This has been a common question I get asked over the years. Frankly, I confess that I may have answered differently depending on my mood the day I was asked!!
I got asked this again recently and decided to put fingers to keyboard and answer with the plusses and minuses.
My answers below apply to all these different levels of certification is networking today:
1. Foundational Level
- Target Audience: Beginners or career changers.
- Purpose: Establish basic IT and networking knowledge.
- Examples:
- CellStream Certification
- CompTIA IT Fundamentals+ (ITF+)
- Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST)
- Microsoft Certified: Fundamentals
2. Entry-Level Certifications
- Target Audience: Early-career network technicians or help desk roles.
- Focus: Core networking concepts, basic configuration, and troubleshooting.
- Examples:
- CellStream Certification
- CompTIA Network+
- Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
- Juniper JNCIA-Junos
- Skills Covered:
- OSI Model, IP addressing
- Switching, routing basics
- VLANs, wireless, and network security
3. Intermediate/Professional Certifications
- Target Audience: Network administrators, engineers.
- Focus: Advanced configuration, troubleshooting, and architecture.
- Examples:
- Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP)
- CompTIA Security+ / CySA+ (for security-focused roles)
- Juniper JNCIS/JNCIP
- Wireshark Certification
- Skills Covered:
- Dynamic routing (OSPF, BGP)
- MPLS, QoS, VPNs
- Network design and monitoring
- Packet Analysis
4. Expert-Level Certifications
- Target Audience: Senior engineers, architects, consultants.
- Focus: Complex networks, high-level design, performance optimization.
- Examples:
- Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE)
- Juniper JNCIE
- CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+)
- Skills Covered:
- Multivendor integration
- Deep troubleshooting skills
- Network infrastructure automation, SDN
5. Specialization Certifications
- Purpose: Validate skills in niche areas.
- Examples:
- Cisco DevNet (automation/programming)
- CWNP certifications (Wi-Fi)
- Fortinet NSE series (security/firewalls)
- Cloud networking: AWS, Azure Networking certifications
The Cert Process
The certification process/model is traditional in that the learner goes into a training structure regardless of experience. At the end of the training, they must pass a certification test. If they do not pass, they can re-take the test or repeat the entire process:
- Training (self-study, online course, bootcamp)
- Hands-on Practice – not all certifications do this (labs, simulations, home lab)
- Exam Registration (via testing vendor like Pearson VUE)
- Certification Exam
- Certification Awarded
- Renewal (typically every 2–3 years via re-exam or continuing education)
I must interject, that here at CellStream, we have had certification training, but we did it completely different from everyone else. Read more on this at the end of this post.
Network certifications are not strictly necessary, but they can be very helpful—especially early in your career.
Here’s (hopefully) a balanced view of why certifications matter, and what their pitfalls are:
Why Network Certifications Can Be Valuable
1. They provide a Structured Learning Path
- Certifications like the CellStream Certification Programs, Security, CompTIA Network+, Cisco CCNA, or Juniper JNCIA guide you through a clear, comprehensive curriculum.
- They ensure you cover fundamentals you might otherwise skip.
2. Resume Credibility
- For entry-level roles or career changers, certifications can help overcome the “no experience” or “not enough experience” hurdle.
- Many HR systems filter for keywords like “Certified” or “CCNA” or “Network+”.
3. Career Advancement
- Mid-to-senior certs like CellStream Certification Programs, Security, CCNP, JNCIS, or AWS Advanced Networking can qualify you for specialized or higher-paying roles.
- Sometimes, your employer will pay for these to expand your skill set or offer you promotion or pay increase oppotunities.
4. Access to Vendor Resources
- CellStream Certification Programs, Security, Cisco, Juniper, Palo Alto, and others often offer lab environments (physical or virtual), simulators, or forums to certified learners.
- In some cases (like GNS3 or eve-ng) you can create multi-vendor environments
5. Demonstrated Commitment
- Like any degree or learning accomplishment that takes time and is measured, earning a cert shows you’re serious about your professional development, which employers appreciate.
Pitfalls of Network Certifications
OK, but it there are issues as well. This is the part that no one likes to talk about because the certification business creates a lot of revenue, especially for Cisco, A+, and Juniper. Anything I say below will be categorically denied. These big certs have entire departments/divisions dedicated to that revenue flow. They study the numbers, and they modify the tests.
1. Cert-Only Level of Learning = Shallow Understanding
- Cramming for exams often leads to memorizing commands without understanding real-world application.
- Of course, some of this cramming and memorization sticks, but sometimes as fast as 30 days after the pass, the student can’t pass again as they forget what they memorized.
- This is called becoming a “paper cert”—you pass the test, but can’t configure or troubleshoot effectively.
- Then there is the issue for people who do not test well.
- There are exceptional “Hands On” Training programs/courses that can get the same level of skill, understanding, and effectiveness that are just as or even more effective than the certification programs, especially if they are tuned to a specific business or network type.
2. Certifications are Not a Substitute for Experience
- Certifications don’t replace hands-on experience or problem-solving ability.
- Interviewers may quiz you on real scenarios, not just definitions or CLI syntax.
3. Fast Obsolescence
- Technologies evolve. For example:
- CCNA changes every few years.
- Older certs may emphasize protocols (like Frame Relay) that are rarely used now.
- Keep in mind, to keep the revenue flow, they need you to come back and re-certify.
4. The Unbelievably High Cost
- Exams, training, labs, and study materials can be expensive – the cost of a week long cert training can be nearly $3000 to $4000 and that does not include meals/hotel/travel. If you need to re-test there is additional cost. (Cisco CCNA exam: ~$400 USD).
- Renewals are often required every 2–3 years, which adds long-term cost.
- Then there is the issue for employers: they pay the high ticket and expense cost, the employee achieves certification, the employee adds this to their resume, and then the employee leaves for another opportunity. I know this is a perspective issue (great for the employee, not great for the employer). But this is why many employers, especially small companies, cannot afford to invest in certification of their employees.
5. Overemphasis on Vendor Bias
- Many certs are vendor-specific (e.g., Cisco), which may limit exposure to multi-vendor environments or open standards.
- A Cisco-heavy training might not teach Juniper CLI, or cover modern automation tools.
Can the Current Certification Model be Improved?
As discussed above, there are great reasons to have certification in networking. However, because it is such big business, the traditional model mentioned at the beginning of this post has not changed for decades.
In the early 2000’s we decided to “Flip the Certification Model”. I stand by this today. You can read more here. Bottom line: my answer to this question is YES, it is way overdue for improvement.
Conclusion: Are Network Certifications Worth It?
| You are a… | Are Certs Worth It? | Focus On… |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner | ✅ Yes | CompTIA Network+, Cisco CCNA |
| Career or Role switcher | ✅ Yes | Foundational certs, home labs, projects, moving to a security focus |
| Experienced IT person | ⚠️ Maybe | Consider if you’re moving into a new specialty (like security) |
| Already working in NetEng | ⚠️ Only if needed | Go for role-specific (e.g., CCNP, NSE, cloud) |
| Freelancer or Consultant | ⚠️ Varies | Value is in proving results, not just certs |
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