Cisco Continuing Education Programs: Supercharge Your Career and Maintain Certification
In today's rapidly evolving technological landscape, continuous learning and skills development are paramount for IT professionals. The Cisco Continuing Education Program offers a comprehensive approach to staying current with the latest technologies, building valuable skills, and maintaining the active status of your Cisco certifications. By actively participating in this program, certified individuals can ensure their expertise remains relevant and their careers continue to thrive.
The Importance of Continuous Learning and Recertification
Keeping your Cisco certification active is a strategic move that allows you to hone your technical skills, expand your networking knowledge, and accelerate your career aspirations. Most Cisco certifications remain active for a period of three years, emphasizing the need for ongoing professional development.
The Cisco Continuing Education Program provides a structured framework for certified individuals to recertify their credentials by accumulating credits through various learning activities. This approach recognizes the value of continuous learning and provides a flexible alternative to solely relying on passing exams for recertification.
Benefits of the Cisco Continuing Education Program
- Skills Enhancement: The program provides opportunities to acquire new technology skills and deepen your understanding of existing ones.
- Career Advancement: By staying up-to-date with the latest technologies, you can enhance your career prospects and take on more challenging roles.
- Recertification: The program offers a convenient and flexible way to recertify your Cisco certifications without having to retake exams.
- Community Engagement: The program allows you to stay connected with the certified professional community and learn from your peers.
Recertification Options Through Continuing Education
If you currently hold an Associate, Specialist, Professional, or Expert certification, you have multiple choices and a wide range of eligible training resources available to you for recertification through the Cisco Continuing Education Program. The program recognizes the value of continuous learning and offers a flexible alternative to recertification through examination only.
The program offers a variety of ways to earn Continuing Education (CE) credits, including:
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- Cisco Live Training: Attend in-depth training sessions and hands-on labs at Cisco Live events.
- Cisco Digital Learning: Take online courses and learning paths at your own pace.
- Cisco Learning Partner Courses: Enroll in eligible courses offered by authorized Cisco Learning Partners.
Alternatively, certified individuals can recertify by successfully passing certification exams or progressing to the next level of certification at any time.
The provided table summarizes the available options for recertification through the Continuing Education Program.
Maintaining Active Certification Status
To maintain your active certification status, it is important to fulfill all recertification requirements before your certification expiration date. Credits earned through the Cisco Continuing Education Program accumulate until you recertify your highest level of certification.
It's crucial to be aware of your certification expiration date and proactively plan your recertification activities. By staying connected with the certified professional community and continuously honing your skills to adapt to evolving technologies, you can ensure the longevity of your active certification status.
In the event that your certification(s) expire, you will be required to complete the full examination process anew to regain active status. However, there is a silver lining: any “Pending” CE credits that were in progress at the time of expiration will be retrospectively applied toward recertification.
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Once a certification is retired, no new certifications will be issued, and they will no longer be available for recertification. However, the existing certification will remain active until the candidate’s individual expiration date.
How to Get Started with the Cisco Continuing Education Program
Explore the Cisco Continuing Education Program portal: This is your central hub for all things related to the program. You can find information about eligible courses, track your CE credits, and manage your recertification progress. To view the current catalog of approved Continuing Education offerings, log in to the Cisco Continuing Education Program portal. Candidates can pursue any offerings listed in the catalog and earn credits for successful completion of those items. Credits will not be granted for items not included in the catalog.
Identify your recertification requirements: Determine the number of CE credits required to recertify your specific certification.
Choose your learning activities: Select the courses, events, and other activities that align with your interests and career goals.
Track your progress: Keep track of the CE credits you earn and ensure you meet all recertification requirements before your certification expiration date. Credits accumulate until you recertify your highest level of certification.
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Attend Cisco Live: Immerse yourself in the world of Cisco technologies at Cisco Live events. Take advantage of the opportunity to attend in-depth training sessions, hands-on labs, and connect with industry experts. Use the new Cisco AI Assistant to get highly personalized recommendations on technical and business sessions, product demos, and World of Solutions exhibitors to build your onsite schedule. Join Cisco’s expert instructors for in-depth training on core technologies. Labs are hands-on training at its finest! These seminars offer comprehensive, classroom-style training that can be added to any Cisco Live package! Each seminar provides an in-depth look at a specific technology, design principle, or best practice. Gain hands-on experience by solving real lab challenges on a variety of Cisco solutions.
Stay Informed: Technology has transformed the way we train to meet the needs of all learners. Choose from a variety of delivery methods to acquire new skills or simply to consume information on-the-go. Start your certification journey by signing up for our newsletter. Not sure where to begin?
Maximizing Your Learning Experience at Cisco Live
Cisco Live offers a wealth of opportunities to enhance your skills and earn CE credits. Here are some tips for making the most of your experience:
- Plan your schedule in advance: With so many sessions and activities to choose from, it's important to plan your schedule in advance to ensure you attend the ones that are most relevant to your needs.
- Take advantage of hands-on labs: Labs are a great way to gain practical experience with Cisco technologies.
- Network with other attendees: Cisco Live is a great place to connect with other IT professionals and learn from their experiences.
- Utilize the Cisco Events App: New this year! Specific theaters at Cisco Live will only be streaming audio through the Cisco Events App instead of in the theater. Have your own headphones connected to your phone. In San Diego, scan the QR code at the theater’s entrance to open the Live Session Audio Player.
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