Let’s plunge into the tech world with CCNA certification. Want to know how? Keep on reading…
If you are wondering how to enter the infinite industry of infinite career opportunities then Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) should be your go-to course to take up. Do you know why?
Hold up, we will answer that for you.
A layman often gets confused where to start from. We have simplified it for you.
In this blog, you will get familiar with the whole roadmap to excel in your career. You will find out where to exactly start from and what to do after CCNA.
Table of Contents
The First Step: The Foundation
The first and the foremost step to begin your networking professional career is to have some basic knowledge about networking.
Where do you get it from?
Right from graduation, choose either BTech or BE or anything in computer science to keep the basic knowledge of computers, networking and the Internet. Having a graduate degree will give you an edge over others as it will help you to brush up your skills in a better way and make it easy for you to work with technology.
What if you don’t have a graduate degree?
Don’t worry if you are someone who doesn’t have a graduate degree in computers; you can still enter the networking domain with certifications. It is not a hard and fast rule to get your graduate degree in a dedicated networking field.
You can apply yourself at an online institution to get certified as a Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA).
The Second Step: Before CCNA
The second step of becoming a networking professional is to go for a vendor-neutral certification. If you don’t know what a vendor-neutral certification is, it refers to a certification that is not directly related to an IT vendor. It is only meant for increasing knowledge and skill base.
Vendor-Neutral Certifications:
Some of the vendor-neutral certifications meant to clear your basic concepts are:
- CompTIA A+:
This is the most basic vendor-neutral certification. Getting a CompTIA, A+ certification will make you efficient in supporting core technologies from security to cloud management. The certification will make you a problem-solver.
- CompTIA Network+:
CompTIA Network+ is a certification that confirms your skills for working in the IT industry. It polishes your skills in networking. The CompTIA Network+ certification is one of the most widely adopted certification to begin a career in the networking field.
- CompTIA Security+:
CompTIA Security+ is the most basic technical certification when it comes security certification. It touches down on the core concepts of security.
The Third Step: Here Comes the CCNA
After the completion of any one vendor-neutral certification of your choice, you can now go for vendor-specific certification, i.e., Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA).
If you look up to diving deep into the networking world, then CCNA is the gateway to it.
What do you need to know about CCNA?
Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) is the basic-level and a beginner-level technical certification by Cisco. It is meant for individuals who want to enter the networking world.
Types of CCNA certifications:
Cisco provides 10 associate-level or beginner’s-level CCNA certifications. These include:
- Cisco Certified Design Associate (CCDA) certification
- CCNA Routing and Switching
- CCNA Security
- CCNA Service Provider
- CCNA Wireless
- CCNA Data Center
- CCNA Industrial
- CCNA Cyber Ops
- CCNA Cloud
- CCNA Collaboration
Requirements for CCNA exam:
In order to take the CCNA exam, you don’t need any pre-requirements. All you need is some good online training from a reputed IT Infrastructure institute.
In the current times, online learning is the need of the hour. It is, in fact, what suits the most of us in times of uncertainty and lack of time. You can choose and get enrolled at any of the e-learning EdTech platforms.
One of such platforms is Network Kings- World’s no. 1 IT Infrastructure E-Learning Platform. To start your career in CCNA, tap on the link: https://www.nwkings.com
Exam fees for CCNA exam:
The CCNA Routing and Switching exam is the most important pre-requirement before taking any other CCNA exam such as CCNA Security, Wireless, Industrial and the CCDA.
The CCNA Routing and Switching costs for $325 or $330.
The CCNA Security, Wireless, Industrial and the CCDA each cost for $465.
The CCNA Cloud, Cyber Ops, Data Center, Service Provider and CCNA Collaboration each cost $600.
Syllabus for the CCNA exam:
The various topics that need to be covered for the CCNA exam include:
- Network Fundamentals
- Network Access
- IP Connectivity
- IP Services
- Security Fundamentals
- Automation and Programmability
The Fourth Step: After CCNA
After you get CCNA certified, you can always get yourself upgraded with the higher Cisco certifications available in the market.
The Cisco certifications after CCNA are as follows:
- Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP):
Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) is a middle-level Cisco networking certification which is meant for Network or System Administrators who want to upgrade their skills.
You will learn about the advanced Routing and Switching. Along with that, you will also learn about Wide Area Network (WAN) and Local Area Network (LAN) and how they work together.
- Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE):
Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) is the most respected and highest level of Cisco certification. This certification proves your expertise in working with the advanced and the most complex enterprise networking infrastructures.
Concluding Note:
Building a career in the networking and technical world is not that hard, however, it is not even that easy. You need to position your preparation to take the Cisco Certified Networking Associate (CCNA) exam preparation in accordance with the Cisco exam guidelines.
You can get enrolled in any of the renowned IT Infrastructure institutes online to begin your learning journey.
If you are still wondering what step to take, you’re probably thinking too much. We have laid down the right path for you, all you have to do is just follow it.
Begin your Networking career right away!
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