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.
Picking the right CCNA study materials can be overwhelming, but it's an important decision to make. CBT Nuggets' CCNA course is taught by CCIE-certified networking experts Keith Barker and Jeff Kish, and network automation expert John McGovern.
The course includes unlimited practice exams and virtual labs, so you get the hands-on experience you need to ace your exam on the first try.
Preparing for the test means knowing the material, as well as how to take the test. The CCNA is 100 to 120 questions in 120 minutes. That’s about 45 seconds per question.
Here are some tips for how to use practice exams as you prep.
Hands-on experience is essential for all Cisco exams. That’s particularly true with the CCNA. Here are the best options for network simulators, network emulators, and good ole fashioned home labs.
Or the right emulator. Yes. There’s a difference. Which one you pick should be determined based on how much you want to spend, whether you have licensed copies of software images, and how many nodes you want per lab.
Home labs used to be almost mandatory for the CCNA, but advances in simulators and emulators have rendered physical home labs largely obsolete. Call us nostalgic, but there’s nothing like building a rack to call your own. Our trainers recommend three routers, three switches, and two laptops.
These are all 100-megabit switches. For just a few more dollars, buy a Layer 3 switch such as Cisco 3550 or 3750.
Cisco 2611(xm) / 2621(xm)
Cisco 1721 w/WIC-1ENET
Cisco 871(w)
These are all affordable routers that can not only turn your home network into a Cisco-based network, but you’ll get great experience using them.
Cisco 3550 or 3750
Cisco 2950
Cisco 3550
Cisco 3750
You’ll need encouragement. You’ll need some coffee (or tea). You’ll need a good book — or two. Here are our CCNA study guide recommendations from CBT Nuggets trainer Keith Barker.
CCNA 200-301 Official Cert Guide, Volume 1
CCNA 200-301 Official Cert Guide, Volume 2
Bragging rights aside, the CCNA sets you apart from other networking professionals — and sets you up for advanced Cisco certifications like the CCNP and CCIE. On average, CCNAs make $30,000 per year more than uncertified, but qualified, networking professionals.
The answer here is obvious. You shouldn’t. That’s why we also have training for the CCNP — and the CCIE. You can study for these CCNP exams in about 5 to 6 months. The CCIE, however, you’ll need at least a year and you’ll need to take one of the CCNP core exams along the way. Time to make a plan and get started!
