Introduction:
Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA certification) demonstrates your competence to install, configure, operate, and troubleshoot routed and switched networks. Network security concerns can be mitigated, and those with the CCNA credential can understand basic networking ideas and terminology. They can also connect to remote locations over a WAN.
CCNA certification is Cisco’s most popular certification and one of the most sought-after qualifications in the computer sector. The CCNA certification is a significant first step toward a successful network administrator or a career in engineering. Many Cisco training programs and specialized college degrees focus on Cisco networking.
Network engineers, network administrators, network support technicians, and help desk technicians require the CCNA as pre-requisites for their positions. Cloud, collaboration, security, data centres, and wireless networks were part of the original ten CCNA specializations. Cisco then unified its basic networking qualifications into a single CCNA certification in February 2020.
Key Features:
- A single exam, the CCNA 200-301, is required to earn the certification.
- As of June 2021, the CCNA exam cost was $300, including tax.
- Understanding computer networks is encouraged, but no pre-requisites are required to appear for the exam.
- In the United States, over 6,000 job posts on Glassdoor and 12,000 on Indeed mention the CCNA certification, making it one of the most in-demand IT credentials.
The Four Levels Of Cisco Certifications:
The Cisco Certified Technician certification is available in three technological areas: Collaboration, Data Center, and Routing & Switching. It is Cisco’s only entry-level certification, and there are no pre-requisites to CCNA or other advanced certifications for working in the tech support field.
Cisco’s certification hierarchy has four levels:
- One or two years on the field means you are part of a team, but not in charge of it.
- A senior member of an IT team or the team leader, these IT professionals have a greater depth of knowledge and expertise.
- Those who have reached this degree of expertise have been networking for some time and have honed their craft in a particular niche.
- From planning and developing to managing and improving network systems, this certification recognizes a greater degree of experience.
Engineering, Software, and CyberOps exams are available for all four levels of certification. Cisco’s higher-level certification examinations, such as Cisco Certified Network Professional and Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert, required CCNA until the program was modified in 2020.
How To Earn A CCNA Certificate?
You must pass the Cisco 200-301 CCNA test to become CCNA certified. To sit for the CCNA test, candidates should have the following skills and knowledge:
- The ability to identify IP addresses
- Understanding the foundations of networking
- Experience with Cisco products and solutions for at least 12 months
How Much Does The CCNA Certification Cost?
The CCNA course fees are around $300 + tax. Pearson administers the CCNA exam, and the CCNA test is referred to as the ‘200-301 CCNA’. Proctored examinations are available in-person, at a physical place, or online. The Cisco certification can also be purchased with Cisco Learning Credits. Companies can acquire pre-paid credits for their staff to use on the Cisco platform as they see fit.
CCNA Training & Courses:
A CCNA course online can help you prepare for the CCNA certification exam. In-person classes at a community college near you may offer the same benefits. The Implementing and Administering Solutions course from Cisco helps you pass the CCNA exam. As of June 2021, the course was $800.
The amount of time it takes to prepare for the CCNA exam depends on the student’s level of expertise and how much time they spend studying. It is possible to enroll in a Bootcamp that is more intensive for someone who has previously worked in a related field for some time and has gained relevant experience.
Cisco Press, the company’s online bookstore, sells official study resources for those who wish to learn on their own. It is possible to spend $40 ($26 for the ebook) to study for the CCNA 200-301 exam just 31 days before the test date. Additionally, for $79, Cisco provides an online exam review that includes 300 practice questions and 15 lab exercises.
Cisco also provides an official course called “Implementing and Administering Cisco Solutions,” which costs $800 and can be taken either in person or electronically with the guidance of an instructor. The course consists of five days of classroom teaching and three days of self-study, or the virtual equivalent. The only prerequisites for this course, according to Cisco, are a fundamental understanding of computers and the Internet, as well as an understanding of IP addresses.
Cisco is not the only company that offers training programs and study materials. If you are looking for CCNA practice examinations, Udemy has them for $30. As a bonus, the Udemy self-paced CCNA course is only $20. More than 120,000 individuals have taken it, with an average rating of 4.6 stars from over 17,000 reviewers.
