In 2020, I joined Cisco recent out of school, which simply so came about to align with the inaugural 12 months of the Cisco DevNet certification monitor. It was once the similar 12 months Cisco consolidated all of its CCNA certification tracks into one foundational certification. The CCNA was once (and nonetheless is) a part of our on a regular basis language, because of its immense recognition, however it was once the all-new DevNet generation monitor I discovered maximum intriguing.

Cisco DevNet certifications center of attention on integrating community infrastructure with instrument programs, automation, and programmability. DevNet certification savored each my style in instrument building and networking. Little did I do know that match would depart the sort of nice mark on my occupation.

Child steps into the DevNet global

On the time they have been introduced, there have been two certification ranges, Affiliate and Skilled, prior to including the DevNet Skilled certification. I used to be focused on passing my DevNet Affiliate certification examination, 200-901 DEVASC, prior to the tip of my internship. Going in the course of the blueprint was once overwhelming because of the huge quantity of Cisco applied sciences and the breadth of subjects indexed.

The authentic DevNet Affiliate direction got here to my rescue. I went in the course of the direction two times and handed my examination in June 2020.

It was once certainly euphoric to reach my first authentic Cisco certification, making access into the DevNet Magnificence of 2020… however it left me short of extra!

I hadn’t meant to forestall with my DevNet Affiliate certification. My function was once to development additional via acquiring the DevNet Skilled certification, which comes to passing two Skilled-level checks: the DevNet core and a focus examination. I stored the momentum going and began getting ready for my DevNet core (350-901 DEVCOR) examination.

The DevNet Affiliate examination uncovered me to the checking out surroundings and the difficult nature of the questions, however I used to be neatly mindful that the DEVCOR examination can be a difficult nut to crack and will require extra self-discipline and difficult paintings. Finishing the authentic direction, together with a number of foundational lessons on Cisco applied sciences, considerably boosted my self assurance.

I handed my DEVCOR in November 2021 and earned the Cisco Qualified DevNet Specialist – Core certification. Passing the DEVCOR examination marked an important milestone, particularly as it’s required for DevNet Skilled certification and is a prerequisite for the DevNet Skilled certification. (Sooner than taking a Cisco Skilled-level sensible examination, applicants want to go the core examination in that generation monitor.)

DevOps: Specialised talents to Specialist certification

DevNet opens up the automation and programmability nation-states, however wisdom of the underlying Cisco merchandise is basically essential in developing cutting edge answers. When I learned that, my center of attention shifted towards studying the nitty-gritty of Cisco merchandise, gear, and answers.

Because of DevOps’ sheer relevance within the technological global, I selected it as my specialization, taking the 300-910 DEVOPS examination to finish my DevNet Skilled focus requirement. In flip, passing that examination would additionally earn me a Cisco DevNet Specialist certification: the Cisco Qualified DevNet Specialist – DevOps certification.

Given the quick nature of the examination, the room for error was once marginally small. I maintained a scientific find out about plan and adopted 3 key methods:

1. Learn the fabric no less than two times.
2. Educate muscle reminiscence via doing a ton of hands-on workouts.
3. Revise the fabric incessantly.

And eventually, the long-awaited day arrived.

I sat down for my examination, feeling slightly frightened, however I held onto my self-belief. Simply prior to filing the ultimate query, I paused for a minute, considering of ways a long way I’ve come on this adventure and what a healthy studying enjoy it’s been. I submitted my examination in anticipation and was once left numb after seeing a message pronouncing, “Congratulations…” That unknown frame of mind didn’t permit me to learn the message totally. I felt immensely relieved to look the entire onerous paintings repay, reaching what I had lengthy dreamt of.

Token of Gratitude

They are saying, “When you’re surrounded via 5 clever other people, you turn into the 6th.” I’ve been over blessed to be surrounded via no longer 5—however 5 hundred—clever other people within the Cisco Studying & Certifications circle of relatives. I’m immensely thankful for the make stronger and studying I’ve won from the leaders and engineers who impressed me to reach those feats.

Suggestions and Sources

In the end, that can assist you get began for your DevNet studying and certification adventure, listed here are my best suggestions:

Get ready for DevNet Affiliate certification and earn 16 Cisco Proceeding Schooling credit free of charge.

Figuring out Cisco Community Automation Necessities | DEVNAE Studying Trail on Cisco U.

Increase the automation and community programmability wisdom to start a occupation as an entry-level community automation engineer.

Join Cisco U. | Sign up for the Cisco Studying Community.

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