CCNA

CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) is an entry-level information technology (IT) certification offered by Cisco Systems. CCNA certification is widely recognized in the IT industry as the foundational step for careers in IT positions and networking roles.

Cisco exams routinely change in response to evolving IT trends. In 2020, Cisco announced an update to its certification program that "Consolidated and updated associate-level training and certification." Cisco has consolidated the previous different types of Cisco-certified Network Associate with a general CCNA certification.

The exams content covers proprietary technology such as Cisco IOS and its associated command-line interface commands. Cisco along with 3rd party learning partners offer multiple training methods to achieve certification. Training methods include virtual classroom, in-person classroom, and book-based learning. Free alternatives are also available, such as community sourced practice exams and YouTube video lectures.

Exam
To achieve a CCNA certification, candidates must achieve a passing score on a proctored Cisco exam No. 200-301. After completion of the exam, candidates receive a score report along with a score breakdown by exam section and the score for the given exam.

The exam tests a candidate's knowledge and skills required to install, operate, and troubleshoot a small to medium size enterprise branch network devices. The exam covers a broad range of fundamentals, including network fundamentals, network access, IP connectivity, IP services, security fundamentals, automation, and programmability.

Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites to take the CCNA certification exam. However, if the learning curve is too steep, another starting point of Cisco networking qualifications is the CCT (Cisco Certified Technician).

Expiry
The CCNA Certification expires after three years. Renewal requires certification holders to register for and pass the same or higher level Cisco re-certification exam(s) every three years.