Everything You Wanted To Know About CCNA

Everything You Wanted To Know About CCNA
Photo : Everything You Wanted To Know About CCNA

What is CCNA

CCNA commonly known as Cisco Certified Network Associate is a globally recognized certification for professionals from networking backgrounds. The Associate level Cisco certification is offered and managed by Cisco Systems.

The validity of CCNA certification is 3 years. Certificate holders can apply for recertification of the same level or can also apply for higher certifications, which we will talk about later in the article. The company necessitates recertification every 3 years because of the quick pace with which the technology is changing. 

CCNA certified professionals are considered to have a basic understanding of the following topics:

  • Wide Area Network and Land Area Network design

  • OSI models

  • IP addressing

  • VLAN and WLAN

  • Routers/routing protocols

  • Network Security and Management

Eligibility for CCNA

There are no prerequisites for candidates to appear for Cisco Certified Network Associate Exam. However, candidates are required to pass the following exams to be able to obtain their CCNA certificate. 

  • ICND1 Exam (100-101) and the ICND2 (200-101)

  • Combined CCNA Exam (200-120)

Failure to qualify for any of the aforementioned exams will hurt their candidate in the process. 

Benefits of CCNA

CCNA is one of the hottest certification exams in the world right now. It is also among the top networking certifications. The best feature of CCNA is its global recognition and acceptance around the world. Companies prefer candidates with CCNA certifications nowadays.

CCNA establishes professionals as serious students of the industry and validates their knowledge about networking solutions. Companies like to invest in professionals who are serious about their trade and are looking to grow within the same industrial vertical. 

The popularity of the CCNA certification can be assessed from the fact that there are over 1 million networking professionals with CCNA certificates. The authenticity of the certification is unquestionable. It not only provides the candidates with the right set of knowledge and technical expertise but also enhances their career growth opportunities while helping them promote to a higher pay scale. Let us look at some of the leading benefits of obtaining CCNA.

Enhances Knowledge Horizons

To appear for the CCNA certification exam, candidates do not need to meet any educational or professional criteria. This means that anyone who is looking to grow their knowledge in the fields of networking can appear for the exam. The universality of the certification has made it a favorite among candidates working in the networking sector and candidates trying to make their switch to the networking industry. 

The test prepares candidates with knowledge of networking concepts and how to implement them in real-time. The recertification of the test makes sure that candidates are up to date with the new concepts and also latest innovations in the industry. This newly obtained skill and knowledge of networking concepts do not go unwelcomed. We will talk about rewards and career growth because of CCNA in the next section.  

Higher Pay Scale

We have already mentioned that CCNA enhances professionals' knowledge base by training and testing them on the latest technologies and solutions in the networking industry. This opens a multitude of avenues for candidates that promise assured career growth and increase monetary compensation for their work. The average increase in salary post the CCNA certification is around 20%, and CCNA certified professionals can expect a pay package between $30,000 and $90,000

Better Job Opportunities

Knowledge, Money, and Prosperity- They are all interlinked. When money starts rolling in one's career, so do fresh and exciting opportunities. CCNA has proved to be one of the most highly valued certifications in the networking industry. Reports suggest that professionals with certifications such as CCNa tend to get hired quickly and at a higher package compared to their uncertified peers. Over the past few years, companies have now begun asking CCNa certification as a prerequisite for networking roles in their companies. 

Quicker Career Growth

The increased monetary packages and better job opportunities provide the control that serious professionals want. With the right choices, CCNA certified professionals edge over their peers. Their growth in the industry is quicker with each leap bigger than the previous one. The preference for CCNA certification is not just provided while interviewing external candidates. It is also considered an added advantage for professionals while providing an internal promotion.  

Conclusion

You would have understood the importance of CCNa and why companies and networking professionals are crazy about it. Since companies entrust the networking role with professionals, they want somebody who knows everything latest in the industry. The certifications keep professionals up to date about the new concepts and latest innovations in the industry. 

It is safe to say that CCNA is the right Career move and candidates should now shy away from registering for the exam. This could be their best career decision till now. 

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