When most people think of getting their CCNA certification, they tend to think of getting the exam done through Cisco. They don’t consider other vendors that offer similar or even better training courses. For these reasons, it has been said that 80% of CCNA candidates fail to receive their passing grade of the CCNA exam and this figure could be even higher if some of the newer face of CCNA such as A+, D+ or even K+ are not taken into account.
Cisco is by far the biggest player when it comes to providing training. There are many different reasons for this but one of the most important is that the majority of exam takers today are using Cisco equipment in their day-to-day networking. A recent survey showed that more than half of all workers at major companies are now using Cisco routers and switches. This is a huge amount of networking equipment that has been added to companies’ infrastructure without Cisco having to do any additional work. The added bandwidth, reliability and security that Cisco routers provide is a major reason why companies everywhere are switching their employees over to Cisco equipment.
Many candidates realize that obtaining their CCNA certification does not automatically lead to job offers. If a company is unable to find a qualified employee to take the test, then they can still offer the certification to an existing employee who has passed but has not yet been offered a job. Most companies are familiar with the concept of laying off an employee once they have reached a certain level of expertise on a specialized skill. Once an expert has been properly retained, companies may try to hire the person even though they lack the necessary skills and knowledge required to successfully complete the certification. Cisco is now using this concept to hire qualified Cisco specialists.
Most companies will layoff network specialists when the cost of upgrading their office is much higher than the savings they can realize by using an expert to do the work instead. Cisco’s newest networking products such as IPV6 routing require a lot more than just software installation. Cisco’s newest routers and switches also need to be configured using real world technologies. When exam takers get their Cisco experience through VNX or other training they will need to learn how to troubleshoot common Cisco issues such as improper domain names or EIGRP troubleshooting. They will also need to learn about troubleshooting for MPLS VPNs and how to troubleshoot routing protocols such as OSP/OCSD or OSTP.
If you choose to learn how to troubleshoot these routing protocols and IP addresses during your VNX training you will be able to demonstrate in class how to troubleshoot common problems without having to rely on lab testing. The Cisco CCNA or Cisco networking specialist test also allows students to demonstrate their proficiency with routing protocols and IP addressing. In order to pass the Cisco exam you must demonstrate at least one of these things: ability to troubleshoot and analyze routing protocols and IP addresses, understanding of routing protocols and how to troubleshoot common issues, and being able to troubleshoot basic troubleshooting scenarios. Some students choose to take an additional Cisco networking exam that specializes in IP networking and addresses.
In the final exam of each type of Cisco certification exam the network associate must show how she or he can demonstrate an ability to troubleshoot common network issues in an efficient manner. This is done by answering multiple-choice questions. Candidates must first select five different situations from which they can select the most common problem. Once they have selected five problems, they will click the “Solving” button to show them the correct answers and then click “Check” to display the answer choices.
Cisco CCNA exam results show how many correct answers a candidate receives for each problem, as well as their rate of success. Cisco strives to keep the number of pass rates of their examiners at a healthy percentage. In order to get a Cisco certification, you must pass three exams. The three exams are written sections of the course and are given at varying times. Study guides are often included in the purchase price of Cisco products, but if you do not have access to them you can find study guides online. Your chances of passing Cisco exams increase dramatically when you take the extra time to learn and practice.