How to Pass CCNA Exam - Complete CCNA Certification Guide

CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) still remains the choice for individuals when it comes to further accelerate their computer networking career.

Either you may be an expert and have demonstrated your ability to handle medium-sized networks or you may be a complete fresher who is looking to give your career a push, the CCNA certification will definitely promote your prospects for a better job and also better understanding of the concepts.

The CCNA certification demonstrates an individual's capacity to install, configure, operate, and troubleshoot medium-size route and switched networks, including implementation and verification of connections to remote sites in a WAN.

In certification circles the brand Cisco is widely respected and scores of students, experienced professionals, and teachers regard CCNA as a stepping stone for a productive career in Information Technology and computer networking specifically.

There is no certain time to get certified but every time is good to get CCNA certification. There are cases when professionals after getting 5-10 years of job experience come back to the study room to get certified.

Yes its definitely important in the long term.

May it be students or working professional consider CCNA as extremely tough, however, it is not. The belief comes from the fact that there is not enough information on the subject. People are confused. If you can clear your +2 examination then you can definitely clear CCNA in a single attempt.

The most important thing here is to believe that you can definitely crack this exam and achieve what you always wanted to.

Ask yourself these questions.

1. Why you want to pass CCNA - You may want to get a better job or it can be a supplement on to your resume or your employer wants you to get certified. Know your reasons. Write it on a paper and keep it aside your desk, study table, in your wallet, in the bathroom so that you can remember it. This will help you to be motivated.
2. How will you pass it - Will you attend a complete training or a boot camp or you may self-study and clear the exam. This depends on your ability to attend daily classes and the amount of money you would like to spend. Experienced professionals do go for boot camps, which is good for refreshing up knowledge they already have. Freshers are advised not to attend boot camps, instead go for a full-fledged training module.
3. How much time you will give - Setting a deadline helps very much. It may be three weeks or three months or whatever is best for you and be realistic. Set your deadline and work towards it with full conviction and dedication. Push yourself to the brink to achieve your deadline but not at the cost of ambiguity in understanding the concepts.

What exams should you pass to get CCNA certified

There are two approaches to get CCNA certified.

1) Single Paper (45 - 55 Questions)

• Exam Number : 640-802
• Duration : 90 minutes

2) Two Papers (40 - 50 Questions)

• Exam Number : 640-822 ICND1
• Exam Number : 640-816 ICND2
• Duration : 90 minutes

It has been noticed that many experienced network professionals go for single-exam approach.

Study/Learn

The important and by far the biggest decision now to make is selecting the right books and learning it thoroughly. Selecting the right books and following the syllabus is the recipe for success.

First get the basic right i.e. subnetting, OSI refernce model, TCP/IP model and stuff like that, though there will be no direct questions on these but it will go in a long way in understanding vague concepts.

Leave no room for excuses and prepare every word of the syllabus thoroughly. Group study if you are comfortable. Practicing lab exercise in groups is of tremendous help.

Some reference books and training material that is very helpful are listed on the right side of this page. Most of the Industry experts also recommend these books.

Practice

"Practice is the best of all instructors." - Pubilius Syrus

After thoroughly reading and revising the books one should have ample hands-on experience to get certified. The internet is full of free practice questions and other helpful stuff, make a habit to practice those questions by creating a test center like atmosphere. Just Google Free CCNA Practice questions and see for yourself.

Consider this analogy. Syllabus should be considered as the referee, books as the rule book, practice test as match-practice, and CCNA exam as the goal post.

Scheduling the Test

Exams can be schedule online at Pearson VUE centers or by directly at your nearby associate Pearson centers. If you are visiting a nearby center and scheduling the exam then make sure that the person selects the right date and time that you mentioned. If possible also ask the executive to remind you before one or two days of the test.

This reminds me of a story of one of my friend. What happened was he went to the nearby Pearson center and scheduled the test but the executive there scheduled it one month before the date mentioned and my good old poor friend was snoring when his test happened. Money and effort wasted. Bad things happen so do check it properly.

Test appointments scheduled for less than 48 hours cannot be canceled.

Cost of the Exam

For 640-802 - USD 250

For ICND1 and ICND2 - USD 150 each

For the latest cost contact VUE directly.

Americas region:877-404-3926

Asia-Pacific Region:+60-383-191-085

Europe, Middle East, Africa region :+44-161-855-7455

Rewards

Apart from career advancements, you will receive:

• CCNA Card
• CCNA Certificate
• CCNA Certificate Letter

Recertification

CCNA certifications are valid for three years. To recertify, pass ONE of the following before the certification expiration date:

• Pass the current ICND2 exam, or
• Pass the current CCNA exam, or
• Pass any current CCNA Concentration exam (wireless, or security, or voice, or SP Ops), or
• Pass any current 642-XXX Professional level exam, or
• Pass any current Cisco Specialist exam (excluding Sales Specialist exams or MeetingPlace Specialist exams or Implementing Cisco Telepresence Installations [ITI] exams), or
• Pass any current CCIE Written Exam, or
• Pass the current CCDE Written Exam OR current CCDE Practical Exam, or
• Pass the Cisco Certified Architect (CCAr) interview AND the CCAr board review to extend lower certifications