How I passed the CCNA on my first try

How I passed the CCNA on my first try

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 study for the exam. I close with outlining the key job roles suitable for holders of the CCNA. I begin with some acknowledgements.

  • Acknowledgements
  • What topics/skill areas does the CCNA certification cover?
  • Study resources
  • Readiness
  • What worked?
  • Mistakes/what didn't work
  • Job roles for CCNA holders

You may also be interested in The CCNA exam final review plan.

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Acknowledgements

I took the “self-study” route. And I owe the following industry leaders some words of gratitude.

  • Jorge Armando Navarro (Network Engineer Academy) - whose YouTube videos inspired me to enter the field and study for the CCNA.
  • Jeremy McDowell - whose free CCNA YouTube video course constituted my main study resource for the exam. It’s the perfect place to start if you’re getting into IT with zero prior experience/knowledge of the field.
  • Ed Harmoush (Practical Networking), Wendell Odom, and Kevin Wallace - thank you for the exceptional and helpful content you share with the community.

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:

The CCNA exam final review plan

What worked?

  • Being patient with myself that some concepts and skills need time to cement/build up. Repetition, going over the curriculum in iterative cycles of revision.
  • There is a lot of malarkey and absurdities about how to study for the CCNA exam on YouTube. Ignore videos not created by accomplished/well regarded contributors, even if a video has a lot of hits. If you’re serious about getting into IT/networking, soon enough you will identify who’s worth your time.

Mistakes/what didn't work

  • A big one is not writing down with pen and paper the material I needed to learn/memorize, such as how to use the commands (the configurations) and the various standards.
  • Not starting the labs from day 1. I went through the curriculum a couple of times before beginning my first lab.

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.

  • Network administrators install and configure computer systems and network equipment for local and wide area networks. They install hardware and software equipment, and handle lower-level security issues.
  • Network administrators maintain and upgrade existing hardware equipment and devices such as routers and switches. They also update and configure device software and virus protection software.
  • Network administrators monitor and troubleshoot the enterprise network. They monitor and evaluate the performance of the network, and they fix problems and repair faulty devices and configurations. They troubleshoot connectivity issues and provide technical support to users.

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.

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.

  • Network engineers design, build, and automate physical and wireless networks. They ensure connectivity between network devices, such as phones, computers, routers, intranets, and extranets.
  • Network engineers monitor and troubleshoot the network to keep it running efficiently. They analyze network performance and test network functionality.
  • Network engineers look for ways to optimize and improve infrastructure for improved performance and security. They look for opportunities to automate rote tasks, and work with vendors and colleagues to integrate new technologies into existing network infrastructure.

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.

*Featured image courtesy of cbtnuggets.com

Key references

CCNA certification

https://www.cisco.com/site/us/en/learn/training-certifications/certifications/enterprise/ccna/index.html

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

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