Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP)

Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP®) validates knowledge and skills required to install, configure and troubleshoot converged local and wide area networks with 100 to 500 or more nodes. With a CCNP certification, a network professional demonstrates the knowledge and skills required to manage the routers and switches that form the network core, as well as edge applications that integrate voice, wireless, and security into the network. The CCNP curriculum includes building scalable Cisco networks, Cisco multilayer switched networks, securing converged wide area networks, and optimizing converged networks.

Cisco's CCNP (Cisco Certified Network Professional) is an intermediate-level certification for IT professionals who can "install, configure, and troubleshoot local and wide area networks for enterprise organizations with networks from 100 to more than 500 nodes." The CCNP Certification has as its prerequisite the CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate), and covers content such as: "security, converged networks, quality of service (QoS), virtual private networks (VPN) and broadband technologies."

There is a four exam, three exam and two exam path to the CCNP. The CCNP is valid for three years. To recertify, the candidate must pass the Composite exam. "Recertifying at the Professional level automatically renews the related CCNA certification.