A new CCNA certification is heading our way in 2023, meaning the current 200-301 exam will retire soon after. If you’re working toward your CCNA, you still have time to study for and take the exam — especially if you have networking experience. Get certified before the CCNA retires with CBT Nuggets training.
The CCNA can be a tough exam. Whether you pass or fail depends on how much experience you have, and (most importantly) how you prepare.
Deadlines are effective. Once you pick your date, you can work backwards to figure out how much you’ll need to study each day. Most learners can finish our CCNA course in about 90 hours. At roughly 4 hours a week, you’d be exam-ready in 5 months.
You can download the CCNA study guide to help track your progress.
Are you a training manager or a team admin? Make a gameplan with the IT Manager's Handbook.
Now that you have your date, download this study plan. There may be some topics you can skip and others you’ll want to spend time learning. If you’re new to Linux, you may need more time. Here’s how long it takes most people to study for the Linux+. This study plan was designed to be used with the CBT Nuggets Linux+ (XK0-005) training course, which includes:
243 videos
32 hours of training
Linux+ practice exams
Preparing for the test means knowing the material, as well as how to take the test. The CCNA is 60 to 70 questions in 90 minutes. That’s just 45 seconds per question.
Here are some tips for how to use practice exams as you prep.
5 ways to utilize practice exams
N2K® IT Training Practice Exams for Teams
If you're in the early stages of your system admin career and want to establish a solid groundwork for working in Linux environments, Linux+ is a great option. It’s an essential foundational cert that can open a lot of doors early in your career as you figure out how you want to specialize. Once you do, then keep going with other CompTIA or security certifications.