Job board search results (in alphabetical order, by certification)*
Certification | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CCNA Data Center (Cisco) | 1,564 | 2,126 | 1,649 | 19 | 3,876 |
CCNP Data Center (Cisco) | 1,025 | 1,339 | 1,508 | 14 | 3,145 |
JNCIP-DC (Juniper Networks) | 125 | 37 | 14 | 4 | 130 |
VCE-CIAE (Dell)* | 81 | 19 | 30 | 14 | 132 |
VCP6-DCV (VMware) | 32 | 37 | 57 | 38 | 111 |
*Search results for the generic phrase “VCE data center engineer”
Regardless of which job board you use, you’ll find many employers looking for qualified people to join their data center teams. SimplyHired lists 114,000-plus data center jobs in the U.S., with more than 172,000 on Indeed, 50,000 on LinkedIn Jobs and 20,000 on LinkUp. With the right credential(s) in hand, one of these jobs is sure to be yours.
Data center job roles start at the network technician level and advance through senior architect. Most of the certifications covered would fit well with an associate- or professional-level network engineer position. According to SimplyHired, the average salary for network engineer jobs is about $79,000, and $111,000 for senior network engineers. Glassdoor reports a U.S. national average salary of about $73,000 for network engineers, and their average for senior network engineers climbs to $94,000.
Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Data Center
Cisco certifications continue to be some of the most recognizable and respected credentials in the industry. The CCNA Data Center certification is a great introductory certification for networking professionals who want to specialize in data center operations and support and have 1-3 years of experience.
Candidates for the CCNA Data Center certification need to understand basic data center networking concepts. These include addressing schemes, troubleshooting and configuring switches with VLANs and routers using Nexus OS, network and server virtualization, storage, and common network services such as load balancing, device management and network access controls.
The CCNA Data Center is valid for three years, after which credential holders must recertify. Recertification requires passing a current version of one of the following exams:
- Associate-level exam (except for ICND1 exam)
- 642-XXX professional-level or 300-XXX professional-level exam
- 642-XXX Cisco Specialist exam (does not include Sales Specialist exams or MeetingPlace Specialist exams, Implementing Cisco TelePresence Installations (ITI) exams, Cisco Leading Virtual Classroom Instruction exams, or any 650 online exams)
- Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) written exam
- Cisco Certified Design Expert (CCDE) written exam or current CCDE practical exam
Candidates can also sit through the Cisco Certified Architect (CCAr) interview and the CCAr board review to achieve recertification for CCNA Data Center.
CCNA Data Center facts and figures
Certification name | Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Data Center |
|---|---|
Prerequisites and required courses | None required. Recommended training: Cisco offers classroom courses, which run for five days and cost about $4,500. |
Number of exams | Two exams:
Both exams are 90 minutes and 55-65 questions. |
Cost per exam | $300 per exam; $600 total (price may vary by region). Exams administered by Pearson VUE. |
URL | http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/training-events/training-certifications/certifications/associate/ccna-data-center.html |
Self-study materials | The certification page provides links to self-study materials, including the syllabus, study groups, videos, study guides, Learning Network resources and learning partner content. |
Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) Data Center
Networking professionals looking to validate their data center skills and achieve a competitive edge in the workplace can’t go wrong with the Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) Data Center credential.
Geared toward technology architects, along with design and implementation engineers and solutions experts, the CCNP Data Center identifies individuals who can implement Cisco Unified Computing System (UCS) rack-mount servers; install, configure and manage Cisco Nexus switches; and implement and deploy automation of Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI). The CCNP Data Center is designed for candidates with 3-5 years of experience working with Cisco technologies.
When pursuing the CCNP Data Center, Cisco lets you choose either a design or troubleshooting track. Related data center certifications include the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA Data Center), for those with 1-3 years of experience, and the Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) Data Center, aimed at professionals with seven or more years of experience.
The CCNP Data Center is valid for three years, after which credential holders must recertify. The recertification process requires candidates to pass a single exam to maintain the credential, or to sit for the Cisco Certified Architect (CCAr) interview and the CCAr board review. Credential holders should check the Cisco website for the current list of qualifying exams before attempting to recertify.
