Roadmap to Success: JNCIA-Junos

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.

Networking often serves as the starting point for many IT professionals. The Juniper JNCIA-Junos certification serves as the entry-level credential for Juniper certifications, requiring learners to demonstrate a working knowledge of the Juniper Networks Junos OS, networking fundamentals, as well as basic routing and switching. Roles typically affiliated with the JNCIA-Junos certification include network engineering, network administration, and more.

Juniper Networks Certified Associate Junos (JNCIA-Junos) The Juniper Networks Certified Associate Junos (JNCIA-Junos) certification is an entry-level certification that is designed to affirm a learner's knowledge, skills, and understanding of networking fundamentals, Junos OS fundamentals, user interfaces, Junos configuration basics, operational monitoring and maintenance, routing fundamentals, and routing policy and firewall filters.

The JNCIA-Junos certification is made up of one exam, which is covered by CBT Nuggets training:

• Juniper JNCIA-Junos JN0-102

There are no formal prerequisites for the JNCIA-Junos certification, but learners new to the industry may benefit from the CompTIA Network+ training and/or certification prior to pursuing the JNCIA-Junos. Learners should have six months of experience working in IT, ideally in networking, prior to attempting the JNCIA-Junos.

Exam Details Exam code: JN0-102 Time allotted for exam: 90 minutes Number of questions: 70 Question types: Multiple choice Exam registration: Pearson Vue Exam cost: $100 (USD) Exam objectives: Juniper Networks provides the exam objectives (free resource)

• JNCIA-Junos Exam Objectives (Exam: JN0-102)

Recertification The JNCIA-Junos certification is valid for three years. Learners can recertify their certifications by retaking the current version of the exam or by passing a higher-level Juniper Networks certification.

The Next Step Since the JNCIA-Junos is the first certification for Juniper Networks, there are opportunities to continue learning Juniper technologies. Options for next steps within the Juniper universe include:

• Juniper Networks Certified Specialist Enterprise Routing and Switching (JNCIS-ENT);

• Juniper Networks Certified Professional Enterprise Routing and Switching (JNCIP-ENT); and

• Juniper Networks Certified Professional Enterprise Routing and Switching Support (JNCSP-ENT).

Some learners may choose to diversify their vitae/resumes by choosing to pursue networking certifications outside of Juniper products. Certifications often pursued by CBT Nuggets learners include:

• CompTIA Network+ (made up of one exam: N10-006); and

• Cisco CCNA Routing and Switching (made up of two exams: ICND1 and ICND2).

Career Considerations Simplyhired.com/ provides a helpful salary guide to help learners determine appropriate pay scales for job opportunities associated with the JNCIA-Junos. Depending on professional experience, an employee who holds a JNCIA-Junos certification can earn on average $56,000.

Payscale.com/ reports a range of salaries for employees holding a JNCIA-Junos certification between $58,394 and $133,086. Roles that are common for those holding a JNCIA-Junos certification include network engineer, senior network engineer, network administrator, senior network administrator, technical support engineer, and more.

Juniper Certifications Juniper offers its certifications in 13 tracks:

• Design track;

• E Series track;

• Enterprise Routing and Switching track;

• Enterprise Routing and Switching Support track;

• Firewall/VPN track;

• Intrusion Detection & Prevention (IDP) track;

• Junos Security track;

• Junos Security Support track;

• QFabric track;

• Service Provider Routing and Switching track;

• Wireless track; and

• WX track.

The JNCIA-Junos certification serves as a prerequisite to most Juniper Networks certification tracks. Within most tracks, the certifications are structured as a hierarchy with the top level certification mandating the previous certification as a prerequisite.

There are a few Juniper tracks that currently offer only one certification, such as the Firewall/VPN, Intrusion Detection & Prevention (IDP), Junos Security Support, QFabric, Service Provider Routing and Switching Support, Wireless, and WX tracks. The Enterprise Routing and Switching and Junos Security tracks are the most robust certification tracks offered by Juniper, boasting six and four certifications respectively.

Concluding Thoughts

Learners pursuing careers in networking can benefit from a deep understanding of Juniper Networks. That understanding crosses the boundaries of product lines, preparing you with skills and knowledge that can transfer easily to almost any network environment, regardless of the products used. The JNCIA-Junos certification is your first step in the Juniper Networks world, and possibly into the world of IT networking!

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