In the world of IT, DevOps and programming have become highly crucial. For the professionals who want to get a software development or a DevOps automation role, there is a need to prove their skills and knowledge. There are various certification options that you can consider to validate these abilities and expertise. Cisco, a leading vendor in the IT industry, understands the need for such a credential and is set to launch a new DevNet certification track by February 2020. This pathway is aimed at supporting the rapid growth of the need for knowledge and skills in these areas.
DevNet was created to meet the needs of an evolving industry whose focus has tilted towards DevOps and automation. The implication of this is that there are new and upcoming DevNet credentials at the associate, specialist, and professional levels. There is also a big potential for the expert-level certificate somewhere in the near future. In this blog post, we explore the new Cisco DevNet certification track and its different levels.
Introduction to Cisco DevNet Certification Program
The Cisco DevNet certification path is the first introduction from Cisco. It is designed to prove the candidates’ skills in such areas as Cisco programmability strategy, Cisco APIs, network ops, and security. This new route is aimed at the automation specialists, DevOps engineers, software developers, and other software pros in the IT industry. The employers also have some benefits to enjoy this program. The DevNet credential exhibits verifiable knowledge and skills in a number of domains, including infrastructure as code, Webex, automation, DevOps, and IoT. It will come as a standard path like other Cisco certificates. At the launch of the track, the options of the DevNet credentials that will be available are DevNet Associate, DevNet Specialist, and DevNet Professional. They are being introduced because Cisco has recognized the changes happening in the industry and would like to provide the perfect certificate that will validate the knowledge and skills required in these areas.
Let’s look at each of these levels in detail.
Cisco Certified DevNet Associate
The DevNet certification track starts from the Associate level, which is Cisco Certified DevNet Associate. Like the latest CCNA certificates, the candidates pursuing this new credential will have to pass one exam, Cisco 200-901 DEVASC. This test will focus on a wide range of topics to demonstrate a strong foundation at the associate level. The topics will cover Software Development & Design, Understanding & Using APIs, Network Fundamentals, Cisco Platforms & Development, Infrastructure & Automation, and Application Deployment & Security. The Cisco 200-901 exam is designed to evaluate the student’s knowledge of software development & design.
The Associate certification will be available from February 24, 2020. It is essential to mention that this Cisco DevNet credential is not designed to equip the IT professionals with specialization but to offer the foundational skills that they require to function at this level. There is no formal requirement for earning this certificate. However, it is advisable that the candidates possess a minimum of one-year work experience in software development like Python programming. This credential will be valid for three years, just like any other Cisco certifications.
Cisco Certified DevNet Specialist
This is the next level of the Cisco DevNet certification track. The Cisco Certified DevNet Specialist credential focus on a specialized area. There are different specialist options that will be available to act as a springboard from the Associate level to the Specialist one. On the launch date of February 24, 2020, the Specialist options that will be available include the following exams:
- Core – 300-901 DEVCOR
- Enterprise Automation & Programmability – 300-435 ENAUTO
- Service Provider Automation & Programmability – 300-535 SPAUTO
- Data Center Automation & Programmability – 300-635 DCAUTO
- Security Automation & Programmability – 300-735 SAUTO
- Collaboration Automation & Programmability – 300-835 CLAUTO
- DevOps – 300-910 DEVOPS
- IoT – 300-915 DEVIOT
- Webex – 300-920 DEVWBX
To earn any of these specializations, the candidates have to pass a single exam as highlighted above. There are no requirements for pursuing the Cisco specialist-level certificate. This means if you are working in a specific area focusing on any of the above-mentioned skills, you can go ahead to pursue the credential that aligns with your job role. The Cisco Certified DevNet Specialist certifications will also be valid for a period of three years.
Cisco Certified DevNet Professional
This is the highest level of the Cisco DevNet certification program that will be available on the launch date. It requires that the individuals pass two exams. Like the CCNP credentials, the candidates have to write a core test and an additional concentration one. The core exam is designed to evaluate your knowledge of software development and design. The topic areas that will be covered include the use of Cisco Platforms, APIs, security, application deployment, automation, and infrastructure. The concentration tests will be according to the domain-specific topics. The students will be required to complete one of the highlights below:
- Core – 300-901 DEVCOR
- Enterprise Automation & Programmability – 300-435 ENAUTO
- Service Provider Automation & Programmability – 300-535 SPAUTO
- Data Center Automation & Programmability – 300-635 DCAUTO
- Security Automation & Programmability – 300-735 SAUTO
- Collaboration Automation & Programmability – 300-835 CLAUTO
- DevOps – 300-910 DEVOPS
- IoT – 300-915 DEVIOT
- Webex – 300-920 DEVWBX
You will discover that these specializations are what you have under the Specialist certifications. This means if you have earned the Cisco Certified DevNet Specialist credential, you have to pass only the core exam to earn the professional-level certificate. The validation lasts for three years.
Important Remark
The Cisco Certified DevNet Expert credential is slated to be launched later. There is currently no information on how this certification level or its requirements will look like. However, there is a high chance that they will be similar to Cisco CCIE. This means that the candidates will have to write a core exam and a lab test. If your goal is to earn a new certificate in 2020, then the Cisco DevNet certification track is something to look forward to.
