How I passed the CCNA on my first try
Baha Abu-Shaqra, PhD (DTI uOttawa)
Digital Transformation and Innovation (EBT/EBC) | Academic Bullying at uOttawa Researcher
This post shares some key learnings and reflections pertaining to my CCNA certification journey. I briefly explain what skill areas are covered in the CCNA exam, the main study resources I used to prepare for the exam, how I decided I was ready to sit for the exam, and what worked and what didn't in helping me prepare for the exam. I close with outlining the key job roles suitable for holders of the CCNA. I begin with some acknowledgements.
You may also be interested in The CCNA exam final review plan.
Before we dive in, I try to make the world a little better. You're invited to read my letter to uOttawa President?Jacques Frémont about how to easily implement policy reforms to prevent supervisor bullying of uOttawa students: uOttawa President Jacques Frémont ignores university bullying problem. You may also be interested in How to end supervisor bullying at uOttawa.
Acknowledgements
I took the “self-study” route. And I owe the following industry leaders some words of gratitude.
What topics/skill areas does the CCNA certification cover?
The CCNA validates intermediate-to-advanced skills in a range of IT networking domains and technologies, including network fundamentals, network access, IP connectivity, IP services, security fundamentals, automation, and programmability. Common tasks CCNA holders perform include network configuration, network maintenance, performance optimization, and troubleshooting networks.
The CCNA is for people in IT roles looking to boost their position or role in an organization, or for people who are kickstarting their career in IT or networking. Cisco recommends the CCNA for people with one or more on the job experience implementing and administering Cisco solutions. As an associate level certification, the CCNA is generally equivalent to one year of on the job training.
Study resources
Readiness
When I was 80% confident that I can score 80% or more on the exam, I scheduled the exam appointment. I wrote a LinkedIn article about this:
What worked?
Mistakes/what didn't work
Job roles for CCNA holders
The two main potential job roles for the CCNA are Network Administrator and Network Engineer. In broad terms, engineers are responsible for creating a system, while administrators oversee the system after implementation.
Network Administrator
Network administrators are IT professionals who ensure that computer networks are operating to meet the needs of an organization. Network administrators install and configure, maintain, and monitor and troubleshoot networks and keep them secure.
Finally, network administrators work closely with network engineers to design, build, and implement new networks.
Salary ranges vary based on the organization's size and location, and on the specific responsibilities of the network administrator. In the U.S. you can expect to earn a salary between $60,000 and $90,000.
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Network Engineer
Network engineers apply a range of technologies to connect, secure, and automate complex networks. Network engineers are infrastructure experts who design and build, monitor and troubleshoot, and optimize an organization's computer network.
Salary ranges vary based on the organization's size and location, and on the specific responsibilities of the network engineer. You can expect to earn between?$100,000 and $150,000.
Other closely related job roles/titles include Configuration Engineer, Network Analyst, Junior Network Engineer, and Entry Level Network Engineer. Finally, don't overlook sales and marketing roles, such as network sales and product management.
Key references
CCNA certification
What Types of Jobs Can You Get with a CCNA?
https://www.cbtnuggets.com/blog/career/career-progression/what-types-of-jobs-can-you-get-with-a-ccna