Cisco CCNA Certification For Foundation Level Networking

Cisco offers many certificate courses for people who want to pursue their career in computer networking. Cisco CCNA certification is thereby the foundation level course which is offered for beginners in networking. A CCNA certified candidate is capable enough to carry out all important networking tasks that include troubleshooting and maintenance as well.

After the completion of CCNA, the candidate can also install, configure and operate the WAN, LAN and other small network dial access tune-ups. They also develop an insight into the workings of protocols like Ethernet, IP, Access Lists, RIP, Frame Relay, IGRP, VLANs, IP RIP, Serial and many others.

However, there are no particular prerequisites required to pursue this certification. Nonetheless, CCNA must not be considered to be an entirely entry-level certification. In other words, it should be regarded as a certification which is targeted towards intermediate knowledge and networking.

So, people who have just little or no prior knowledge at all should perhaps consider networking certification like CompTIA's Network+, which is a basically the stepping stone for CCNA certification. In fact, CCNA certification itself is also a prerequisite for other highly advanced Cisco certifications like CCSP, CCNP, and others. So, in case you are aiming to clear these advanced certifications to boost your career, you will have to clear the CCNA certification exam.

There are two routes that a candidate may choose for CCNA certification. They can either clear two exams individually or opt for a combined exam. However, the tests will be conducted on the basis of same subjects, no matter which exam route the candidate may take. The two options are merely to provide flexibility to the appearing candidates for the manner that they prefer to prepare for the CCNA exam.

Candidates who opt for two-exam approach must know that they have a span of three years so as to gain CCNA certification. Also, the certification is valid only for three-years. After the certification becomes invalid or just a few days before that, the candidate will have to recertify by clearing the current ICND exam, CCNA exam, CCIE exam or any other of the '642' Cisco Specialist exams. This is necessary to maintain the validity of his/her certification.

Also, it should be noted that the fee is charged on the basis of every exam. So, the two-exam route is a little more expensive as compared to the approach of a combined one exam.

Section feedback and score marks are made available to the candidates after every exam. Hence, it is necessary to keep this score report safe because it may be required in future regarding your qualification related to Cisco. So, get a Cisco CCNA certification today for a bright networking career ahead!