Required examinations to achieve Cisco CCNA certification

Vendor: Cisco

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Certification overview

There are five levels of Cisco network certifications: 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:

• CCNA Routing and Switching
• CCDA
• CCNA Data Center
• CCNA Security
• CCNA Service Provider
• CCNA Service Provider Operations
• CCNA Video
• CCNA Voice
• CCNA Wireless

Every path certification requires a candidate to pass its respective CCNA test. CCNA exam questions for depend on the orientation of every certification path. Students must aim to answer each CCNA exam question correctly and get a passing score for the examinations. There are files about CCNA exam questions and answers available online for candidates who would like to test their skills and aptitude before taking the actual tests.

One of the accreditations that may boost a new network engineer's (with less than three years of experience) career is the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Routing and Switching certification. It validates a candidate's fundamental knowledge in networks and is a highly valued qualification for Network Specialists, Administrators, and Support Engineers. To pass the CCNA test for this path, a student must be swell-versed in installing, configuring, operating, and troubleshooting routed and switched networks.

Cisco Certified Design Associate (CCDA) is especially for network design engineers, technicians, and support engineers, as it validates an IT professional's ability in enabling effective network environments. A candidate must also have mastery of network design founadtions. A candidate aspiring for this certification may choose to answer CCNA exam practice questions about designing basic campus, data center, security, voice, and wireless networks.

The associate-level certification designed for business services and technology architects is called CCNA Data Center certification. This is also for presales, design, and implementation engineers who would like to save time, effort and resources on data center blueprint, installation, and maintenance. A student preparing for this certification may choose to download a CCNA exam simulation questions file in order to test his/her skills in data center network design, execution, and preservation.

The CCNA Security certification validates network-related security technologies. This certification also warrants competency in the technologies that Cisco uses in its security structure. With this CCNA qualification, an IT professional shows knowledge not just in developing a security infrastructure, but also in recognizing threats and vulnerabilities to networks.

Designed for network engineers, systems engineers, and network specialists who are tasked with delivering an infrastructure that is scalable and carrier-grade is the CCNA Service Provider certification. Cisco CCNA exam questions for this path covers an individual's knowledge on how to deploy, maintain and improve network infrastructures.

The CCNA SP Operations certification is for network professionals to demonstrate knowledge and skills needed to seclude network performance problems and execute fault measures. It validates a candidate's know-hows in troubleshooting environment within carrier class IP NGN core network infrastructure. However, this certification is being retired and the last day to take the test for CCNA Service Provider Operations certification will be on January 31, 2015.

Ideally for audiovisual professionals working with analog solutions is the CCNA Video certification. They can expand their knowledge into a Video-over-IP networked video environment through this accreditation. A student who wishes to test CCNA preparation in Video certification may avail of a CCNA online test specifically for this path.

CCNA Voice accreditation validates associate-level skills in administering a voice network. To attain a certification in this path, one must have skills in IP PBX, IP telephony, handset and other VoIP technologies.

The CCNA Wireless certification emphasizes an IT professional's knowledge and kills in configuring, implementing and supporting wireless LANs, particularly networks using Cisco. The curriculum for this certification includes preparing a candidate to configure, monitor and troubleshoot basic tasks of a Cisco WLAN.

Required exams

A student must pass the required examinations for their chosen path in order to achieve a certification. For the Routing and Switching path, a candidate must pass the following CCNA tests:

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

To attain a CCNA Data Center certification, a candidate must pass these CCNA exams:

• 640-911 DCICN
• 640-916 DCICT

Two required CCNA exams must be passed for the Service Provider path. These are:

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

To attain a CCNA Video certification, one must pass these CCNA exams:

• 200-001 VIVND
• 640-461 ICOMM

There are paths that require a candidate to pass only one CCNA test. A candidate aiming to attain CCDA must pass the 640-864 DESGN exam. Candidates aiming to achieve a CCNA Security certification must pass the 640-554 IINS test. For those aiming to attain a CCNA Voice certification, the 640-461 ICOMM exam must be passed. And a student in the Wireless path must pass the 640-722 IUWNE exam.

Required courses

Students are recommended to complete courses related to their path of choice as preparation for CCNA tests. These are offered by training institutions that are accredited by Cisco. The following courses are recommended for those aspiring to achieve CCNA Routing and Switching:

• Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices Part 1
• Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices Part 2
• Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices: Accelerated

A student aspiring to attain CCNA Data Center qualification can best prepare by undergoing the following courses:

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

There are two trainings that are recommended for candidates aiming 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)

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)

A candidate aiming for CCDA could best prepare by undergoing a course called Designing for Cisco Internetwork Solutions (DESGN). This is to enhance his/her knowledge and skills in fundamentals of network design. While a student in the Security path could prepare by undergoing a course on Implementing Cisco IOS Network Security (IINS). A candidate aiming for CCNA Voice certification may undergo a course called Introducing Cisco Voice and Unified Communications Administration (ICOMM). A student in the Wireless path could best prepare by availing of a course on Implementing Cisco Unified Wireless Networking Essentials (IUWNE).

Study materials

Recommended study materials for each path may be found in Cisco's website. There are also PDF files containing sample Cisco CCNA exam questions that students can use to review their knowledge and skills. There are also websites that offer CCNA exam simulation questions that are answered with time pressure in order to further prepare candidates for their qualifying exams. There are also CCNA certification exam questions and answers available online.

For those seeking an organized and instructor-led courses, links to Cisco Authorized Learning partners could also be accessed in the website. A students may choose to join an online study group for every path and level. In these study groups, candidates can ask questions and share ideas and tips with other students who are also aspiring to attain their certifications.

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