Top 10 Network Field Engineer Certifications

Certifications are important for network field engineers in the job market because they demonstrate a certain level of skill and knowledge in the field. Certified network engineers are more likely to be hired by employers, as this certification shows that they have met certain standards and achieved a certain level of proficiency in their chosen field. Certifications also show employers that the engineer has taken the time to gain additional knowledge and expertise in their chosen area. This can help employers determine which candidates have the necessary skills and qualifications for their position. Additionally, certifications can give network engineers an edge over other applicants when applying for jobs, and can provide them with better job opportunities.

This article reviews some of the top certifications for Network Field Engineers and explains how they can help to advance a network field engineer's career.

What are Network Field Engineer Certifications?

Network Field Engineer Certification is a professional certification that demonstrates an individual's knowledge and proficiency in network engineering principles and practices. Network field engineers are responsible for designing, deploying, and managing networks in large-scale corporate environments. With this certification, individuals can demonstrate their expertise in the areas of network architecture, design, troubleshooting, and maintenance.

This certification can be beneficial to both employers and employees alike. Employers can use it to assess the qualifications of potential hires and ensure that they have the necessary skills to perform their job effectively. For employees, this certification can help them stand out from the competition when applying for jobs and provide them with valuable networking opportunities within the field. Additionally, having a Network Field Engineer Certification can give employees a competitive advantage when negotiating salary or benefits packages. Finally, many employers offer tuition reimbursement for those who hold this certification as well as other incentives such as bonuses or promotions.

Pro Tip: When considering a network field engineer certification, be sure to research the requirements and cost of the certification. Additionally, keep up with industry trends and best practices to ensure that your certification remains current and valuable.

Related: What does a Network Field Engineer do?

Top 10 Network Field Engineer Certifications

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

1. Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP)

Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) is a professional-level certification from Cisco Systems that validates the knowledge and skills required to install, configure, operate, and troubleshoot medium-sized routed and switched networks. It is an intermediate-level certification in the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification track.

It typically takes 3-6 months to prepare for the CCNP exam depending on your experience level. To get certified, you must pass three exams: ROUTE 300-101, SWITCH 300-115, and TSHOOT 300-135. The cost of each exam varies depending on your location and the testing center you choose. In the US, each exam costs $300 USD.

To become a CCNP certified professional, you must first have a valid CCNA certification or any CCIE certification as a prerequisite. After passing all three exams, you will receive your official Cisco Certified Network Professional certificate from Cisco Systems.

2. Juniper Networks Certified Internet Associate (JNCIA)

Juniper Networks Certified Internet Associate (JNCIA) is a certification that validates an individual’s knowledge and skills in the areas of networking, routing, switching, security, and other related technologies. The JNCIA is designed for individuals who are new to the Juniper Networks technology platform and provides them with the foundational knowledge needed to move on to more advanced certifications.

It typically takes around 8-10 hours of study time to prepare for the exam. The exam consists of 65 multiple-choice questions, which must be completed within 90 minutes.

In order to obtain this certification, you must pass the JN0-103 exam. You can register for this exam through Pearson VUE or Prometric. The cost of this exam depends on your location but generally costs between $150-$200 USD.

3. CompTIA Network+ Certification

CompTIA Network+ certification is an industry-recognized credential that validates the knowledge and skills of IT professionals. It is designed to help individuals demonstrate their competency in networking technologies, including network design, troubleshooting, implementation, and support.

The CompTIA Network+ certification requires passing a 90-minute exam with a minimum score of 720 out of 900 points. The exam covers topics such as network architecture, topologies, protocols and standards, network installation and configuration, network media and devices, security fundamentals, troubleshooting and more.

To get the CompTIA Network+ certification you must first register for the exam through CompTIA's website. You will then need to study for the exam using available resources such as books or online courses. After studying for the exam you can take it at any Pearson VUE testing center.

The cost for the CompTIA Network+ certification varies depending on where you take it but typically ranges from $250 - $300 USD.

4. Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE): Server Infrastructure

Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE): Server Infrastructure is a certification program offered by Microsoft that validates an individual’s expertise in designing, deploying and managing server infrastructure. This certification is intended for IT professionals who have experience with Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2008 R2 technologies.