CCNP Data Center facts and figures
Certification name | Cisco Certified Network Professional Data Center (CCNP Data Center) |
|---|---|
Prerequisites and required courses | Valid Cisco Certified Network Associate Data Center (CCNA Data Center) certification or any Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) certification. Training recommended but not required; classes are usually four or five days and start at $3,950. |
Number of exams | Four exams:
All exams are 90 minutes, 60-70 questions. |
Cost per exam | $300 per exam; $1,200 total (price may vary by region). Exams administered by Pearson VUE. |
URL | http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/training-events/training-certifications/certifications/professional/ccnp-data-center.html |
Self-study materials | The certification page provides links to self-study materials, including the syllabus, study groups, webinars, Cisco Learning Network resources and learning partner content. |
JNCIP-DC: Juniper Networks Certified Professional Data Center
Juniper Networks, based in California and incorporated in 1997, develops and sells network infrastructure equipment and software aimed at corporations, network service providers, government agencies and educational institutions. The company has a large certification and training program designed to support its solutions, which includes Data Center, Junos Security, Enterprise Routing and Switching, and Service Provider Routing and Switching tracks.
The Data Center track recognizes networking professionals who deploy, manage and troubleshoot Juniper Networks Junos software and data center equipment. The single exam (JN0-680) covers data center deployment and management, including implementation and maintenance of multi-chassis link aggregation group (LAG), virtual chassis and Internet Protocol (IP) fabric, virtual extensible LANs (VXLANs), and data center interconnections.
The JNCIP-DC certification is good for three years. To renew the certification, candidates must pass the current JNCIP-DC exam.
JNCIP-DC facts and figures
Certification name | Juniper Networks Certified Professional Data Center (JNCIP-DC) |
|---|---|
Prerequisites and required courses | Required: Juniper Networks Certified Specialist Enterprise Routing and Switching (JNCIS-ENT) certification
Recommended training:
Juniper offers classroom, virtual and online training. The ADCX training course runs for five days and costs $2,500 to $4,750. Pricing varies depending on course provider and location. |
Number of exams | One: exam JN0-680 (65 multiple-choice questions, 120 minutes)
NOTE: As of April 11, 2019, JN0-681 replaces previous exam JN0-680 for JNCIP-DC candidates and is based on Junos OS 18.4. |
Cost per exam | $400. Exams administered by Pearson VUE. |
URL | https://www.juniper.net/us/en/training/certification/certification-tracks/data-center-track?tab=jncip-dc |
Self-study materials | The exam page lists various exam prep resources. Candidates can browse the complete set of Junos OS 15.1 technical publications and the Juniper Networks Day One library of collateral. Juniper recommends reading RFC 7348, RFC 4760 and RFC 7432, as well as these whitepapers: Improve Data Center Interconnect, L2 Services with Juniper’s EVPN and Clos IP Fabrics with QFX5100 Switches. Several O’Reilly books are also available that focus on Junos and Juniper Networks products. |
VCE-CIAE: VCE Converged Infrastructure Administration Engineer
VCE, short for Virtual Computing Environment, was part of EMC Corporation, which Dell acquired in 2016. The VCE line of converged infrastructure appliances are still being manufactured and widely sold, and the company has a handful of VCE certifications geared toward designing, maintaining and supporting those solutions.
VCE certifications are now part of the larger Dell EMC Proven Professional certification program but have retained some independence. The program currently offers the VCE Certified Converged Infrastructure Associate (VCE-CIA), VCE Converged Infrastructure Administration Engineer (VCE-CIAE) and VCE Converged Infrastructure Master Administration Engineer (VCE-CIMAE) credentials. We focus on the VCE Administration Engineer in this article because it’s available to the public as well as Dell employees and partners, and it ranks well in job board searches.
The VCE-CIAE is a professional-level credential that recognizes professionals who manage and support Vblock Systems. The single exam includes topics such as system concepts, administration, security, resource management, maintenance and troubleshooting.
Candidates must recertify every two years to maintain a VCE certification. To renew, credential holders must pass the current VCE-CIA exam (this is the prerequisite for the VCE-CIAE certification), as well as pass the current VCE-CIAE exam or earn a higher-level credential.
VCE-CIAE facts and figures
Certification name | VCE Converged Infrastructure Administration Engineer (VCE-CIAE) |
|---|---|
Prerequisites and required courses | Prerequisite: VCE Certified Converged Infrastructure Associate (VCE-CIA) certification
Recommended: VCE Vblock Systems Administration Management training; available as instructor-led classroom and online (five-day course, $5,000; prices may vary by course provider and location) |
Number of exams | One: exam 220-010 (60 multiple-choice questions, 90 minutes) |
Cost per exam | $200. Exams administered by Pearson VUE. |
URL | https://education.emc.com/content/emc/en-us/home/certification-overview/vce-certification-framework/vce-administration-engineer.html |
VCP6-DCV: VMware Certified Professional 6 – Data Center Virtualization
The VCP6-DCV is one of those credentials that sits firmly on the line between traditional data center networking and cloud management. As such, it appeals to a wide networking audience. In fact, the VMware website states that more than 100,000 professionals have earned VMware VCP6-DCV certification, making it one of the company’s most popular certifications.
