IT Certifications and Career Paths

Design/Architecture Comparison Chart

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Design/Architecture Certification Comparison Chart
Certification Name Number of exams Job Role Product/Technology Years of experience Prerequisites
CCDA:
Cisco Certified Design Associate		 1 Network Design Engineer
Network Design Technician
Support Technician		 Technologies
- Routing and switching
- IPv4/IPv6
- Security
- Voice
- Video
- Wireless
- Data center		 1 - 3 None, however knowledge at the CCNA level, and at the CCNP level for switching is recommended
CCDP:
Cisco Certified Design Professional		 3 Senior Network Design Engineer
Senior Analyst
Principal Systems Engineer		 Technologies
- Routing and switching
- IPv4/IPv6
- Security
- Voice
- Video
- Wireless
- Data center		 3 - 5 Valid CCNA (R&S) and CCDA, or any valid CCIE certification
CCDP:
Cisco Certified Design Expert		 1 Written exam
1 Practical exam		 Expert-Level Network Design Engineer
Expert-Level Network Lead for IT Infrastructure Team
Expert-Level Network Lead for Architecture Team		 Technologies
- Routing and switching
- IPv4/IPv6
- Security
- Voice
- Video
- Wireless
- Data center		 7+ None, however in-depth knowledge of advanced internetworking theory and design principles is recommended
CCAr:
Cisco Certified Architect		 Application approval
1 Board review		 Senior Network Infrastructure Architect working with top business and technical stakeholders Technologies
- Routing and switching
- Multiple and various applications of technologies to real business problems		 10+ CCDE

Design/Architecture Certification Comparison Chart (PDF - 38 KB)