Author Interview: Denise Donohue, CCIE No. 9566
Coauthor of Numerous CCNP and CCIE Certification Study Tools

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From the entry-level Cisco Certfied Network Associate (CCNA) designation to the top-of-the-line Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) title, Cisco certifications continue to rank year after year among the most popular and sought after IT credentials. Author Denise Donohue is an absolute expert on these demanding and in-demand certifications, earning her own coveted CCIE (#9566) back in 2002. Since then, she has not only managed to keep pace with the whirlwind technological changes inherent to networking, she's also gained recognition as a top certification author and helped shepard many IT professionals from certification candidate to certified professional. She's also been tapped more than a dozen times to contribute to certification study guides. Once you read her interview with GoCertify, you'll understand why.

GoCertify: How long have you been a CCIE and why did you decide to become one?

Denise Donohue: I passed my Route/Switch exam in June 2002. Actually, I'm a little surprised that I decided to go for it. The CCIE always seemed like such an unattainable goal, something that only really incredible people attempted. It was frightening and intimidating to even consider it. But I had some friends who passed it, and that encouraged me (and brought out my competitive side!) Plus I'm fascinated by routing and switching, and loved digging into the all the minutiae you need to learn to pass the exam. You really have to be interested in the subject to put in all the hours required.

Recent Books Coauthored by Denise Donohue  CCNP ROUTE 642-902 Cert Kit: Video, Flash Card, and Quick Reference Preparation Package (Video Mentor) CCNP SWITCH 642-813 Cert Kit: Video, Flash Card, and Quick Reference Preparation Package (Video Mentor) Click here for even more titles by Donohue...

GoCertify: Do you feel that certification in general and the CCIE in particular have opened new doors for you? How so?

Denise Donohue: Yes, definitely. I couldn't have taught Cisco classes without the corresponding certification, I've gotten job interviews because of the CCIE, and I'm sure it helped with Cisco Press authoring opportunities. In my current role as a network design consultant, the CCIE certification helps customers trust that I have a clue about networking.

Of course you can be very good in your field and not be certified, but certifications provide a way to measure your knowledge. I hear so many people say that they can't get any certifications because their employer won't pay for them. That's very short-sighted. Studying for exams expands your knowledge beyond your current network, and since this is a knowledge industry, the more you know the more valuable you are. It may even make you more valuable to your current employer - for instance, perhaps you run EIGRP now but acquire a company that uses OSPF. Or maybe you need more bandwidth on the uplinks between your switches. Or your company installs an SNMP server. Studying for the CCNP certification would prepare you to step up and handle any of these. Earning certifications also shows that you have personal initiative and take an active role in your career.

GoCertify: For someone who is currently a CCNA, what advice do you have for them regarding when they should make the move up to CCNP certification?

Denise Donohue: Gosh, that's a hard one, since it's so different for each person. I think you'll know when the time is right. In a perfect world, you would have time to thoroughly digest all the CCNA material and get enough hands-on time that CCNP is an easy next step. If you find that perfect world, please send me the address!

GoCertify: Can one completely self-study for CCNP exams or do you really have to get some hands-on instruction and practice in order to pass the exams?

Denise Donohue: I would be very surprised if anyone could pass the current exams without some hands-on practice. This could be on actual equipment or one of the software-based simulations available. The exam has simlets that require you to enter commands and questions that require you to know and interpret the output of commands. It would be really difficult to memorize that. Whether you would need a class or not depends on how much you already know, and how much time you have to study. Taking a class usually shortens the study time by giving you a concentrated dose of the technologies and guided lab time.

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