Top 10 NOC Engineer Certifications

Certifications are important for a NOC Engineer in the job market as they demonstrate to potential employers that the engineer has the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in a NOC role. Certified NOC Engineers have an advantage over non-certified engineers because they have proven their expertise in the field and can provide valuable insight into best practices and industry standards. Certifications also show potential employers that an engineer is up-to-date on current trends, technologies, and tools used in network operations centers. Finally, certifications can give a NOC Engineer greater credibility when applying for jobs or negotiating salaries.

The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the top certifications for NOC Engineers, and to explain how they can enhance a NOC Engineer's career.

What are NOC Engineer Certifications?

NOC Engineer Certification is a professional certification designed to help engineers and IT professionals gain the knowledge and skills necessary for working in a Network Operations Center (NOC) environment. The certification covers topics such as network architecture, troubleshooting, monitoring, security, and automation. It also provides hands-on experience through labs and practice tests.

Having NOC Engineer Certification can help IT professionals advance their career by demonstrating their technical proficiency in an increasingly competitive field. It also serves as a valuable credential that employers look for when hiring new staff or promoting existing personnel. With this certification, IT professionals can be better prepared to handle the increasing complexity of modern networks and systems. Furthermore, it gives them an edge over other candidates who may not have the same level of expertise.

In addition to helping IT professionals stand out in the job market, NOC Engineer Certification can also provide organizations with well-trained personnel who are able to quickly diagnose and resolve problems with their networks. This helps organizations save time and money by avoiding costly downtime due to network issues. Additionally, having certified NOC engineers on staff ensures that organizations’ networks are secure from malicious attacks or other external threats.

Pro Tip: When pursuing a NOC Engineer certification, make sure to stay up-to-date on the latest technologies, tools and techniques. This will ensure that you have the necessary skills to successfully manage, maintain and troubleshoot networks. Additionally, research any available training courses or certifications which may be beneficial for your career in network engineering.

Related: What does an NOC Engineer do?

Top 10 NOC Engineer Certifications

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

1. Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP)

Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) is a professional-level certification program offered by Cisco Systems, Inc. It is designed to validate an individual's ability to design, implement, configure, and troubleshoot local and wide area networks. The CCNP certification is valid for three years from the date of issuance.

To obtain the CCNP certification, individuals must first pass the Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician (CCENT) exam or any Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) written exam. After passing these exams, individuals must then pass four additional exams within three years: two core exams and two concentration exams. The core exams are ROUTE (300-101), SWITCH (300-115), TSHOOT (300-135). The concentration exams vary depending on the individual's chosen specialization such as security, wireless, data center, service provider operations or voice.

The cost of the CCNP certification varies depending on the number of exams taken and whether or not an individual chooses to take advantage of any discounts available through Cisco Learning Partners. Generally speaking, each exam costs around $300 USD. Therefore, if all five exams are taken at full price without any discounts applied, the total cost would be approximately $1,500 USD.

In terms of time commitment required to obtain the CCNP certification, it can vary greatly depending on an individual's experience level and study habits. However, most people who have studied for and passed all five required exams report that it took them between six months to one year to complete their studies and earn their CCNP certification.

2. Juniper Networks Certified Internet Associate (JNCIA)

Juniper Networks Certified Internet Associate (JNCIA) is a certification that validates an individual’s fundamental knowledge of the Junos operating system and Juniper Networks routing, switching, and security products. It is the entry-level certification for individuals interested in pursuing a career in networking with Juniper Networks products.

Getting a JNCIA certification requires passing one exam: JN0-103. The exam covers topics such as basic networking concepts, routing principles, switching technologies, security fundamentals, and troubleshooting. The exam takes approximately 90 minutes to complete and consists of 65 multiple-choice questions.

To get certified you can register for the exam through Pearson VUE or Prometric testing centers. The cost of the exam is $200 USD.

3. CompTIA Network+

CompTIA Network+ is an industry-recognized certification for IT professionals that validates their knowledge of networking technologies and best practices. It is designed to help IT professionals understand the different types of networks, network security, network troubleshooting, and other related topics. The certification covers topics such as network architecture, network operations, network security, and network troubleshooting.

The CompTIA Network+ exam typically takes about 90 minutes to complete and consists of 90 multiple choice questions. To become certified, you must pass the exam with a score of 720 or higher on a scale of 100-900.

To get CompTIA Network+, you can take an online course or attend a training class in person. You can also self-study by purchasing books or taking practice exams online. Some employers may offer the certification as part of their professional development program.

The cost to take the CompTIA Network+ exam varies depending on where you take it and how you prepare for it. Generally speaking, the cost ranges from $150-$300 USD.

4. Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE)

Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE) is a certification program offered by Microsoft to validate an individual's expertise in designing, deploying, and managing IT solutions based on Microsoft technologies. The MCSE certification is designed for experienced IT professionals who want to demonstrate their skills in building and managing complex IT infrastructures.

