According to a 2006 survey done by Foote Partners LLC, networking certifications pull a salary premium of 9.2%. This is higher than the 8.2% average pay premium for all certifications. Networking skills are valuable and a certification gives you leverage over the competition when looking for a great job. With all of that said, here are my 5 picks for great networking certifications.
The CCNA is the first of three levels of certification offered by Cisco. The next two are the CCNP and CCIE. I would put all three on this list, but that would be redundant. The CCIE is one of the most respected certifications out there. Getting a CCNA is just one step to that goal. There are six different tracks to choose from for the CCNA and you have the ability to focus on a specific area by getting a specialist certification. For details on all of these options, go to Cisco.com
The MCSA requires four exams. Two of the core exams cover networking. The third covers OS, and the elective allows you to narrow your specialty. If you already have the A+ and Network+, these will count for the elective exam. This is a great certification to have for those working in a Microsoft environment. Check out Microsoft.com to get all of the details on exams and electives.
The Network+ certification is excellent for those who need general networking knowledge that is not vendor-based. It covers the basics of installing, troubleshooting, and configuring networking protocols and services. Most people need some experience before taking the $150 exam and an A+ certification is recommended. The Network+ combined with an A+ certification can be used as an elective towards a Microsoft MCSA.
The CWNA (Certified Wireless Network Administrator) is a wireless LAN certification. It serves as the foundation to the CWNP. It requires only a single exam and is an excellent certification for entry-level professionals.
The CNE for Netware6 requires a CNA and 5 exams. It is considered an intermediate certification and does a good job of rounding out a certification profile by adding it to your CCIE or MCSE. Check [link url=http://www.novell.com/training/certinfo/cne/nw6.html]Novell's site for details.
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