CCNA stands for "Cisco Certified Network Associate." Cisco Systems, Inc., created this certification program to improve the skills of professionals in home and small office networking. Today, CCNA has become one of the most sought after network certifications. CCNA can help you to land a better job in networking or to increase the salary in your current job.
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"There are a lot of companies out there that are looking for CCNAs, but they are also looking for that experience too."
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CCNA Basics
CCNA emphasizes the technology and skills needed to work with networks of 100 nodes or fewer. It covers both
IP and non-IP networks including IPX and AppleTalk.
The key networking technologies and concepts one must be familar with to pass CCNA include the following:
Preparing for the CCNA
An entire industry exists to help prepare for certification exams like CCNA. One way to study for the CCNA is to locate an official
Cisco Learning Partner. These organizations provide "live" training courses and materials to prospective students. Often, one's employer will set up this kind of training for their employees.
One can also study for the CCNA online. Besides
Cisco's E-learning System, one can also access a wealth of study material and practice tests for free on the Web. Our
Cisco CCNA Directory contains links to several high-quality, free CCNA practice exams.
Becoming a CCNA
The CCNA exam lasts approximately two hours, and no prerequesite exams need to be completed first. The exam contains approximately 78 questions. Older versions of the test required only 75-90 minutes to complete and included only about 65 questions, so Cisco appears to be following a trend of expanding the scope of the test.
Approximately 80 percent of the questions must be answered correctly to pass the CCNA test. An exam fee of approximately $100 (USD) will be charged, so it is in the student's best interest to come fully prepared.
A CCNA certification remains valid for three years, at which time an official recertification exam can be taken.
Other Cisco Networking Certifications
CCNA is the first in a series of three certification programs in Cisco's "Routing and Switching" career track. The table below lists each program and the typical background of those who will most benefit from it.
| 1. CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) |
Help desk engineer, Field technician, Beginning networkers |
| 2. CCNP (Cisco Certified Network Professional) |
Network administrator, Network technician |
| 3. CCIE™ (Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert) |
Senior network administrator |
Cisco also offers additional certificaiton tracks in networking, including "WAN Switching" and "Service Provider" tracks.
Conclusion
Some people have commented that the CCNA is a "bookish" exam. One need not have any hands-on experience with Cisco routers, for example, in order to pass. Many believe, however, the CCNA test is more difficult to pass than Microsoft's MCSE or Novell's CNE.
The actual worth of a CCNA continues to be debated. Few statistics on the benefits of a CCNA exist, and these are of dubious accuracy. Most people in the industry feel that the CCNA carries the most benefit as a complement to other education and experience in networking. The CCNA by itself does not substitute for a college degree or previous job experience, for example.
Overall, the CCNA has grown significantly in popularity and should be a worthwhile addition to the resume of many networking professionals.
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