To get the MCSE: Server Infrastructure certification, an individual must pass four exams: 70-410, 70-411, 70-412, and 70-413. The first three exams focus on installation, storage, networking and virtualization while the fourth exam focuses on active directory services.

The time it takes to get the MCSE: Server Infrastructure certification varies depending on an individual’s experience level and study habits. Generally speaking, it takes about six months to prepare for all four exams if studying full time. However, some individuals may take longer or shorter depending on their background knowledge of the topics covered in the exams.

To get the MCSE: Server Infrastructure certification, individuals must register for each exam at a Pearson VUE testing center or online from Microsoft’s website. Each exam costs $150 USD and can be taken as many times as necessary until passed.

In total, getting the MCSE: Server Infrastructure certification will cost around $600 USD plus any additional fees associated with retaking failed exams.

5. VMware Certified Professional (VCP)

VMware Certified Professional (VCP) is a certification program designed to validate an individual’s skills and knowledge in virtualization technology. It is offered by VMware, the industry leader in virtualization software. The VCP certification is designed to demonstrate that an individual has the technical expertise to install, configure, manage, and troubleshoot VMware vSphere environments.

It typically takes about three months of study and preparation to get ready for the VCP exam. To qualify for the VCP certification, candidates must pass two exams: one on VMware vSphere fundamentals and another on a specific version of vSphere (e.g., 6.5 or 7). Candidates must also attend an authorized training course from a VMware-authorized training provider prior to taking the exam.

The cost of the VCP certification depends on which version of vSphere you are studying for, as well as which type of training course you take (online or instructor-led). Generally speaking, it can range anywhere from $500 - $3000 USD depending on your chosen options.

6. Check Point Security Administration and Engineering Certification

Check Point Security Administration and Engineering Certification is a professional certification program offered by Check Point Software Technologies. It is designed to provide individuals with the knowledge and skills necessary to configure, manage, and troubleshoot Check Point security solutions. This certification is recognized as an industry standard for IT professionals who work with Check Point products.

The certification consists of two exams: 156-215.80 (Check Point Certified Security Administrator) and 156-315.80 (Check Point Certified Security Expert). The exams are designed to assess the knowledge and skills required for successful implementation, administration, and management of Check Point security solutions.

It typically takes about six months to prepare for the exams but it depends on the individual's experience level and amount of study time available. To get certified, individuals must pass both exams within 18 months from the date they passed their first exam.

The cost of the certification varies depending on which country you are located in but generally ranges from $200-$400 per exam plus applicable taxes.

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

Citrix Certified Professional – Networking (CCP-N) is a professional certification program offered by Citrix that validates an individual’s knowledge and skills in networking. The certification focuses on the design, installation, and management of Citrix products such as NetScaler, XenApp, and XenDesktop. It also covers topics such as network security, remote access solutions, and virtualization technologies.

To obtain the CCP-N certification, individuals must pass two exams: 1Y0-230: Citrix ADC 12 Essentials and Traffic Management and 1Y0-240: Citrix NetScaler 12 Essentials and Unified Gateway. Each exam takes approximately 90 minutes to complete.

The cost of the CCP-N certification varies depending on the country you reside in. In the United States, it costs $250 per exam or $500 for both exams.

In order to maintain your CCP-N certification status, you must recertify every three years by passing one of the two exams again or taking a course from an approved training provider.

8. F5 Networks Certified Technology Specialist (F5-CTS)

F5 Networks Certified Technology Specialist (F5-CTS) is a certification program that validates a professional’s knowledge and skills in deploying, configuring, and troubleshooting F5 application delivery solutions. The certification covers topics such as BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM), BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM), and BIG-IP Global Traffic Manager (GTM).

The F5-CTS certification is typically achieved through an online course or instructor-led training. Depending on the training format, it can take anywhere from 1 to 5 days to complete the course and obtain the certification.

The cost of obtaining the F5-CTS certification varies depending on the chosen training format, but generally ranges from $500 to $2,000.

To get certified, you must pass an online exam which consists of multiple choice questions related to F5 technologies. The exam must be taken at a Pearson VUE test center and costs $150 USD per attempt.

