CCNP and CCDP

Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP)

The CCNP validates the ability to plan, implement, verify and troubleshoot local and wide-area enterprise networks and work collaboratively with specialists on advanced security, voice, wireless and video solutions. In addition to CCNA exams, professionals must pass three separate professional-level exams.

642-902 ROUTE: Implementing Cisco IP Routing (ROUTE)[18]
642-813 SWITCH: Implementing Cisco IP Switched Networks (SWITCH)[19]
642-832 TSHOOT: Troubleshooting and Maintaining Cisco IP Networks (TSHOOT)[20]
The certification track changed in July 2010, with various migration paths available for those that had begun, but not completed, the CCNP certification process. For a more detailed view of all the different CCNP certification paths up until July 31, 2010 - including release dates for the ROUTE, SWITCH and TSHOOT exam - see the CCNP website[21]

Cisco Certified Design Professional (CCDP)

The CCDP certification is an advanced network design certification validating knowledge of Cisco devices and the way to interconnect them. With a CCDP certification, a network professional can discuss, design, and create advanced addressing and routing, security, network management, data center, and IP multicast complex multi-layered enterprise architectures that include virtual private networking and wireless domains. An active CCDA certification is required to earn this certification. As of Aug. 1, 2010, changes in the CCNP program have necessitated changes in the CCDP program. Notably, the routing-focused and switching-focused exams (642-901 BSCI & 642-812 BCMSN) have been discontinued (as has the 642-892 Composite). These have been replaced with updated versions.

Required Exams:

642-902 ROUTE: Implementing Cisco IP Routing (ROUTE)[22]
642-813 SWITCH: Implementing Cisco IP Switched Networks (SWITCH)[23]
642-874 ARCH: Designing Cisco Network Service Architecture[24]
Note that there are two exams in common between the CCNP and CCDP (642-902 ROUTE & 642-813 SWITCH); thus one certified for CCNP and CCDA can attain CCDP certification by passing a single test (642-873 ARCH).