The MCSE certification requires individuals to pass one or more exams that cover topics such as Windows Server, SQL Server, Exchange Server, SharePoint Server, System Center Configuration Manager, and Windows 10. Individuals must have at least one year of experience working with these technologies before attempting the exams.

It typically takes two to three months of studying and preparation to pass the exams necessary for the MCSE certification. The cost of the exams varies depending on the number of exams taken and where they are taken. Generally speaking, each exam costs around $150 USD.

In order to get the MCSE certification, individuals must take one or more of the required exams listed above and pass them with a score of 700 or higher out of a possible 1000 points. Once all required exams are passed, individuals will receive their MCSE certification from Microsoft.

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 leading provider of cloud computing and virtualization solutions. To become a VCP, you must complete a training course and pass an exam. The training courses are available online or in-person, depending on your preference.

The length of time it takes to get VCP certification depends on the type of training you choose. Online courses typically take around 40 hours to complete, while in-person classes can take up to 80 hours. After completing the course, you must pass the VCP exam, which consists of multiple choice questions and hands-on labs. The exam takes approximately two hours to complete and costs $250 USD.

To maintain your VCP certification, you must recertify every two years by passing a new version of the VCP exam or taking additional VMware courses. Recertification fees vary depending on the type of course or exam taken but generally range from $50-$200 USD per year.

Overall, becoming a VMware Certified Professional is a great way to demonstrate your knowledge and expertise in virtualization technology and can open up career opportunities for those looking to enter this field or advance their existing career path.

6. Amazon Web Services (AWS) Certified Solutions Architect – Associate

Amazon Web Services (AWS) Certified Solutions Architect – Associate is a certification program designed to validate an individual's technical expertise in designing and deploying scalable, highly available, and fault-tolerant systems on the AWS platform. It is a globally recognized certification that demonstrates an individual’s ability to design and deploy applications on the AWS cloud platform.

The exam typically takes about 130 minutes to complete and consists of multiple-choice and multiple-answer questions. To become certified, you must pass both the associate level exam as well as the professional level exam.

In order to get AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate certification, you need to have at least one year of hands-on experience with designing distributed applications and systems on the AWS platform. You should also have a good understanding of core services such as Amazon EC2, Amazon S3, Amazon RDS, Amazon VPC, etc. Additionally, it is recommended that you have knowledge of scripting languages such as Python or Ruby for automation purposes.

The cost for taking the exam varies depending on your location. The standard fee for US residents is $150 USD per exam attempt; however, discounts may be available for students or individuals who are members of certain organizations.

Once you have passed the exams and achieved your certification status, you will receive an official certificate from Amazon Web Services that can be used to demonstrate your expertise in designing distributed applications and systems on the AWS platform.

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

Citrix Certified Professional – Networking (CCP-N) is a certification program that validates an individual’s expertise in the design, implementation, and management of Citrix NetScaler solutions. The CCP-N certification is intended for IT professionals who have hands-on experience in deploying, configuring, and managing Citrix NetScaler solutions.

The CCP-N certification requires passing one exam: 1Y0-230 - Citrix ADC 12 Essentials and Traffic Management. This exam covers topics such as installing and configuring the NetScaler system, deploying virtual servers, setting up load balancing and content switching, understanding secure access methods, optimizing application performance with caching and compression, integrating with other applications, monitoring system performance, troubleshooting issues, and much more.

It typically takes around two to three months to prepare for the CCP-N exam. Candidates should have a good understanding of networking concepts such as TCP/IP protocols, routing protocols (OSPF/BGP), switching technologies (VLANs/STP), security policies (firewalls/IPSec), and traffic management techniques (load balancing/QoS). Additionally, candidates should be familiar with the features of the Citrix NetScaler platform.

The cost of taking the CCP-N exam is $200 USD. The exam can be taken at any Pearson VUE testing center or online through their website. Once you have passed the exam you will become a certified Citrix Certified Professional – Networking (CCP-N).

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

F5 Networks Certified Technology Specialist (F5-CTS) is a certification program designed to help IT professionals gain expertise in F5 products and technologies. It is an industry-recognized credential that validates the knowledge and skills of individuals who have mastered F5’s technology.

The F5-CTS program consists of two exams: the F5 Certified Technology Specialist – Application Delivery Fundamentals (F5-CTS-ADF) exam, and the F5 Certified Technology Specialist – BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (F5-CTS-LTM) exam. The exams cover topics such as networking fundamentals, system architecture, application delivery services, security, performance optimization, and troubleshooting.

To become an F5-CTS certified professional, you must pass both exams with a score of 70% or higher. Each exam takes approximately 2 hours to complete and costs $150 USD.

You can register for the exams at the Pearson VUE website or through a local testing center. You will need to create an account on Pearson VUE before you can register for the exams. Once you have registered for the exams, you will be given access to study materials and practice tests to help prepare for them. After passing both exams, you will receive your official certification from F5 Networks.

