Once you get your CCNA and CCNP, you can’t just rest on your accomplishment. You’ve got to continue to study and add to your skill set – and then prove to Cisco you’ve been doing just that by recertifying.
Recertification sounds like a pain, but it’s actually one of the best things to ever happen to computer certification, and it helps your career as well. One trap many LAN and WAN personnel fall into is that they fail to keep up with changes in technology, and if they happen to be laid off or want to change jobs, they’re unable to because they didn’t keep their skill set up.
Cisco’s recertification policies ensure that if you want to keep your CCNA, CCNP, or one of the other valuable Cisco certifications, you’ve got to take a recertification exam.
As of November 2005, to recertify as a CCNA, you need to pass either the current CCNA exam, ICND exam, or any 642 professional level or Cisco Qualified Specialist exam. (This does not include Sales Specialist exams.) Passing a CCIE written qualification exam also recertifies you as a CCNA. CCNAs are valid for three years.
For the CCNP, you need to pass...