What is a Cisco Certified Network Associate?

Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) is a certification offered by Cisco*. The associate-level certification involves information Technology (IT) and comes with many benefits. The Cisco training and exams as well have changed a number of times due to the changes in the industry. Cisco tries to keep the training relevant to the current job roles, thereby, updating the curricula from time to time as the changes occur.

Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Level Beginner. Duration 90 hrs. Course Fee ₹10500. Module 1 Module 2. 90 hours 45 hours. Cisco Certified Network Associate v2.0 (CCNA 200-301) is a 120-minute exam associated with the CCNA certification. This exam tests a candidate's knowledge and skills related to network fundamentals, network access, IP connectivity, IP services, security fundamentals, and automation and programmability.

Currently, there are various categories of Cisco Certified Network Associate including CCNA Routing and Switching, which is closest to the initial CCNA focus, CCNA cloud, security, collaboration, security operations, data technologies, design, service providers, industrial plants, and wireless. The exams correspond with the specific training given and after passing the exams, a person can be certified.

Cisco and those that it partners with offer various methods of training which include online courses, books that Cisco Press has published and classroom courses. To be certified for CCNA Routing and Switching, a person must attain a score of #200-125, or attain a combination of #100-105 in Interconnecting Cisco Network Devices one (ICND1) and #200-125 in ICND2.

When your employees pass the ICND1 exams, they can pursue certification for the Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician (CCENT). The setting of the passing scores is done through statistical analysis and can be changed at any time. When an individual completes the exam, the exam section gives them a score report together with a score breakout. They are also given the required pass score for the specific exam. The exam passing scores are however not published since the passing scores and exam questions can change at any time.

Topics under the Cisco Certified Network Associate Routing and Switching certification

The certification for Cisco Certified Network Associate Routing and Switching involves a composite exam -the 200-120 CCNA. This exam assesses whether an individual has the knowledge and skills that are necessary for installing, operating and troubleshooting the network of a medium size or at least small size enterprise. The topics involved in CCNA Routing and Switching include:

Network security implementation
Making a connection to a WAN
Types of networks
Network media
Fundamentals involved in routing and switching
OSI and TCP models
WAN technologies
IP addressing
Configuring and operating of IOS devices
Using VLANs to extend switched networks
Selecting IP routes
Using access lists to manage IP traffic
Establishment of point to point connections and,
Establishment of Frame Relay Connections.

Why Consider CCNA?

Apart from CCNA, there are very many networking certificates out there. However, CCNA training has been known to offer the best IT networking certification and is recognized in many places. With the pace that the world is moving now, it’s likely that we will see technological innovations that are ten times greater than what we have today. It’s necessary to move with the change because it will be impossible to figure some things out or your company gets left behind.

The Benefits of CCNA Training

Keeping up to date with current technology

Given that CCNA curriculum keeps on being updated to fit the current trends, it’s the best option if you want your company to remain relevant and up to date with networking technology. Cisco network is the best choice for the growth of your business. With the routing and networking training, your business will be among the best in the provision of services to customers, thereby, ensuring that your business prospers. Also, a cohesive network setting makes it easy to deploy solutions that are relevant to the current business challenges.

Improving professionalism

Since they are a network engineer or an IT technician, you might be looking for a way of enhancing and sharpening your team's professionalism. Many professionals always want to remain on top of their game so that they can be among the best in the industries they are working in. The certification offers your workers the best training and makes certain that they become better at their jobs. Individuals who have undergone CCNA certification exhibit excellent skills in installation, operation, and configuration of networking systems.

Benefits for the employer

If you’re an employer and your employees are CCNA certified, you’re likely to benefit a lot. CCNA certification gives employees confidence in whatever they are doing since they know that they possess relevant and quality training. This way, they’ll serve the clients of the business with confidence and that is a very important thing since the clients are the people who keep the company going.

CCNA certification comes with endless benefits. The training improves a person’s professionalism and broadens their skills in networking. If you’re an employer and would like your employees to receive quality training in CCNA, consider applying for the Infotec Cisco Certified Network Associate training*. You can contact Infotec for more details or to sign up today.

*Powered by Sunset Learning.

For more information about Infotec or any of our programs click here: http://www.infotectraining.com/ or https://ops.infotecpro.com/course_schedule/course_schedule.cfm.

Traditional college is becoming less of a necessity, thanks in part to certification programs. This is especially true for those interested in working in a technology field. Becoming certified is a great way to set yourself on a career path or get your foot in the door with an IT or networking job. The catch with these certification programs, however, is that you’re required to study for and take a test to earn your certification — and everybody knows how tough tests can be.

To become a Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP), you must first be a Cisco Certified Network Associate or Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert. If you qualify, you’ll be asked to take three exams — ROUTE, SWITCH, and SHOOT — which means plenty of studying.

What does a CCNP do?

. Net Projectscisco Certified Network Associate Salary

A CCNP deals with the planning, implementation, verification, and troubleshooting of Cisco-based networks. After certification, a CCNP generally specializes in a particular area such as voice, security, or wireless.

A CCNP may land a job as a network engineer, network administrator, or Information Technology manager, just to name a few. For a network administrator, the median annual salary was $75,790 in 2014. In contrast, a computer network architect had a median annual salary of $98,430 per year in 2014. The key difference between the qualifications required for these jobs is the experience — a Network Architect generally requires at least five years of experience in the field.

The Career Path of a CCNP

The path to becoming a CCNP is one that requires knowledge, time, and experience.

To begin the path, you’ll have to take the ICND1 exam to become a Cisco Certified Entry Network Technician. This exam consists of 45-55 questions and costs $125 per attempt.
After this, you must take the ICND2 exam. It consists of 50-60 questions and costs $125 per attempt.
When you have both ICND1 and ICND2 completed, you’ll have to take the CCNA exam. This exam consists of 50-60 questions and costs $250 per attempt.