Top 10 Junior Network Engineer Certifications

Certifications are an important asset for junior network engineers in the job market as they demonstrate a level of technical knowledge and expertise. Having certifications demonstrates to potential employers that the engineer has been trained in specific areas of networking, and is able to use their knowledge and skills to solve problems efficiently. Certifications also give junior engineers an edge over other applicants when applying for positions, as employers often prefer those with additional qualifications. Additionally, having certifications can open up opportunities for higher salaries and more challenging projects.

This article reviews some of the top certifications for Junior Network Engineers and explains how they can help to advance their career.

What are Junior Network Engineer Certifications?

Junior Network Engineer Certification is a certification program designed to provide individuals with the knowledge and skills to become a successful junior network engineer. The certification focuses on the fundamentals of networking, such as routing, switching, and troubleshooting, equipping individuals with the skills needed to design, configure, and troubleshoot basic networks. This certification is ideal for those who are looking for an entry-level position in IT or who want to expand their existing skill set.

Having this certification can open up new opportunities for individuals looking to enter into a career in network engineering. It provides a comprehensive understanding of networking concepts and technologies that will help individuals build a strong foundation for further learning and development. Additionally, it demonstrates that the individual has the necessary skills and knowledge required to be successful in this field. The certification can also help employers identify qualified candidates when hiring for network engineering roles as well as give them confidence in the abilities of their current employees.

Pro Tip: When pursuing a junior network engineer certification, make sure to supplement your studies with hands-on experience. Even if you’re not working in the field yet, consider getting involved with local networking user groups or taking an internship to get practical knowledge and skills. This will help you gain a more holistic understanding of networks and give you a better chance at success when it comes to taking the exam.

Related: What does a Junior Network Engineer do?

Top 10 Junior Network Engineer Certifications

Here’s our list of the best certifications available to Junior Network Engineers today.

1. CompTIA Network+

CompTIA Network+ is an industry-recognized certification that validates a technician’s knowledge and skills in networking technologies. It is designed to demonstrate competency in areas such as network design, installation, configuration, maintenance, troubleshooting, security, and more.

The CompTIA Network+ certification exam typically takes 90 minutes to complete and consists of up to 90 multiple-choice questions. The cost of the exam varies by country, but typically ranges from $200-$300 USD.

To become certified you must pass the CompTIA Network+ exam. To prepare for the exam it is recommended that you have at least nine months of networking experience or equivalent knowledge before attempting the test. There are also a variety of online training courses and study materials available to help you prepare for the exam.

2. Cisco Certified Entry Network Technician (CCENT)

Cisco Certified Entry Network Technician (CCENT) is a certification from Cisco Systems that validates an individual's ability to install, configure, operate, and troubleshoot small enterprise branch networks. It is the entry-level certification in the Cisco career certification program and is designed for individuals who are just beginning their networking careers.

The CCENT certification requires passing one exam: ICND1 (Interconnecting Cisco Network Devices 1). The exam covers topics such as basic network security, routing concepts, IP addressing, WAN technologies, and more.

It usually takes around 8-12 weeks of studying to prepare for the CCENT exam. The best way to get ready for the exam is to take a course or use self-study materials from Cisco Press or other training providers.

The cost of the CCENT certification varies depending on where you take the exam. Generally speaking, it costs around $150 USD for the ICND1 exam.

3. Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) Networking Fundamentals

Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) Networking Fundamentals is a certification program that provides foundational knowledge in networking. It is designed to help individuals learn the fundamentals of networking, including: network topologies, protocols and services, network infrastructure, and implementation and management of networks. MTA Networking Fundamentals covers topics such as TCP/IP addressing and subnetting, routing protocols and technologies, local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), virtual private networks (VPNs), wireless networking concepts, security fundamentals for networks, and more.

The MTA Networking Fundamentals certification exam takes approximately 90 minutes to complete. The exam consists of 40-60 multiple choice questions that measure your understanding of the fundamental knowledge needed to implement basic network infrastructure.

You can get the MTA Networking Fundamentals certification by passing the corresponding exam. You can take the exam at a Microsoft testing center or online through a proctored environment. The cost of taking the exam varies depending on where you take it; however, it typically ranges from $99-$125 USD.

4. Juniper Networks Certified Associate – Junos (JNCIA-Junos)

Juniper Networks Certified Associate – Junos (JNCIA-Junos) is a certification that demonstrates an individual's knowledge and understanding of the Juniper Networks Junos operating system. It is designed for networking professionals who work with Juniper Networks technology in their day-to-day job.

