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What is the CCNA exam like? In one word: ‘tough’. The Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification is one of the most popular networking certifications in the world. With its vendor being Cisco which produces most of the networking hardware, it is safe to say that wanting to get certified with the CCNA certification is probably one of the best goals that you can have in your professional IT career. But trying to pass the CCNA exam and getting certified is certainly not as easy as you might think.
In 2020, Cisco announced that it was consolidating the different associate certification programs into a single CCNA certification. It means that you only need to pass the 200-301 Cisco certification exam to earn the CCNA certificate. However, it also means that you will need to be familiar with many different topics from different domains like network fundamentals, IP services, software development with CIsco systems, and many more. The 200-301 CCNA certification exam is a 120-minute exam that comes in two different languages, English and Japanese. The cost of the CCNA exam is US$ 300 and it mostly validates your knowledge in network and security fundamentals, IP services, automation, etc.
The exam usually consists of single-choice, multiple-choice, and drag and drop questions that you need to answer within the given time. After getting certified with the CCNA certification, you will be able to land different jobs like Network Engineer, Network Administrator, help desk technician, etc with an average annual salary of US$ 60,000-90,000 depending on your experience. So, CCNA is definitely a certification giving you many benefits.
As for why I call the CCNA exam tough is because the exam covers a wide range of topics and you need profound knowledge, skills, and extensive preparation before you can crack the exam. Although it is an entry-level exam, if you take it to be one of those fundamental IT certifications covering only the basic topics then you are in for a tough time. Take a look at the following table to understand the different domains covered by the CCNA exam and their percentage in the examination. Domains ———————————— % in the exam Network Fundamentals ——————- 20% Network Access —————————- 20% IP Connectivity —————————— 25% IP Services ———————————— 10% Security Fundamentals ——————- 15% Automation and Programmability —- 10% The learning resources for the CCNA exam are all available online. You can get the Cisco instructor training, different books and study guides, online forums, etc. However, you should keep in mind that the problems asked in the exam are complex problems and need your ability to think critically.
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