CCNP and CCIP

After getting CCNA certification, you usually will get confused in choosing between CCNP and CCIP. CCVP and CCSP usually pursued after getting CCNP, because CCNP is like the fundamentals for professionals. Both CCNP and CCIP requires 4 exams.

CCNP

642-901 BSCI	Building Scalable Cisco Internetworks (BSCI)
642-812 BCMSN	Building Cisco Multilayer Switched Networks (BCMSN)
642-825 ISCW	Implementing Secure Converged Wide Area Networks (ISCW)
642-845 ONT	Optimizing Converged Cisco Networks (ONT)

CCIP

642-901 BSCI OR 642-892 Composite	Building Scalable Cisco Internetworks (BSCI)
642-642 QOS	Implementing Cisco Quality of Service (QoS)
642-661 BGP	Configuring BGP on Cisco Routers (BGP)
642-611 MPLS	Implementing Cisco MPLS (MPLS)

CCNP, do this if you want to work for a mid size company. Maybe you like to deal with firewalls too or with operating systems. Pure CCNP employees needs to have other skills because their company need a good networking expertise also other skills. Requires:
* A CCNA standing
* Building Cisco Scalable Internetworks
* Building Cisco Multilayer Switched Networks
* Building Cisco Remote Access Networks
* Cisco Internetwork Troubleshooting

CCIP, do this if you want to be a network specialist. Not a lot of companies would need to have MPLS skilled people, except ISP.
Requires:
* A CCNA standing
* Building Cisco Scalable Internetworks
* Implementing Cisco Quality of Service
* Implementing Cisco MPLS
* Configuring BGP on Cisco Routers

CCNP is like a foundation, it is better to learn about routing and switching first before you learn about complicated topics like MPLS. Simply because there is a bit of switching and routing involved in CCIP

It depends on what you are seeking in your future career and your current job. CCNP is for corporate sector, focuses on LAN tan WAN, meanwhile CCIP is ISP sector and just focuses on more WAN than LAN networks.

CCNP track to the Routing & Switching CCIE also covering enterprise-related technologies. CCIP, on the other hand, is viewed with a focus on "Service Provider" technologies. It tracks to the Service Provider CCIE.

In the grand scheme of things, depending on what specific areas you want to get in to, it likely doesn’t make any difference which one you pursue. Both will push you to a better understanding of the inner workings of the routers and switches on a network. If you want to take both, its better to get CCNP first. Materials in CCIP is like advanced materials from CCNP, BGP which is part of BSCI, QOS reviewed in ISCW, MPLS which has fundamental concepts in BCMSN. But at the end of the day, it's your decision. Scott Morris said, "There’s very little in the technology arena that is a “waste” of your time and energy. So take whichever path you believe will deliver you to the career or job that you want. But either way won’t be a waste."

References:

• http://www.cisco.com/go/ccnp


• http://www.cisco.com/go/ccip/


• Sadikhov forums


• TCPmag.com | For Cisco Internetworking Experts