9. HP ASE – Network Infrastructure [2011]

HP ASE – Network Infrastructure [2011] is a certification program offered by HP that focuses on the design, implementation, and maintenance of network infrastructures. This certification is designed to demonstrate an individual’s technical expertise in the areas of network architecture, routing protocols, switching technologies, network security, wireless technologies and more.

To get this certification, individuals must first pass two exams: the HP2-N41 (Implementing HP Network Infrastructure Solutions) and the HP2-N42 (Maintaining HP Network Infrastructure Solutions). Both exams are available through Pearson VUE testing centers worldwide. The cost for each exam is $150 USD.

Once both exams have been passed successfully, candidates can then apply for the certification itself. The application process requires providing proof of passing both exams as well as a completed application form. Once the application has been approved, candidates will receive their official ASE – Network Infrastructure [2011] certificate from HP within 6-8 weeks.

The total cost for obtaining this certification is approximately $300 USD (the cost of both exams).

10. Check Point Security Administration (CCSA)

Check Point Security Administration (CCSA) is a certification that demonstrates an individual’s knowledge and skills in managing Check Point security solutions. CCSA focuses on the fundamentals of Check Point Security Gateway, Firewall, and VPN products. It covers topics such as installing, configuring, and managing these products to ensure secure networks.

It typically takes about five days to complete the CCSA course. The course consists of lectures, hands-on labs, and exams. The lectures cover topics such as network security concepts, installation and configuration of Check Point products, monitoring and troubleshooting of these products, and more. The hands-on labs provide practical experience with configuring Check Point products in a simulated environment. After completing the coursework and passing the exams, individuals will receive their CCSA certification.

To get certified as a CCSA, individuals must attend an authorized training program or self-study using official Check Point materials. There are several authorized training centers around the world that offer instructor-led courses for the CCSA certification exam. These courses range from three to five days depending on the provider.

The cost for attending an instructor-led course varies by provider but typically ranges from $2,000 to $3,000 USD depending on location and duration of the course. Self-study materials can be purchased directly from Check Point for $600 USD or less depending on discounts available at any given time.

Do You Really Need a NOC Engineer Certificate?

No, you do not need an NOC Engineer certificate to become a successful network engineer. However, having an NOC Engineer certificate can be beneficial. The Network Operations Center (NOC) is the nerve center of any large organization’s IT infrastructure, and it requires specialized knowledge and skills to manage and maintain this vital system. An NOC Engineer Certificate demonstrates that you have the necessary expertise and training to manage these complex networks.

An NOC Engineer Certificate also provides employers with assurance that you are knowledgeable about the latest technologies used in network operations centers. It shows them that you understand how to set up, configure, monitor, troubleshoot and repair networks. These skills are invaluable to businesses as they rely heavily on their IT infrastructure for daily operations. Having an NOC Engineer Certificate also gives employers confidence that they are hiring a competent professional who is capable of handling the complexities of their IT environment.

In addition to demonstrating your technical proficiency, having an NOC Engineer Certificate can help you stand out from other candidates when applying for jobs or promotions within your current organization. Your certification will show potential employers that you have taken the initiative to stay up-to-date on the latest technologies used in network operations centers, as well as demonstrate your commitment to continuing education in order to remain at the top of your field.

In conclusion, while having an NOC Engineer Certificate is not essential for becoming a successful network engineer, it can certainly be beneficial in terms of job opportunities and career advancement opportunities within your current organization or when applying for jobs elsewhere.

Related: NOC Engineer Resume Examples

FAQs About NOC Engineer Certifications

Q1: What is a NOC Engineer Certification?

A1: A NOC engineer certification is a professional certification that recognizes an individual's knowledge and skills in network operations, security, and engineering. It validates the individual's ability to manage, troubleshoot, configure, and maintain networks.

Q2: How do I get certified as a NOC Engineer?

A2: To obtain a NOC engineer certification, you must complete an approved course of study or pass the relevant exam administered by an accredited organization. You may also need to have some experience in the field before you can become certified.

Q3: What are the benefits of being certified as a NOC Engineer?

A3: Becoming certified as a NOC engineer provides you with recognition from peers and employers. It also demonstrates your commitment to staying abreast of current technologies and best practices in the field. Additionally, it can help you stand out from other job applicants when applying for positions in the IT industry.

Q4: What type of jobs can I apply for with my NOC Engineer Certification?

A4: With your NOC engineer certification, you can apply for positions such as network engineer, network administrator, system administrator, security analyst, security consultant, and more.

Q5: Are there any prerequisites for obtaining a NOC Engineer Certification?

A5: Yes - depending on the certifying body you choose to go through to become certified as a NOC engineer, there may be some prerequisites that must be met before taking the exam or completing the coursework. These may include having prior experience in IT or related fields or passing certain prerequisite tests.