The JNCIA-Junos certification requires passing one exam, which consists of 65 multiple choice questions and takes approximately 90 minutes to complete. The exam covers topics such as basic routing and switching concepts, user interface options, network fundamentals, security, and troubleshooting.

To get the JNCIA-Junos certification, you must first purchase a voucher from a Juniper Networks authorized training provider or directly from the Juniper website. The cost of the voucher varies depending on where it is purchased but typically ranges from $200 to $300 USD. Once you have purchased the voucher, you can register for the exam at Pearson VUE or Prometric testing centers.

Once you have successfully passed the exam, your results will be sent to Juniper Networks and your certification will be issued within five business days. You will receive an email notification when your certificate has been issued.

The cost of taking the JNCIA-Junos exam varies depending on where it is taken but typically ranges from $150 to $250 USD.

5. Citrix Certified Professional – Networking (CCP-N)

Citrix Certified Professional – Networking (CCP-N) is a certification program designed to validate an individual’s knowledge and skills in Citrix networking technologies. The certification is designed to demonstrate proficiency in the areas of installation, configuration, and troubleshooting of Citrix NetScaler products.

The CCP-N exam consists of 65 questions and takes approximately 90 minutes to complete. To get certified, you must pass the CCP-N exam with a score of 70% or higher.

To prepare for the CCP-N exam, you should have hands-on experience working with Citrix NetScaler products, as well as knowledge of networking concepts such as TCP/IP, DNS, routing protocols, load balancing techniques and more. You can find preparation materials on the Citrix website or through third party providers.

The cost for the CCP-N exam is $200 USD.

6. Huawei Certified Network Associate (HCNA)

Huawei Certified Network Associate (HCNA) is a certification offered by Huawei, a Chinese multinational networking and telecommunications equipment and services company. The HCNA certification validates an individual’s knowledge of basic network technologies, such as IP addressing, subnetting, routing protocols, switching technologies, wireless technologies, and security fundamentals. It also covers the configuration of Huawei routers and switches.

The HCNA certification typically takes approximately 40 hours of study to complete. To obtain the certification, you must pass one written exam that covers topics such as networking fundamentals, IP addressing and subnetting, routing protocols, switching technologies, wireless technologies and security fundamentals. The exam costs $150 USD.

In order to maintain your HCNA certification status you will need to recertify every two years by passing an updated version of the same exam or taking a higher-level certification exam from the Huawei Certification Program.

7. EC-Council Certified Network Defender (CND)

EC-Council Certified Network Defender (CND) is an information security certification program designed to provide IT professionals with the skills and knowledge to protect, detect, and respond to network security threats. The CND program provides a comprehensive approach to network defense that covers the five domains of network security: Security Policies and Procedures, Network Architecture and Design, Network Defense Technologies, Monitoring and Analysis, Incident Response and Recovery.

The CND certification requires a minimum of 180 hours of study time in order to pass the exam. This includes completing online courses as well as hands-on labs. The exam itself consists of 125 multiple choice questions and must be completed within four hours.

In order to obtain the CND certification, candidates must first register for the course on EC-Council’s website. Upon successful registration, they will receive access to their online course materials as well as their lab environment. Candidates must then complete all required courses before taking the exam.

The cost of obtaining the CND certification varies depending on which package is chosen. The standard package costs $1,999 USD while the premium package costs $2,999 USD. Both packages include access to all course materials and labs as well as one attempt at the exam.

8. Red Hat Certified System Administrator in Red Hat OpenStack (RHCSA-RHOSP)

Red Hat Certified System Administrator in Red Hat OpenStack (RHCSA-RHOSP) is a certification program offered by Red Hat, Inc. that demonstrates an individual's expertise in the installation, configuration, and management of Red Hat OpenStack Platform. This certification is designed to validate the skills and knowledge needed to deploy, configure, and manage an OpenStack cloud environment.

The RHCSA-RHOSP exam takes approximately two hours to complete and covers topics such as identity management, networking, storage, compute services, orchestration, monitoring and logging. The exam consists of multiple choice questions as well as performance-based tasks which must be completed within a specified time limit.

To get certified as an RHCSA-RHOSP you must first pass the exam with a score of 70% or higher. You can register for the exam through the Red Hat Learning Subscription portal or through Pearson VUE. The cost of the exam varies depending on your region but typically ranges from $400-$500 USD.

Once you have passed the exam you will receive your official RHCSA-RHOSP certification which is valid for three years from date of issue. You can renew your certification by taking an updated version of the exam every three years or by completing a series of approved courses and exams related to OpenStack technologies.