VMware offers an extensive certification program with a rigorous Data Center virtualization track, which includes the VCP6-DCV. Candidates must thoroughly understand Domain Name System (DNS), routing and database connectivity techniques, and how to deploy, configure, manage and scale VMware vSphere environments and storage. VMware recommends that candidates have a minimum of six months of experience with VMware vSphere 6 before attempting the VCP6-DCV certification.
New candidates must take a VMware training course and pass two exams. Training courses start at $4,125; pricing is based on the specific course, delivery format and learning partner.
VMware requires credential holders to recertify every two years. Recertification is achieved by taking whatever exam is most current for the certification, earning a new VCP certification in a different solution track or advancing to the next-level VMware certification.
Note: VMware certifications are geared toward the VMware vSphere product, the latest incarnation of which is Version 6.5. As of April 2019, VMware is still rolling out various Version 6.5 exams. Currently, Version 6.5 exams are offered for the Professional and Advanced Professional (Design only) levels. We anticipate that Version 6.5 exams and credentials at the Associate, Advanced Professional Deploy and Expert levels will follow soon.
VCP6-DCV facts and figures
Certification name | VMWare Certified Professional 6 – Data Center Virtualization (VCP6-DCV) |
|---|---|
Prerequisites and required courses | Candidates who are new to VMware Data Center Virtualization technology: Six months’ vSphere 6 experience plus one of the following training courses:
Note: The cost of VMware training varies; expect to pay from $4,125 for classroom training to more than $6,000 for Bootcamps and Fast Track courses. |
Number of exams | Two exams for new candidates, those with vSphere 5 training only, those with an expired VCP in a different solution track or those with an expired VCP5-DCV certification:
One exam for candidates with valid VCP5-DCV certification: VMware Certified Professional 6 – Data Center Virtualization Delta exam, 2V0-621D, 105 minutes, 65 questions One exam for candidates with valid VCP certification, any solution track: VMware Certified Professional 6 – Data Center Exams administered by Pearson VUE. |
Cost per exam |
|
URL | VCP6-DCV: https://mylearn.vmware.com/mgrReg/plan.cfm?plan=64178&ui=www_cert VCP6.5-DCV: https://mylearn.vmware.com/mgrReg/plan.cfm?plan=100942&ui=www_cert |
Self-study materials | Links to an exam guide, training and a practice exam (if available) appear on each exam page (see the How to Prepare tab). VMware Learning Zone offers exam prep subscriptions. Numerous VCP6-DCV study materials are available through Amazon. MeasureUp offers a VCP6-DCV practice test ($129) and a practice lab ($149). |
Beyond the top 5: More data center certifications
While not featured in the top five this year, the BICSI Data Center Design Consultant (DCDC) is a terrific certification, designed for IT professionals with at least two years of experience in designing, planning and implementing data centers. This vendor-neutral certification is ideal for data center engineers, architects, designers and consultants. Another good vendor-neutral certification is Schneider Electric’s Data Center Certified Associate (DCCA), an entry-level credential for individuals who design, build and manage data centers as part of a data center-centric IT team.
CNet’s Certified Data Centre Management Professional (CDCMP) and Certified Data Centre Technician Professional (CDCTP) are also worthy of honorable mention. Based in the U.K., these certifications don’t appear in a lot of U.S. job board postings but still deliver solid results from a general Google search.
IT professionals who are serious about advancing their data center careers would do well to check out complementary certifications from our featured vendors. For example, Cisco also offers a number of certifications in data center design and support, including application services, networking infrastructure, storage networking and unified computing. VMware also offers additional data center virtualization certifications worth exploring, including the VMware Certified Advanced Professional 6.5 – Data Center Virtualization Design (VCAP6.5-DCV Design) and the VMware Certified Design Expert (VCDX6-DCV). Also, the Dell EMC Proven Professional certification program offers a bevy of data center-focused certifications, including the Dell EMC Implementation Engineer (EMCIE) and the Dell EMC Certified Cloud Architect (EMCCA).
Because of the proliferation of data center virtualization and cloud computing, you can expect the data center networking job market to continue to remain strong soon. Achieving a certification can be a real feather in your cap, opening the door to new and better work opportunities.