What is the CCNA Certification?

The CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) is a very famous certification in the field of computer networking, which was developed by Cisco Systems.  The CCNA certification program is a entry-level Cisco exam, which aims to confirm a solid base in basic networking. Cisco created the CCNA certification exam to recognize those with an understanding in support and installation of small to medium-sized networks.

Passing only 1 written exam, (#640-802), is the basic requirement of CCNA. Once you will get this certification, you will become certified in Switching and Routing, which is valid for 3 years.  Many use it as the starting stage for an expert certification.

Requirements for Getting CCNA Certified

You should have a basic understanding of networking if you want to go for your CCNA, which one can easily acquire when studying for the CCNA exam using recommended study guides.   A CCNA certified professional should be able to manage Internet environments or simple networked environments including switches and routers. Before going for your CCNA, you should ask yourself:

• Do you have an interest in Internetworking or networks?
• Would you like to work in the field of networking?
• How do you see the CCNA certification helping your career development?

CCNA Exam Details (Summary Overview)

CCNA exam consists of 55 to 65 questions, and a candidate gets 90 minutes to answer all the questions. The candidates should score at least 849 marks to pass this exam.  Topics that are covered on the CCNA exam include:

• IP Addressing
• LAN and WAN Fesign
• OSI model
• Routing Protocols (OSPF, RIP and EIGRP)
• WLAN (wireless LAN) and VLAN (virtual LAN)
• Network protocols
• Bridging/Switching
• Network Management
• Cisco IOS Basic Commands

The CCNA Will Open Doors

In addition to this core certification, Cisco also offers specialty certifications, which include CCNA Voice, CCNA Wireless and CCNA Security designed for someone looking for a specific concentration as oppose to an overall general knowledge.

Cisco also provides more advanced certification programs for networking experts beyond the CCNA such as the CCNP (Cisco Certified Network Professional) and CCIE (Cisco Certified Internet-work Expert).

The CCNA Certification Exam targets both students and professionals from all different backgrounds.  It’s an exam designed for those who are really interested in gaining practical knowledge within the networking world.   It is the essential first step for anyone who wants to have a career in the field of networking.