9. HP ASE – FlexNetwork Architect V2 Certification

HP ASE – FlexNetwork Architect V2 Certification is a professional-level certification offered by HP that validates an individual's expertise in configuring, deploying, and managing HP FlexNetwork solutions. This certification is designed to demonstrate the ability to design, configure, and deploy complex network infrastructures that are optimized for performance and scalability.

The HP ASE – FlexNetwork Architect V2 Certification requires passing two exams: HP0-Y50 (Designing HP FlexNetwork Solutions) and HP2-Z30 (Implementing HP FlexNetwork Core Technologies). The exams cover topics such as network design principles, virtualization technologies, routing protocols, security technologies, and wireless networking.

The time required to complete the certification varies depending on the individual's experience level and study habits. Generally speaking, it takes approximately 6 months of studying to prepare for both exams.

To get certified as an HP ASE – FlexNetwork Architect V2, you must first register with Pearson VUE (the official exam provider) and purchase vouchers for each exam. You can then schedule your exams at any Pearson VUE test center worldwide.

The cost of the certification varies depending on the country you are located in; however, it typically costs around $400 USD per exam.

10. Amazon Web Services Certified Solutions Architect – Professional

Amazon Web Services Certified Solutions Architect – Professional is a certification program designed to validate the skills of experienced cloud architects. This certification demonstrates an individual’s ability to design, develop, and deploy applications on AWS. The certification requires a deep understanding of AWS services, architecture best practices, and the ability to design secure and reliable applications on the AWS platform.

It typically takes several months to prepare for this exam. Candidates should have at least two years of experience working with AWS in production environments, as well as hands-on experience with designing distributed systems on the AWS platform. It is also recommended that candidates have a good understanding of networking concepts such as IP addressing, DNS resolution, security groups, firewalls, etc., as well as knowledge of scripting languages such as Python or JavaScript.

To get certified you must pass the AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional exam. The exam consists of multiple choice and multiple answer questions and lasts for 170 minutes (3 hours). The cost of the exam is $300 USD. In order to maintain your certification status you must recertify every three years by passing the current version of the exam or attending an approved training course.

Do You Really Need a Network Field Engineer Certificate?

Whether you need a network field engineer certificate or not depends on what you want to do with it. If you are looking to get a job in the IT industry as a network field engineer, then having the certificate will be beneficial. It will show potential employers that you have the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in this role. It can also help give you an edge over other candidates who may not have the same level of expertise.

On the other hand, if you are already employed as a network field engineer and just want to increase your knowledge, then getting the certificate is probably not necessary. You can always take courses or attend seminars related to networking without needing to pay for a certificate. However, if you are looking to move up in your career and get promotions or better positions within your organization, then having the certificate could be beneficial. It could show that you have put in extra effort and taken initiative by learning more about networking and its related technologies.

In conclusion, whether or not you need a network field engineer certificate depends on what your goals are. If you want to get hired as a network field engineer, then having the certificate will give you an advantage over other candidates who may not have the same level of expertise. If you already work in this position and just want to increase your knowledge base, then taking courses or attending seminars might be more beneficial than getting certified. Ultimately, it’s up to you and what makes sense for your career goals.

Related: Network Field Engineer Resume Examples

FAQs About Network Field Engineer Certifications

1. What certifications are available for Network Field Engineers?

Answer: The most popular and widely recognized certifications for Network Field Engineers include Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+ and Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE).

2. How long does it take to complete a certification?

Answer: The time frame to complete any certification depends on the individual's prior experience and the type of certification. Generally, it takes between 6 months to 1 year or more to complete a certification program.

3. What is the cost associated with getting certified?

Answer: The cost of the certification depends on the program you choose and can range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. Additional costs may include study materials, exam fees, and other related expenses.

4. Are there any prerequisites for getting certified?

Answer: Yes, some certifications require that you have prior experience or knowledge in certain areas before you can sit for an exam or gain a specific certification level. It’s important to read through all of the requirements carefully before beginning your studies in order to ensure that you meet all of the eligibility criteria for your desired certification level.

5. Can I use my certification as proof of professional competence?

Answer: Yes, having a valid network field engineer certification can be used as proof of professional competence by employers when hiring new employees or evaluating current personnel for promotion opportunities.