Roadmap to Success: CCNA Collaboration
Roadmap to Success is a series of posts designed to help learners better understand certification pathways, career opportunities associated with those certifications, and next steps beyond certification.
UPDATED: We recently updated this post July 12, 2016 to reflect relevant changes to the Cisco CCNA Collaboration certification curriculum.
The Cisco Certified Network Associate Collaboration (CCNA Collaboration) certification is a blend of networking, voice, and video skills and knowledge. The Collaboration certification represents a merger of three previously separate certification pathways: Routing and Switching, Voice, and Video.
With the emergence of a mobile workforce, the need for collaboration skills and expertise has soared. The CCNA Collaboration is the first step in mastering Cisco's collaboration solutions. The CCNA Collaboration certification is typically associated with roles including network video administrator, IP telephony (VoIP) engineer, IP network engineer, collaboration tools engineer, and voice, unified communications (UC), or communications engineer.
Cisco Certified Networking Associate Collaboration (CCNA Collaboration) The Cisco Certified Networking Associate Collaboration (CCNA Collaboration) certification is designed for IT professionals who specialize in IP telephony, video engineering, and networking. The CCNA Collaboration is a role-focused certification intended to validate a learner's skills in meeting the ever-evolving business demands in collaboration technologies. Though the CCNA Collaboration certification has no formal prerequisites, some experience in networking, Cisco VoIP, video, and teleconferencing is recommended.
The CCNA Collaboration certification is made up of two exams, both of which are covered by CBT Nuggets training:
Cisco CCNA Collaboration 210-065
(for training purposes, this exam has been broken into two parts)
The CCNA Collaboration is a certification path that evolved from Cisco's Voice and Video certifications, which have been officially retired. Learn more from trainer Jeremy Cioara about 5 Reasons to Earn Your Collaboration Certification.
Exam Details Many of the details of the individual exams that make up the CCNA Collaboration certification are shared.
Time allotted for exam: 75 minutes for each exam Number of questions: 55-65 questions per exam Passing score: Cisco does not publish the passing score for its exams Question types: Multiple choice/single answer; Multiple choice/multiple answer; Drag and drop; Fill-in-the-blank; Simulation; Testlet; Simlet Exam registration: Pearson VUEExam cost: $250 (USD)* per exam *Learn more about exam fees from Pearson VUE Exam topics: Implementing Cisco Collaboration Devices (210-060)Implementing Cisco Video Network Devices (210-065)(free resources)
Recertification Cisco's Associate-level certifications, including CCNA Collaboration, are valid for three years from the date of certification. Learners can re-certify by passing any Cisco 642-XXX or 300-XXX exam, any CCIE written exam, CCDE written or practical exam, or the CCAr interview and the CCAr board review.
The Next Step Many learners who earn their CCNA Collaboration certification choose to continue to advance their careers in Collaboration specializations within the Cisco universe. Therefore, many will choose to pursue the CCNP Collaboration certification, made up of four exams.
300-070 CIPTV1
300-075 CIPTV2
300-080 CTCOLLAB
300-085 CAPPS
Some learners may choose to go even further, pursuing the CCIE Collaboration certification. Unfortunately, CBT Nuggets does not currently provide training for the CCNP or CCIE Collaboration exams.
Other learners may choose to diversify their certification resume by pursuing certifications outside the Cisco universe, and in areas that complement UC skills. Certifications learners often choose to pursue include:
Microsoft MCSE: Communication (made up of four exams: 70-346, 70-347, 70-333, and 70-334)
Microsoft MCSE: Private Cloud (made up of five exams: 70-410, 70-411, 70-412, 70-246, and 70-247)
Amazon Web Services (AWS) Certified Solutions Architect Associate (made up of one exam: AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate)
VMware VCP6 Cloud (made up of one exam: VCP6-CMA)
Career Considerations Indeed.com/ provides a helpful salary guide to help learners determine appropriate pay scales for job opportunities associated with the CCNA Collaboration. Depending on professional experience, an employee who holds a CCNA Collaboration certification can earn, on average, $85,000. Payscale.com/ reports a range of salaries for employees holding any CCNA certification between $40,614 and $124,711. Roles that are common for those holding a CCNA Collaboration certification include network voice or video engineer, UC engineer, network architect, and more.
Cisco Certifications Cisco certifications are layered, with each layer building upon the knowledge and skills developed at previous layers structurally designed as a pyramid. The layers are Entry, Associate, Professional, Expert, and Architect. Associate-level certifications include Cloud, Collaboration, Data Center, Industrial, Routing and Switching, Security,Service Provider, and Wireless.
Once a learner has earned an Associate-level certification, they are eligible to pursue Cisco Certified Network Professional-level certifications. Cisco offers a variety of Professional-level certifications, including Design Professional (CCDP), Cloud, Collaboration, Data Center, Routing and Switching, Security, Service Provider, and Wireless.
Finally, learners can choose to pursue Expert-level certifications, which include Design Expert (CCDE),Collaboration, Data Center, Routing and Switching, Security, Service Provider, and Wireless.
Cisco provides an excellent certification overview that succinctly outlines each certification, its prerequisites, and related careers.
Begin exploring other Cisco certification options for which CBT Nuggets provides training to open up even more professional development opportunities.
Concluding Thoughts
As the workplace continues to evolve, collaboration technologies are critical to day-to-day functionality. Developing the skills and knowledge to support the technologies teams rely upon to accomplish their objectives makes you an IT professional who is in demand and of high value. Take your career to the next level with a Collaboration certification that will provide you with exciting professional challenges and create opportunities!
Watch. Learn. Conquer the CCNA Collaboration!
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