA network+ Certification Exam Details

● Exam Code: N10-007

● Duration of time: 1 hour 30 minutes

● Format of exam: MCQ, performance-based, and drag and drop.

● Number of Question: 90 questions per exam

● Language: English, German, Japanese (coming soon: Portuguese, Spanish)

● Conducted by: Pearson VUE

● Exam Fees: USD 338

● The validity of certification: 3 years

5. Checkpoint CCSA

The Check Point Certified Security Administrator (CCSA) certification is essential for IT professionals seeking to validate their skills in managing Check Point security solutions. This CCSA certification covers fundamental Check Point technology and security administration tasks, making it ideal for those new to the field.

Having trained for the CCSA certification can help candidates secure various job roles, particularly for those starting their careers. Potential job designations include:

1. Security Administrator

2. Network Security Engineer

3. IT Security Analyst

4. Security Consultant

5. Systems Administrator

The certification exam tests candidates on the following domains:

● Fundamental Check Point technology knowledge

● System Administration

● Network fundamentals

● Managing user access

● Unix-like and/or Windows OS

CCSA Certification Exam Details

● Exam Code: 156-215.81

● Duration of time: 90 minutes

● Format of exam: Multiple choice questions

● Number of Questions: Approximately 80 questions per exam

● Language: English, German, Japanese (additional languages may be available)

● Conducted by: Pearson VUE

● Exam Fees: USD 250

● Validity of certification: 2 years

The CCSA certification serves as a foundational step for advancing in the Check Point certification path, paving the way for more advanced certifications such as the Check Point Certified Security Expert (CCSE)

6.  CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker)

Certified ethical hacking is now the most demanded area for job opportunities. As in the last couple of years, cyberattacks and hacking have been a major concern for every organization as well as individuals. From governments to private companies, all want their data to be secure and safe by all means, especially from unethical hackers who use the data for their benefit.

Hence the need for ethical hackers emerged immensely in the last few years. Therefore, the EC council came up with the CEH certification and course where the candidate learns the skills of protecting the network and data by learning the hacking terms to defend the network from any external attacks.

CEH Certification Exam details

● Exam Code: 312-50 (ECC EXAM), 312-50 (VUE)

● Duration of exam: 4 hours

● Exam format: MCQ

● Conducted by: EC Council

● Exam Fees: Application fee ($ 100) + Voucher fee ($950 ECC voucher)

● Schedule the CEH exam at EC Council or Pearson Vue.

● The validity of Certification: 3 years

These were some of the most popular networks certifications in IT. There are many other certifications, but the number of certifications will only grow in the future. The certifications we mentioned in this article are considered future-proof as their demand will only increase in the coming future.

Benefits of Networking Certifications

There are many benefits of getting a network certificate, here are some reasons why you should get a networking certification.

● Enhanced career opportunities and access to a wider range of networking roles

● Higher earning potential, with certified professionals often commanding higher salaries and bonuses

● Industry recognition and respect from employers, peers, and clients

● Skill enhancement and knowledge update through the certification training process

● Foundation for advanced certifications and continued professional development

● Global reach and portability of certifications like CCNA

● Improved job security in a competitive field

● Networking opportunities through certification communities

● Enhanced problem-solving skills developed through hands-on practice

Best Networking Certifications -Summing Up!

When considering the best networking certifications in 2024, several key options stand out. Cisco certifications, such as CCNA and CCNP, provide essential skills for networking professionals, while CompTIA Network+ offers a vendor-neutral foundation suitable for beginners.

Additionally, the Check Point Certified Security Administrator (CCSA) validates expertise in network security management. Pursuing these certifications can significantly enhance your career prospects, providing valuable knowledge and skills that are highly sought after in the ever-evolving IT landscape.

Investing in networking certificates can lead to increased employability and earning potential. So wisely choose the certification you want to pursue and you can get training of a wide variety of networking certifications training at UniNets.