CCNA Certifications

What is this Cisco CCNA Certification all about?

This is one of Cisco’s Associate level certifications. It is designed to be the second step in Cisco Certifications after the Cisco CCENT Certification and is present as four different certifications; the Cisco CCNA Certification (which covers Routing and Switching), the Cisco CCNA Voice Certification, Cisco CCNA Security Certification and Cisco CCNA Wireless Certification. The three further certifications then cover further branches in this field of Networking as per Cisco standards and hardware.

This certification introduces networking professionals to basic networking concepts, terminology and job related skills as well as covers general security issues.

The Cisco CCNA Certification tests, amongst many, these skills. The skills are:

• Ability to install, configure, operate, and troubleshoot medium-size route and switched networks
• Implementation and verification of connections to remote sites in a WAN

The Cisco CCNA Curriculum covers the following protocols:

• IP
• Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (EIGRP)
• Serial Line Interface Protocol Frame Relay
• Routing Information Protocol Version 2 (RIPv2)
• VLANs
• Ethernet
• Access Control Lists (ACLs)

What are the Pre-requisites of CCNA Certification?

According to Cisco, there are no previous pre-requisites required for this Cisco CCNA Certification. Additionally, we find that there are two exam options; one of which covers the Cisco CCENT exams as well.

However, we recommend that any person who sits for the exam in this certification come fully prepared for the exam. Allot yourself at the very least a few months to prepare for the exam.

Who is the Cisco CCNA Certification for?

The Cisco CCNA is basically a foundation-level networking certification. Candidates, that is Networking Professionals, who complete the Cisco CCNA Certification are fully capable of carrying out essential networking jobs that include but are not limited to Maintenance and Network Troubleshooting.

Why should I get certified? What benefits are there?

Since Cisco is the premier standard in the Networking industry any networks related job that requires skills in Networking – Routing and Switching will require a Cisco Certification. Thus, any individual whose career includes Network Maintenance and Troubleshooting has to have a Cisco CCNA certification. Preparation for this certification is also easy and takes a few weeks at most – and requires no pre-requisites unlike other Cisco Certifications other than this.

Additionally, other IT Professionals whose main field isn’t networking may find that taking such a certification opens them up to many job roles. Why? This is because Networking is a fundamental part of the IT Infrastructure of an organization and if an IT Professional is also certified with the CCNA certification then he/she will have an added advantage and the possibility of passing his/her competition.

Cisco Certification Exams in General

What Are the Exams Like?

• The duration of most theoretical exams is one to two hours. Lab (practical) exams typically last eight hours.
• Questions include multiple-choice single answer, multiple-choice multiple answer questions, drag and drop, fill in the blank and simulations.
• Exams other than CCIE lab exams are delivered online

What Do They Cost?

• Computer-based certification exam prices range from $80 to $325 US dollars or equivalent worldwide. The ICND1 and ICND2 exams are $125 USD, the CCNA exam is $250 USD and the professional level CCNP and CCDP Composite exam is $300 USD, and CCIE written exams are $350 USD. Payment is made directly to the authorized test delivery partner Pearson Vue.
• CCIE lab exams are $1,400 USD. Payment is made online via credit card or wire transfer

How do I take the exams?

Exams are regularly administered worldwide by Pearson VUE http://www.vue.com/cisco which is Cisco’s examination delivery partner (just as Prometric is Microsoft’s partner). Pearson VUE routinely organizes exams on various dates

How do I prepare for the exams?

1. Training through Institutions – The authorized source for Cisco IT training delivered exclusively by Certified Cisco Instructors. For a list of Cisco Learning Partners, use the Learning Partner Locator.

2. Training through Books – A variety of Cisco Press titles may be available for this exam. These titles can be purchased through the Cisco Marketplace Bookstore, or directly from Cisco Press.

3. Resources, Assistance and guidance through the online Cisco Learning Network

4. Exam Cram Books – Exam Cram has a wide array of preparation tools for the popular CCNA, CCNP, and CCSP certifications, including simulation-based practice questions along with other late-stage study vehicles to get you ready for test time.

5. Safari Bookshelf – The premier electronic reference library for programming and IT professionals with more than 1,200 titles.

6. Cisco Networking Academy – http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/netacad/index.html

7. Cisco Certification Study Groups – https://cisco.hosted.jivesoftware.com/groups

What certifications and exams come under Cisco CCNA Certification?

Whereas exams for Cisco CCNA Certification are concerned, there are two available options. These are:

1. Option 1: Cisco CCNA Single Exam – 640-802 CCNA
2. Option 2: Two Cisco Exams – 640-822 ICND1 and 640-816 ICND2

Option 1:

640-802 CCNA® EXAM

Option 2:

640-822 ICND1Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices Part 1

AND

640-816 ICND2Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices – Part 2

Validity of the Cisco CCNA Certification

This Certification is valid for upto 3 years after the certification has been awarded. After 3 years any and every networks professional will have to re-sit this exam so as to be re-certified. Cisco has created this system to ensure that all network’s professionals stay up to date with latest trends and changes in networking technologies and standards.

Resources for the Exams

1. Several Resources are available at the Cisco Learning Network –https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/community/certifications/ccna
2. Cisco Certification Exams Tutorial 

Link to Official Cisco CCNA Website

http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/le3/le2/le0/le9/learning_certification_type_home.html

CCNA VIDEO TRAINING

1. http://www.trainsignal.com/Cisco-CCNA-Training-P3.aspx
2. http://www.cisco-tips.com/ccna/ccnavideotraining.php
3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcxCjabAEzY
4. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxKW4P0OfPU

Sample Papers for CCNA Certifications

Cisco CCNA

1. http://learningnetwork.cisco.com/docs/DOC-1702.pdf