The first track, you can take is the CCNA or Cisco Certified Network Associate Track. This track is the entry level class and you’ll need to know some of the basics before moving forward. For this certification, you’ll receive a written exam, a hands-on lab, and one or two final exams. To pass the exam you must have at least 100 hours of hands-on experience. Cisco recommends that you study a minimum of six months prior to taking the exam.
The second track is the CCIE or Cisco Certified Network Engineer track. While you may be able to get this certification more quickly than the CCNA, it doesn’t mean you won’t need to spend a good amount of time studying for the exam. You will still need to understand networking concepts and you’ll still need to have at least 300 hours of hands-on experience. To pass the exam you’ll need to have at least eight hours of lab time and you’ll need to pass hands on labs using the most recent versions of Cisco equipment.
The third certification track is the CCNP or Cisco Certified Network Professional Track. While you won’t be able to get this certification as quickly as the other two, if you’re dedicated, and you work hard you’ll be able to earn this certification fairly quickly. You’ll need to spend five years in a Cisco certified network design or operation before you can move to the next level. You can move faster than most if you’re a quick learner though, sometimes you can even get a couple of months of lab time toward your certification in a year.
The fourth track is the CCIE Security Manager Track. Just like the others, you’ll need to spend a long time studying and doing hands-on labs before you’ll be allowed to move forward. The only way to prepare for this one is to be good at figuring out networks, because you’ll need to be good at designing them, monitoring them, and fixing them. Cisco’s CCIE certification tests are not complex, so it shouldn’t be difficult to grasp them. A couple of years of experience should suffice, but it might be better if you’ve worked in a business where CCIE servers were used instead of routers.
The final track is the CCIE Security Specialist Track. If you already have some experience in the field then this should be easy for you to grasp. It requires at least seven years worth of hands on experience with CCIE servers. Cisco has very strict requirements for this certification, so if you don’t think you have the time to learn this one then you might be better off going for the other three options.
Do your research before getting started, make sure the course you choose is certified by the CCIE itself. Do a search online for their official site and check the list of exams they’re currently offering. There are plenty of practice exams and mock exams to help you get a feel for how the exam will feel like. This will help you figure out if you really have what it takes to pass this exam.
By taking these four basic paths, you’ll get your Cisco Certification Tracker 2021 certification tracked. You need to have at least one year of experience as a Cisco engineer before taking the exam. Then you need to work for two or three years straight in order to make sure you have enough hands on experience to get through the real exam. Lastly you need to take the exam once you’ve mastered all of the other things you learned. Make sure to follow the tips in this article and you’ll be well on your way to passing this challenging exam.