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Cisco CCNA Modifications - A New Layered Approach to Achieving
the CCNA
Cisco is revamping its CCNA certification by introducing a two exam
approach to achieving the CCNA designation, by making some content
revisions, and by adjusting how you recertify your CCNA. These changes
should be especially welcome to those just entering the IT or networking
field, to those who soon need to recertify their CCNA, and to Cisco,
who should be able to grow the popularity of their certification
by lowering the benchmark of their entry-level exam.
Cisco's CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate), which covers
IP networking and troubleshooting, is one of the most popular certifications
around. Since its inauguration, to achieve this certification required
passing one CCNA exam. The soon to retire version of this exam is
the 640-607, for which we have a recently updated, jam packed, CramSession
study guide. To make room for three new exams, this exam will be
retiring on September 30, 2003.
The Big Bang, One Exam, Approach
As in the past, you may continue to achieve the CCNA via one exam.
You do this by tackling the replacement exam for the 640-607, the
640-801, which just went live on June 30, 2003, or you may still
take the 640-607 exam before October, 2003. According to this Cisco
news release, the 640-801 exam has been "designed to better
assess the networking skills of entry level candidates."
Content in the New CCNA Program
More specifically, the 640-801 exam covers:
Understanding the functions and operations of local area networks
(LAN)
Cisco IOS fundamentals
Wide area networks (WAN)
Virtual private networks (VPN)
Storage Area Networks (SAN)
IP Addressing
Cisco Command Line Interface (CLI)
Routing and Switching technologies and protocols
This exam is the recommended approach for those candidates who have
some computing and networking experience, or who don't want to bother
with the time and cost associated with taking two exams rather than
one.
The Layered, Two Exam, Approach
Alternatively, a candidate, likely one quite new to networking
or one who likes to break one goal into two smaller milestones,
may take two exams to achieve the CCNA.
The first of these CCNA exams is the entry-level one, the Cisco
Networking Technologies (INTRO), exam number 640-821. This exam
is presently in beta as exam number 641-821.
This exam is a great launching pad for those new to networking
and who already have or are considering taking CompTIA's Network+
certification. Taking both the Network+ and the INTRO exam would
round out your knowledge of introductory networking concepts. Moreover,
you'd get both a vendor-specific and vendor-neutral look at networking.
In fact, getting dual-certified on these entry level networking
certifications can be leveraged to more prestigious titles. The
Network+ can be used as an elective to more advanced networking
certifications, such as Novell's CNE and Microsoft's MCSA. In terms
of Cisco's INTRO exam, passing it will help you break the CCNA task
into two chunks and give you confidence to take the second exam
required for your CCNA and to then perhaps move onto more advance
Cisco certifications, such as the CCNP (Cisco Certified Network
Professional).
The second, two-step CCNA exam is the Interconnecting Cisco Network
Devices (ICND), exam number 640-811, which was just released on
June 30, 2003. This exam "covers topics on Extending Switched
Networks with VLANS, Determining IP Routes, Managing IP traffic
with Access Lists, Establishing Pont-toPoint connections, and Establishing
Frame Relay Connections."
Recertification
Unlike CompTIA's Network+ certification, which is lifetime, Cisco's
CCNA certifications last three years. To recertify, you must pass
the "current" certification exam. As of now, this breaks
down into passing one of these three exams:
CCNA 640-607 by September 30, 2003
CCNA 640-801
ICND 604-811
As well, you may maintain your CCNA by taking "any exam at
the Professional or Cisco Qualified Specialist level bearing the
prefix 642."
Summary
Often large computer vendors seem to put obstacles in the way of
getting certified. This time, however, by making their CCNA program
more flexible, Cisco has made it easier for both those just entering
the networking field, and those already with some experience under
their belts, to either achieve the CCNA certification for the first
time or to get recertified before their three year window closes.
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