9. Avaya Certified Support Specialist – IP Office Platform (ACSS-IPO)

Avaya Certified Support Specialist – IP Office Platform (ACSS-IPO) is a certification program designed to recognize individuals who have demonstrated the knowledge and skills necessary to install, configure, maintain, and troubleshoot Avaya IP Office solutions. This certification is intended for individuals who are responsible for the installation and support of Avaya IP Office solutions.

The ACSS-IPO certification requires passing a single exam, which consists of multiple-choice questions covering topics such as installation, configuration, maintenance, and troubleshooting of Avaya IP Office solutions. The exam typically takes 2.5 hours to complete and costs $125 USD.

In order to become certified as an ACSS-IPO, you must first pass the required exam with a score of 70% or higher. After passing the exam, you will receive an official certificate from Avaya that recognizes your expertise in supporting Avaya IP Office solutions.

Once certified as an ACSS-IPO, you can take advantage of several benefits including discounts on products and services from Avaya partners, access to exclusive resources such as technical support forums and online training courses, and recognition within the industry as an expert in supporting Avaya IP Office solutions.

10. Palo Alto Networks Accredited Configuration Engineer (ACE)

Palo Alto Networks Accredited Configuration Engineer (ACE) is a certification program designed to validate the skills and knowledge of network engineers who configure, manage, and maintain Palo Alto Networks enterprise security platforms. The ACE certification is an industry-recognized credential that demonstrates the holder’s expertise in deploying, configuring, and troubleshooting Palo Alto Networks products.

To become an ACE certified engineer, you must pass a two-hour exam that covers topics such as installation, configuration, management, and troubleshooting of Palo Alto Networks products. The exam consists of multiple choice questions and requires hands-on experience with Palo Alto Networks products.

The ACE certification is valid for three years after which you must renew it by taking the exam again. To get the ACE certification, you need to register for the exam on the Palo Alto Networks website. The cost of the exam varies depending on your location but typically ranges from $200 to $300 USD.

Do You Really Need a Junior Network Engineer Certificate?

No, you do not need a Junior Network Engineer Certificate in order to become a network engineer. While having the certificate may be beneficial in certain circumstances, it is not essential to becoming a successful network engineer.

In today's world, experience and technical skills are more important than credentials when it comes to getting hired for most jobs. A Junior Network Engineer Certificate can be helpful if you are looking to break into the field of networking or if you want to demonstrate your commitment and dedication to the profession. However, employers tend to value hands-on experience far more than any type of certificate or credential.

Having a Junior Network Engineer Certificate can give you an advantage over other job applicants who lack the same level of certification, but it is not a requirement for the job. Additionally, many employers recognize that there are many different ways of obtaining knowledge and skills outside of formal education or certification programs. Therefore, having relevant work experience or even self-taught knowledge may be just as valuable as having a certificate in some cases.

In conclusion, while having a Junior Network Engineer Certificate may be beneficial for certain situations, it is not absolutely necessary for becoming a successful network engineer. Ultimately employers value experience and technical skills above all else when considering potential candidates for the position.

Related: Junior Network Engineer Resume Examples

FAQs About Junior Network Engineer Certifications

Q1. What is a Junior Network Engineer Certification?

A1. A Junior Network Engineer Certification is a certification that verifies an individual's knowledge and skills in the field of network engineering. It typically includes training on topics such as routing, switching, troubleshooting, security, and other networking technologies.

Q2. What are the benefits of obtaining a Junior Network Engineer Certification?

A2. Obtaining a Junior Network Engineer Certification can provide many benefits to an individual such as increased job opportunities, higher salaries, and better recognition in the industry. Additionally, it can also help someone stay up-to-date with the latest technology trends and advancements.

Q3. How long does it take to get a Junior Network Engineer Certification?

A3. The amount of time it takes to obtain a Junior Network Engineer Certification will depend on the program you choose and how much experience you have in the field already. Generally speaking, most programs require between 1-2 years of study and practice before taking the certification exam.

Q4. What certifications are available for Junior Network Engineers?

A4. There are several different certifications available for junior network engineers including CompTIA’s Network+ or Cisco’s CCNA Routing & Switching certifications among others depending on your desired vendor or technology focus area.

Q5. Do I need experience to become certified as a junior network engineer?

A5: Yes, some degree of experience is recommended prior to taking any certification exams as they tend to be quite challenging and require an understanding of complex networking concepts and terminology in order to pass them successfully