In case you’re trying so as to add extra certifications to your resume, don’t neglect about wi-fi. Whether or not you’re simply beginning your IT profession, have been in IT earlier than Wi-Fi was a factor, and even when you’ve got a non-IT place, there are certifications to assist show your wi-fi information and abilities.
For starters, there are vendor-neutral certifications from Licensed Wi-fi Community Professionals (CWNP), one of the well-liked packages within the wi-fi world. These are nice should you aren’t already loyal to a networking model. And even when you have already got a favourite model, these go deeper into the 802.11 requirements and radio frequency (RF) expertise with out all of the proprietary particulars and model specifics.
Vendor-neutral wi-fi credentials are additionally helpful for safety professionals who need to lengthen moral hacking or penetration testing from the wired to wi-fi networks.
As well as, there are vendor-specific certifications from the businesses that provide Wi-Fi gear and platforms. There are even some certs that received’t price you a penny. Listed here are 9 Wi-Fi certifications that may enhance your information of the expertise and assist take your profession to a different degree.
Prime Wi-Fi certifications
- Licensed Wi-fi Specialist (CWS)
- Licensed Wi-fi Technician (CWT)
- Licensed Wi-fi Community Administrator (CWNA)
- GIAC Assessing and Auditing Wi-fi Networks (GAWN)
- Cisco Licensed Internetwork Skilled (CCIE) Enterprise Wi-fi
- Aruba Licensed Mobility Affiliate (ACMA)
- RUCKUS Licensed Wi-Fi Affiliate (RCWA)
- Excessive Networks Affiliate (ENA)
- Tanaza Wi-Fi Networking Certification
1. Licensed Wi-fi Specialist (CWS)
The Licensed Wi-fi Specialist (CWS) vendor-neutral certification covers the fundamentals of Wi-Fi for these in non-technical positions, akin to gross sales and advertising, in Wi-Fi associated companies, or for these in IT who’re new to Wi-Fi. This certification is supposed to validate fundamental enterprise Wi-Fi terminology and a fundamental understanding of the {hardware} and software program utilized in enterprise wi-fi native space networks (WLANs). It touches on RF traits and behaviors, 802.11 requirements, and Wi-Fi safety and options. The content material is designed to be discovered at a self-paced degree with textual content supplies and/or video lessons. The examination is simply a web based take a look at with 60 a number of alternative, single reply, questions with a 90-minute time restrict.
Group: Licensed Wi-fi Community Professionals (CWNP)
Worth: $149.99 for the CWS-101 Examination
How you can put together: Buy the research information, eLearning video course, observe take a look at, or a package/bundle.
2. Licensed Wi-fi Technician (CWT)
Licensed Wi-fi Technician (CWT) is the entry-level vendor-neutral certification for these in IT who need to show they will do the essential set up and configuration of wi-fi entry factors (APs). It’s a extra superior certification than CWS. It solely touches on the design features of WLANs, but it surely covers sufficient of the 802.11 and Wi-Fi options and protocols for a fundamental Wi-Fi technician who installs or configures smaller networks. Just like the CWS, the content material is designed to be discovered at a self-paced degree with textual content supplies and/or video lessons. The examination is a web based take a look at with 60 a number of alternative, single reply, questions with a 90-minute time restrict.
Group: Licensed Wi-fi Community Professionals (CWNP)
Worth: $149.99 for the CWT-101 Examination
How you can put together: Buy their research information, eLearning video course, observe take a look at, or a package/bundle.
3. Licensed Wi-fi Community Administrator (CWNA)
The Licensed Wi-fi Community Administrator (CWNA) vendor-neutral certification is extra in-depth than the CWT, though there isn’t any prerequisite for this certification past the advice to have fundamental information of networking (routers, switches, TCP/IP, and so on.) and one 12 months of labor expertise with wi-fi LAN applied sciences. It covers the design and configuration of WLANs and is definitely the required base certification you will need to acquire earlier than continuing to their increased safety, design, evaluation, or knowledgeable certifications. You’ll be able to make the most of their textual content e-book and observe checks to self-study, however should you’re actually new to the world of wi-fi you would possibly contemplate dwell coaching lessons to get extra interactive and hands-on coaching. The 60 a number of alternative/a number of reply examination has a 90-mintue time restrict and have to be proctored by way of Pearson VUE, however it may be taken in-person or on-line with an appointment.
Group: Licensed Wi-fi Community Professionals (CWNP)
Worth: $225 for the CWNA-108 Examination
How you can put together: Attend dwell lessons, or buy their research information, observe take a look at, or a package/bundle.
