CCNA accreditation for new network engineers

Vendor: Cisco

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Certification overview

Because of the growing number of Cisco clients not just among private companies but also among public entities, Cisco certifications are becoming more and more popular. Cisco accrediations serve as validation of IT professionals' expertise and technical aptitude in the system.

Cisco network certifications have five levels: Entry, Associate, Professional, Expert and Architect, which is the highest accreditation that could be achieved in the Cisco Career Certification program. The Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) is a degree where candidates are trained with fundamentals of installing, operating and troubleshooting networks. Under the associate level, a candidate could apply for a certification in various paths:

• Routing and Switching
• Cisco Certified Design Associate (CCDA)
• Data Center
• Security
• Service Provider
• Service Provider Operations
• Video
• Voice
• Wireless

Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Routing and Switching is an accreditation for new network engineers with less than three years of experience. It validates a candidate's basic literacy in networks and is a prestigious certification for engineers and network specialists. A student must be swell-versed in installing, configuring, operating, and troubleshooting routed and switched networks.

Designed for network design engineers, technicians, and support engineers, Cisco Certified Design Associate (CCDA) validates an IT professional's ability in enabling effective network environments. A student should master network design fundamentals.

CCNA Data Center certification is for business services and technology architects and engineers. Knowledge in this path saves time, energy and resources on handling and keeping a data center. A student preparing for this certification may choose to buy or download a CCNA lab manual that focuses on data center network design, execution, and preservation.

The CCNA Security certification validates network-related security technologies. To get this CCNA qualification, one should demonstrate education about how to develop a security infrastructure, as well as how to comprehend network threats. Due to a growing number of professionals aiming to achieve this qualification, CCNA Security Lab Manual PDF files are becoming more and more popular online.

CCNA Service Provider is for network engineers, systems engineers, and network specialists who are tasked with delivering an infrastructure that is scalable and carrier-grade and can expand rapidly to support introduction of new managed services and other requirements. This certification emphasizes an individual's ability to deploy, maintain and improve network infrastructures.

CCNA SP Operations certification is for network professionals to demonstrate knowledge and skills needed to comprehend and recognize network problems. Cisco will no longer give certifications on this path starting February.

CCNA Video certification is ideally for audiovisual professionals working with analog solutions. They can extend their skills into a Video-over-IP networked video environment. Students who wish to get a certification in this path may choose to avail of CCNA practice labs specifically focusing on video.

Knowledge in operating a voice network is validated by the CCNA Voice accreditation. Cisco CCNA lab services for Voice are available online for students who want to hone their knowledge and skills in this path.

CCNA Wireless certification emphasizes an IT professional's knowledge and kills in operating Cisco wireless LANs. To prepare for this path, an individual should be knowledgeable in configuring, monitoring and troubleshooting foundational tasks of a WLAN.

Every path certification requires a candidate to pass its respective CCNA test. Being knowledgeable in CCNA labs is also helpful as it prepares a student in actual application of his/her learnings. Through Cisco CCNA labs, a student is able to actually practive his/her knowledge in various aspects of Cisco technologies. For candidates who would want to enhance their skills, there are various CCNA lab kit products, CCNA virtual lab services, CCNA lab workbook files, and CCNA lab manual files available on the internet. One could also consider having a CCNA home lab in order to practice and apply his/her knowledge is Cisco technologies.

Required exams

A candidate must complete the required examinations for the chosen certification. Each test tackles various aspects needed for the chosen path. The following are the tests required for each CCNA path:

Routing and Switching

• 200-120, or
• 100-101 ICND1
• 200-101 ICND2

Data Center

• 640-911 DCICN
• 640-916 DCICT

Service Provider

• 640-875 SPNGN1, and
• 640-878 SPNGN2

Video

• 200-001 VIVND
• 640-461 ICOMM

There are paths that require a student to pass only one exam. These are:

CCDA

• 640-864 DESGN

CCNA Security

• 640-554 IINS

CCNA Voice

• 640-722 IUWNE exam.

Required courses

A candidate aiming for CCNA Data Center qualification can best prepare by undergoing the following courses:

• Introducing Cisco Data Center Networking (DCICN)
• Introducing Cisco Data Center Technologies (DCICT)

The following courses are recommended for those aspiring to achieve CCNA Routing and Switching:

• Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices Pt 1
• Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices Pt 2
• Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices: Accelerate

It is recommended for CCNA Video certification examinees to undergo the following courses:

• Implementing Cisco Video Network Devices, Part 1 (VIVND1)
• Implementing Cisco Video Network Devices, Part 2 (VIVND2)
• Introducing Cisco Voice and Unified Communications Administration (ICOMM)

Two trainings are recommended for students aspiring for CCNA Service Provider certification:

• Building Cisco Service Provider Next-Generation Networks, Part 1 (SPNGN1)
• Building Cisco Service Provider Next-Generation Networks, Part 2 (SPNGN2)

Students could also prepare for CCNA tests through CCNA practice tests available online. For candidates preparing for single-exam certifications, the following trainings are recommended:

CCDA

• Designing for Cisco Internetwork Solutions

CCNA Security

• Implementing Cisco IOS Network Security

CCNA Voice

• Introducing Cisco Voice and Unified Communications Administration

CCNA Wireless

• Implementing Cisco Unified Wireless Networking Essentials

Study materials

Cisco recommends various study materials in its website. These materials include training videos, tech seminars and other readings. The website also provides syllabi for guided learning. There are also practive CCNA test online for students who want to gauge their skills and knowledge in their chosen paths.

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