According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employers increasingly prefer to hire certified professionals, so CCNA certification can boost one's overall employment potential, not to mention salary. BLS data shows that the mean wage for network administrators in 2009 was $70,930. According to Global Knowledge's IT Skills and Salary Report, however, the mean wage for CCNA professionals in 2011 was $79,536, an improvement that far outpaces growth attributed to inflation.
Who should consider CCNA certification?
The CCNA cert is designed for either entry-level networking pros or for more advanced professionals who must earn CCNA certification before pursuing more advanced credentials. CCNA certified professionals are often sought out by mid-sized corporations of virtually any industry that rely on secure networks to maintain company operations and communications.
What will CCNA candidates learn?
According to Cisco, the CCNA certification validates one's ability to install, operate and troubleshoot medium-size route and switched networks. This also includes the implementation and verification of connections to remote sites in a WAN. In order to meet these requirements, Cisco's curriculum touches upon the following areas:
* Basic mitigation of security threats
* Entry-level wireless networking concepts and terminology
* Performance-based skills
* 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 CCNA exams like?
Cisco allows CCNA candidates to earn certification two ways. The first option allows students to complete the Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices Parts 1 and 2 (640-822 ICND1 and 640-816 ICND2) separately. Students are given 90 minutes to complete 40 to 50 questions for each exam. Once they pass Part 1, students have three years to pass Part 2. The second option allows students to take a composite exam (640-802 CCNA) combining Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices Parts 1 and 2. This exam is also 90 minutes in length, but includes 45 to 55 questions.
All CCNA certification exams can include the following types of questions: multiple-choice single-answer, multiple-choice multiple-answer, drag-and-drop, fill-in-the-blank, and simulations. Tests are given online, in an official test center. Candidates are not able to return to skipped questions or review previous answers, so they need to be able to manage their time and choose answers wisely. Simulations tend to take the longest and contribute heavily to one's final score, in turn, making them require extra time and attention.
An organized candidate can typically prepare for each of the two separate CCNA certification exams in about a month, or in about a month and a half for the composite exam. One can access official study materials and practice tests on Cisco's website. The Association for Computing Machinery, an organization for IT professionals, also offers study guides.
How long is a CCNA certification valid?
All associate-level Cisco credentials, including the CCNA certification, are valid for three years. According to Cisco, those who wish to re-certify can do so by passing any of the following exams:
* ICND2 exam
* CCNA exam
* CCDA Design exam
* CCNA Concentration exam
* Any 642-xxx Professional-level exam
* Certain Cisco Specialist exams
* CCIE written exam
* CCDE written or practical exam
* Cisco Certified Architect (CCAr) interview and board review
What are CCNA specialties?
Cisco offers additional CCNA certifications in the following specialties:
* Security
* Service Provider Operations
* Voice
* Wireless
Note that these CCNA credentials are different from the basic CCNA certification described above, which serves as a prerequisite for specialty-based certifications.
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