Cisco Certified Network Administrator (CCNA)
What is CCNA?
Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Routing and Switching is a certification program for entry-level network engineers. This certificate is very beneficial to its holder as it helps in maximizing investments in foundational networking knowledge and in improving the value of your employer’s network. CCNA Routing and Switching is a good choice for several professionals in networking fields, including Network Specialists, Network Administrators, and Network Support Engineers with 1-3 years of experience.
Why do you need to certify?
The fundamental purpose of any professional certification program is to offer an independent, dependable assessment of the knowledge and skills comprehension required for having an edge in performing a professional role. This assessment, like any other, is typically accomplished by the successful completion of the given examination. By having the CCNA Routing and Switching certification, it validates your ability to install, configure, execute, and troubleshoot medium-size routed and switched networks.
For network engineers and professionals who need to improve their career value to employers and adapt with the advances in networking industry, this CCNA certification program is designed to provide proper education and training required to meet several roles associated in network infrastructure products created by the industry leaders in networking.
What kind of exam is associated to this certification?
The following exam(s) is/are given prior to earn the Cisco certificate:
OPTION EXAM No. 1 : CCNA COMPOSITE
200-120 CCNA
The 200-120 CCNA is the composite exam associated with the Cisco CCNA Routing and Switching certification. Candidates can prepare for this exam by taking the course in Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices: Accelerated (CCNAX). This exam features and evaluates the candidate’s knowledge and skills required to install, operate, and troubleshoot a small to medium-size enterprise branch network. Topics associated in this exam cover everything under ICND 1 and ICND 2.
In this exam, the examinees are given 90 minutes to completely finish the 50-60 questions presented.
OPTION EXAM No. 2 : ICND1 and ICND2
100-101 ICND1
The 100-101 Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices Part 1 (ICND1) is the exam associated with the Cisco Certified Entry Network Technician certification and a definite first step in earning the CCNA Routing and Switching certification. Candidates can prepare for this exam by taking the course training in Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices Part 1 (ICND1). This exam features and evaluates the candidate’s knowledge and skills required to successfully install, operate, and troubleshoot a small branch office network. The exam encompasses the following topics: Operation of IP Data Networks; LAN Switching Technologies; IP Addressing (IPv4 & IPv6); IP Routing Technologies; IP Services (DHCP, NAT, ACLs); Network Device Security; Basic Troubleshooting.
In this exam, the examinees are given 90 minutes to completely finish the 45-55 questions presented.
AND
200-101 ICND2
The 200-101 Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices Part 2 (ICND2) is the exam associated with the CCNA Routing and Switching certification. Candidates can prepare for this exam by taking the course training in Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices Part 2 (ICND2). This exam features and evaluates the candidate’s knowledge and skills required to successfully install, operate, and troubleshoot a small to medium size enterprise branch network. The exam encompasses several topics, including: LAN Switching Technologies; IP Routing Technologies; IP Services (FHRP, Syslog, SNMP v2 and v3); Troubleshooting; WAN Technologies.
In this exam, the examinees are given 75 minutes to completely finish the 50-60 questions presented.
How to recertify?
Recertification is an important asset to IT professionals and their employers as it ensures that the certification holder is purely updated with the current trends in networking technology. Valid certifications may be renewed indefinitely, but without timely renewal, certifications expire or become inactive. To keep certifications valid, holders should recertify by advancing to the next level of certification or passing the designated recertification exam(s).
Individuals with an expired certification(s) must repeat the entire certification exam process in order to regain their certification(s).