4. GIAC Assessing and Auditing Wi-fi Networks (GAWN)
The GIAC Assessing and Auditing Wi-fi Networks (GAWN) vendor-neutral certification is for IT and safety execs who need to do wireless-based moral hacking or penetration testing, or different IT workers who need to totally perceive wi-fi vulnerabilities. This certification covers cracking encryption, intercepting transmissions, and performing different assaults on Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth, DECT, RFID, and Zigbee gadgets. GIAC affords in-person dwell coaching in addition to on-line dwell programs, plus on-demand lessons. There isn’t any arduous stipulations for this certification, however associated work expertise and a few college-level programs are really useful. The 75-quesiton examination has a 2-hour restrict and is proctored remotely by way of ProctorU or in-person by way of Pearson VUE.
Group: International Info Assurance Certification (GIAC)
Worth: $849 for the GAWN Examination
How you can put together: Attend dwell lessons in-person or on-line, or make the most of on-demand on-line lessons.
5. Cisco Licensed Internetwork Skilled (CCIE) Enterprise Wi-fi
The Cisco Licensed Internetwork Skilled (CCIE) Enterprise Wi-fi vendor-specific certification would show your enterprise wi-fi information and abilities, notably inside a Cisco setting. Although there’s no formal prerequisite for this certification, it’s really useful to have 5–7 years of expertise designing, deploying, working and optimizing enterprise Wi-Fi networks. This certification requires passage of two exams. First a qualifying 120-minute examination that covers core enterprise applied sciences, which can be the bottom examination for 3 different certifications as effectively. Then, there’s a hands-on 8-hour lab examination that covers enterprise wi-fi networks by way of complete community lifecycle, from designing and deploying to working and optimizing. Exams could be taken on-line or in-person, proctored by way of Pearson VUE.
Group: Cisco Programs
Worth: $400 for ENCOR 350-401 and $1,600 for CCIE Enterprise Wi-fi v1.0
How you can put together: Attend dwell lessons in-person or on-line, make the most of on-demand on-line lessons, or observe labs.
6. Aruba Licensed Mobility Affiliate (ACMA)
The Aruba Licensed Mobility Affiliate (ACMA) vendor-specific certification will exhibit your networking information and talent to deploy, handle, and troubleshoot Aruba gear. It covers the Aruba Cellular First Platform, primarily based on the Aruba Mobility Conductor and Controller structure, and focuses on the way to configure Aruba WLAN options and built-in firewalls. There isn’t any formal prerequisite, however you do want an HPE Learner ID, which is on the market to HPE prospects or by way of companions. The 60-quesiton examination has a 90-minute time restrict is proctored by way of Pearson VUE, taken both on-line or in-person.
Group: Aruba Networks
Worth: $230 for the HPE6-A70 Examination
How you can put together: Attend dwell lessons, make the most of on-demand on-line lessons, research information, or observe labs
7. RUCKUS Licensed Wi-Fi Affiliate (RCWA)
The RUCKUS Licensed Wi-Fi Affiliate (RCWA) certification is a vendor-specific credential and demonstrates your means to design, deploy, optimize, handle, and troubleshoot RUCKUS Wi-Fi merchandise in quite a lot of manufacturing environments. Although there isn’t any prerequisite for this certification, you must have a fundamental understanding of the 802.11 requirements, RF fundamentals and methodologies, routing and switching, and the distinctive options of RUCKUS gear. They supply free on-line programs and assets that can assist you put together for the 52-question examination. The examination has a 2-hour restrict and is remotely proctored by ProctorU.
Group: CommScope
Worth: $150
How you can put together: Free on-line on-demand programs, research guides, and observe take a look at.
8. Excessive Networks Affiliate (ENA)
The Excessive Networks Affiliate (ENA) vendor-specific certification helps you validate your means to correctly configure, deploy, handle and troubleshoot Excessive Networks environments. There isn’t any formal prerequisite in an effort to pursue this certification. Excessive affords free coaching and certifications by way of their Excessive Academy. Free dwell lessons don’t seem to all the time be provided, however you possibly can entry them on-demand.
Group: Excessive Networks
Worth: Free
How you can put together: Attend dwell lessons on-line lessons, make the most of free on-demand on-line programs, or eLearning video programs
9. Tanaza Wi-Fi Networking Certification
The Tanaza Wi-Fi Networking Certification is a quite simple certification program offered by Tanaza, which gives a third-party cloud-based community administration platform which you could make the most of throughout a number of Wi-Fi manufacturers and entry level (AP) fashions. The platform permits centralized monitoring, captive portal, and administration of the overall wi-fi configuration. This certification demonstrates which you could make the most of the Tanaza Cloud Dashboard and their platform. That is an un-proctored and “open e-book” examination taken by way of a Google Doc kind. You’ll be able to strive as many instances as you need. When you move, you obtain a “licensed skilled” emblem in a number of days. This certification itself may not add a lot weight to your resume, but it surely may very well be a simple technique to be taught a brand new platform and add to your listing of abilities.
Group: Tanaza
Worth: Free
How you can put together: Free on-line documentation
Eric Geier is a contract tech author. He’s additionally the founding father of NoWiresSecurity offering a cloud-based Wi-Fi safety service, Wi-Fi Surveyors offering RF website surveying, and On Spot Techs offering normal IT providers.
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