Although networking of every kind stays a white-hot IT concern and expertise area, nothing may very well be hotter than WiFi applied sciences for every part from native space networking with 802.11ac, to the widespread proliferation and adoption of fourth-generation (4G) WiFi huge space networking applied sciences, resembling LTE.
The 4 certifications that we cite on this article symbolize only a small pattern of the whole variety of WiFi-IT certifications out there in the current market. All three of the first Cisco wi-fi certifications (CCNA Wi-Fi, CCNP Wi-Fi, and CCIE Wi-Fi) collectively to make room for different worthy certifications. We deal with the CCNA WiFi and CCNP WiFi individually, based mostly partially on excessive recognition with employers. Noticeably absent from this 12 months' best-of-class listing is the Juniper Networks Certified Specialist Wi-fi LAN (JNCIS-WLAN); though the cert remains to be lively the examination is not accessible.
In preparation for this article, we carried out a random survey of different IT job boards to check what certifications are being requested by employers. In reviewing the outcomes, it is essential to keep in mind that elements equivalent to geography, the present local weather of the employment market and the complexity of the cert affect outcomes. You'll be able to count on to see decrease numbers on other senior certifications as a result of, fairly frankly, they're tougher to acquire, and fewer individuals possess them than entry- and mid-level wi-fi certs.
| No | Certifications | Fees Structure | No of Jobs Offered |
| 1 | Certified Wireless Design Professional (CWDP) | $225 USD | 125 |
| 2 | Certified Wireless Network Administrator (CWNA) | $175 USD | 5600 |
| 3 | Cisco Certified Network Associate Wireless (CCNA Wireless) | $250 USD | 448 |
| 4 | Cisco Certified Network Professional Wireless (CCNP Wireless) |
$250 USD/Exam
$1000 USD Total
|
4700 |
Certified Wireless Design Professional (CWDP)
This professional-level certification targets Wi-Fi professionals who design business-level networks. It is also one of many certifications required to earn the head of the CWNP certification program, the Certified Wireless Network Expert(CWNE).
To earn the CWDP, candidates should possess a present CWNA credential and move the CWDP examination. The CWDP test focuses on 5 areas: necessities evaluation, procedures for website surveys, WLAN deployment, design validation and WLAN design rules. As one may anticipate, the vast majority of the examination (40%) focuses on WLAN design standards.
CWDP credential holders should recertify each three years. Offering the credential holder possesses a present CWNA, CWDPs want solely take then-current CWDP examination to resume.
Certified Wireless Network Administrator (CWNA)
The certified Wireless Network Administrator (CWNA) credential from the certified Wireless Network Professional(CWNP) group has been around for greater than a decade. Nevertheless, it nonetheless represents a terrific workaday IT certification for many who set up, configure and keep Wi-fi networks within the office.
CWNP describes this credential as "an administrator stage profession certification for networkers," and it acts as a gateway to new senior credentials, together with the Certified Wireless Safety Professional(CWSP), Certified Wireless Analysis Professional(CWAP) and the Certified Wireless Network Experts(CWNE) credentials.
The present examination for the CWNA is CWNA-106, which is out there at Pearson VUE testing facilities. Subjects lined embrace first RF applied sciences, rules and requirements, protocols and units, community implementation, community safety, RF website surveying, antenna ideas, 802.11 community structure, Wi-fi LAN hardware and software program, together with community design, setup and administration.
The CWNA is good for three years, after which candidates should recertify. Recertification is straight-forward: candidates want solely to the present CWNA examination or any CWNP skilled examination, together with CWAP, CWDP, and CWSP. Bear in mind, the recertification exam should be taken earlier than your present CWNA certification expires.
Cisco Certified Network Associate Wireless (CCNA Wireless)
Cisco gives a few of the most generally identified and recognizable certifications within the business. Presently, they provide a wi-fi specialization for every Cisco networking credential on the Associate (CCNA Wireless), Professional (CCNP Wireless) and Expert (CCIE Wireless) ranges.
Earlier than trying the CCNA Wireless examination, candidates should first earn both the CCNA Routing and Switching, Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician (CCENT), or any CCIE certification to reveal their expertise and data in working with various Cisco Wireless platforms and applied sciences on the corresponding ranges of experience concerned.
Candidates should additionally cross a single examination (excluding any exams required for prerequisite certs) to earn the CCNA Wireless credential. The CCNA Wireless is legitimate for an interval of three years after which candidates should recertify. Recertification additionally requires passing a single examination. Cisco maintains a listing of the present qualifying certification exams on the CCNA Wireless web page.
Cisco Certified Network Professional Wireless (CCNP Wireless)
The second Cisco Wireless credential featured in this article is the Cisco Certified Network Professional Wireless (CCNP Wireless), a step above the CCNA Wireless.
The CCNP Wireless is designed for devoted Cisco professionals. To be eligible, candidates should possess both a legitimate CCNA Wireless or any CCIE certification. As well as, candidates should go for CCNP Wireless exams that target designing, deploying, troubleshooting and securing Cisco Wireless enterprise networks.
Cisco revamped its CCNP Wireless program in 2016. Candidates will discover that this system now contains new coaching programs, new acronyms and up to date exams. For individuals who might have already begun their certification journey on the previous exams, Cisco gives a migration device to assist candidates to decide what exams they nonetheless have to earn the credential.
Other Wireless Certifications
Along with CWNP's Certified Wireless Networking Administrator (CWNA) and Certified Wireless Design Professional(CWDP), we would be missing out if we did not point out CWNP's different Wireless certs: the Certified Wireless Security Professional(CWSP), Certified Wireless Analysis Professional(CWAP), Certified Wireless Network Expert(CWNE) and the Certified Wireless Technology Specialist (CWTS). Collectively, these certifications present CWNP with a robust Wireless certification portfolio.
The CompTIA Network+ certification is one other good vendor-neutral starter cert that covers a whole lot of Wireless matters (for instance, entry factors, survey instruments, analyzers, frequency fundamentals, and safety). Different vendor-neutral Wireless certifications worthy of point out embrace the iNARTE Wireless Device Certification Professional(WCDP) and the upper-echelon OSSTMM Wireless Security Expert (OWSE) by ISECOM.
An ideal many business gamers supply Wireless certifications as right, together with Brocade, Alcatel-Lucent (now a part of Nokia), Excessive Networks, HPE and others. For many who want to specialize on vendor platforms, vendor-sponsored applications will likely be their ticket to recognition and particular jobs. IT professionals working with Cisco will (after all) wish to take a more in-depth have a look at the crème de la crème of the Cisco certification tier, the Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert Wireless (CCIE Wireless). For those concerned about particular areas of Wireless expertise notably safety quite a few different choices can even current themselves.