CCNA -Cisco Certified Network Associate is a popular
industry certification program in computer networking developed by Cisco Systems . Cisco created the CCNA to
recognize basic competency in installation and support of medium-sized
networks.
Types of CCNA
Certifications
The CCNA program began in 1998 with one
core certification focused on network routing and switching, obtainable by
passing a single 75-minute written exam.
In 2013, Cisco began expanding the
program to cover many other facets of computer networking and network
administration. Ten different CCNA specialized certifications exist
CCNA Cloud
CCNA Collaboration
CCNA Datacenter
CCNA Industrial
CCNA Routing and Switching
CCNA Security
CCNA Service Provider
CCNA Video retired as of September 2015
CCNA Voice retired as of September 2015
CCNA Wireless
Among Cisco five-tier network
certification system, the CCNA family belongs to the Associate tier, second from
the bottom tier called Entry and below the middle Professional tier that
includes the CCNP certification family.
Studying and Taking CCNA
Exams
The CCNA Industrial, Security and
Wireless specializations each require completing a different Cisco
certification first, while the others have no prerequisites. Each
certification requires passing either one or two exams with standard total sitting
fees of USD $250-$300 per specialization after prerequisites.
Cisco and other companies offer various
formal training courses to help students prepare for these exams. Topics to
study vary according to the specialization. For example, topics covered on the
CCNA Routing and Switching Exam include
A CCNA remains valid for three years
when re-certification is required. Alternatively, professionals can instead
progress to the higher-tier Cisco certifications beyond CCNA, including the CCNP and
CCIE Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert. Employers sometimes reimburse
the exam fees of their employees as part of supporting their career
development.
Jobs That Require
CCNA
Businesses with networks using Cisco routers and switches often look for IT
professionals having CCNA certification. Common job titles for those holding
CCNAs include Network Engineer and Network Administrator.
Companies hiring new IT associates
require varying combinations of certification, academic degrees, and work
experience depending on their needs. Some do not seek CCNA holders at all while
others consider it mandatory, even for roles that appear similar to each
other.