CCNA stands for Cisco Certified Network Associate. It is a certification program offered by Cisco Systems, one of the world’s leading providers of networking and IT infrastructure solutions.
What is CCNA Certification?
The CCNA certification is designed to validate an individual’s knowledge and skills in the area of network fundamentals, network access, IP connectivity, IP services, security fundamentals, automation, and programmability. It is an entry-level certification that is recognized globally and is a prerequisite for many other Cisco certifications.
To obtain a CCNA certification, candidates must pass a Cisco-proctored exam, which consists of multiple-choice questions and simulations. The exam covers a broad range of topics related to networking, including network architecture, routing and switching, VLANs, wireless networks, network security, and network troubleshooting.
The CCNA certification can be helpful for individuals looking to start a career in networking or IT, as it demonstrates a basic understanding of networking concepts and technologies. It is also valuable for individuals who already work in networking or IT and want to further their skills and knowledge, as well as advance their career opportunities.
Reasons to become Networking Professionals
We shall now discuss some of the top reasons why it is important for networking professionals to become Cisco Certified that will help you take the final decision.
- Credibility: Certification proves that you are a qualified candidate and professional certifications like CCNA from accredited bodies and a Network leader plays a fundamental role in recruitment process.
- Qualifier: CCNA certification qualifies you for various other Cisco certifications for your career advancement.
- Acquire Knowledge: The process of acquiring certification helps to improve knowledge and understanding of the subject for better problem-solving skills. The process of acquiring new skills and learning new techniques help as a catalyst in career progression irrespective of the experience.
- Career Advancement: For working professionals, having a certification increases the probability of promotion and profile enrichment.
- Career Options: With a certification there are more career options to choose and apply your networking skills to core technologies like Data Science, Cloud Security etc. or you may also choose become a professional trainer.
- Pay Revision: Certification helps to increase earning potential as many companies reward employees who keep on updating their skills.
- Stay Updated: Since the certification curriculum keeps on revising and updated to latest trends on regular basis. Getting certified helps you to prepare for the new transformation and technological requirements.
Career Path for Cisco Certified Professionals
Following are the suggested steps to become a Cisco Certified Professional
STEP 1 – Identify your area of interest
You have to choose from one of the career path for beginning your career and become a certified professional.
- Networking, Network Design and Security
- A candidate interested in networking or network design can help evolve an organization’s infrastructure to deliver secure, reliable, and seamless user experiences in a world with many new and shifting borders. Further, areas of expertise in this field are Design, Network Security, Routing & Switching, and Wireless.
- Voice and Collaboration Solutions
- Becoming certified in Voice Technologies enables you to help people communicate more naturally, anywhere, anytime. However, a Cisco certified professional implementing Cisco voice and collaboration solutions can help build more effective teams across corporate boundaries, companies, and continents.
- Data Center and Storage Networking
- Cisco Data Center solutions accelerate service delivery, improve profitability, and reduce risk for new business model deployments. Further, an employee implementing a Data Center solution will work to unify storage, computing, and network resources to simplify your data center.
- Service Provider
- Becoming certified in the Service Provider field will help you implement and build extensible service provider infrastructures that deliver managed services.
STEP 2 – Select a Learning Path
Networking, Network Design, and Security – If you have selected Networking and network design as your area f interest then it becomes important to select your learning path from the following –
- Design
- Secondly, Routing and Switching
- Network Security
- Lastly, Wireless
Voice and Collaboration Solutions – The next step involves identifying the learning path for attaining a certification in voice and collaboration solutions
- Collaboration
- Then, Video
- Voice
Data Center and Storage Networking – Now if you have selected the Data Center and storage networking as you area of interest then the learning path for the candidate becomes Data Center
Service Provider – If you have selected your area of interest for certification as a Service provider then the following is the learning path available for you –
- Service Provider
- Lastly, Service Provider Operations
STEP 3 – Choosing your Certification Goals
Cisco offers a wide range of certifications for aspirants and working professionals looking to certify and upgrade their skills and knowledge. As an applicant, you would be required to choose your goal for opting the certification based on your level of experience, criteria and work profile. However, the following are the levels based on which certifications are divided
- Firstly, Entry
- Then, Associate
- Professional
- After that, Expert
- Lastly, Architect
Career Certification Exam
Passing one or more exams is the requirement for achieving certification and, in most cases, for recertification. All presently accessible examinations are shown here, organised by certification and track. Different paths may require the same test in various situations. Within each track, there is a list of exams that are necessary for more than one track. All examinations are offered in English globally. Exams in other languages are not always available. For availability in your region, please contact an approved Cisco testing delivery partner.
Certifications Exams Structure
How to Recertify?
Recertification is a key signal for IT workers and their companies since it shows that the certification holder has kept up with current networking technology advances. Valid certificates can be renewed indefinitely, but if they are not renewed in a timely manner, they will expire or become inactive. Individuals should also recertify by moving to the next level of certification or fulfilling the recertification criteria to keep their qualifications current.
Recertification Renewal Timeframes
| Certification | Duration |
| Entry-level, Associate-level, and Professional-level | 3 years |
| Expert-level Certifications | 2 years |
| Specialist certifications | 2 years |
| Cisco Certified Architect | 5 years |
Certification holders must register for and pass the applicable Cisco recertification exam in order to renew their certification (s). Certification holders must fulfill the recertification criteria prior to the certification expiration date in order to recertify. If an individual’s certification(s) expires, he or she must go through the complete certification procedure again to reclaim their certification (s).
