Cisco CCNA Candidate FAQ by Chris Bryant
CCNA FAQ Q. What exams do I have to take to get my CCNA? A. The CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) certification offers two paths. You can take the one-exam path by taking the 640-801 CCNA Composite exam. If you want to break it up into two parts, you can take the Introduction To Cisco... I generally recommend the two-exam path, particularly for those CCNA candidates that haven't taken a Cisco exam before. ... The Intro exam offers you a little more time and allows you to become comfortable with the Cisco exam engine, particularly the simulator questions.

Cisco CCNA Certification: How To Approach The Post-Cert Job Interview by Chris Bryant
Okay, you did it! You earned your Cisco Certified Network Associate certification. Now what? People who pass the CCNA exam fall into one of three categories. You may be just entering the IT field you may be working on the LAN side and want to move to the WAN side (that's where I was when I... Keep reviewing your CCNA topics, and get started on your first CCNP exam. ... Prepare for the interview like it's another CCNA exam. ... If you prepared for your CCNA the right way -- getting hands-on experience and understanding tougher topics like binary math and NAT -- you'll be fine.

Passing The CCNA and CCNP: Three Myths About Cisco Exams by Chris Bryant
One of the drawbacks to the Internet is that it allows myths and "friend of a friend" stories to spread quickly, and usually the story becomes more exaggerated as it's passed along. Cisco exams are no exception. Here are three often-repeated myths and exaggerations regarding the CCNA and CCNP... I've seen posts on the Net saying that if you rank yourself as "great" in a subject, your exam will have harder questions on that topic, and if you rank yourself lower in that same subject, your exam will be filled with questions on this topic.

Cisco CCNA Cerfication: Should You Take The One-Exam or Two-Exam Approach? by Chris Bryant
Cisco CCNA Certification: Should you take the one-exam or the two-exam approach? One question I’m often asked by CCNA candidates is whether to take the “one big exam”, or take the two separate exams required by Cisco to achieve the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) exam. ... Since the ICND exam goes into more detail, it’s generally considered the more difficult exam. ... The question comes up because there are now two separate paths to the CCNA certification. ... If the candidate is a relative newcomer to networking, or hasn’t taken a certification exam before, I recommend they...

The Future Of Computer Certification Exams by Chris Bryant
The format and difficulty of computer certification exams is constantly changing. When I took my first certification exam (Novell NetWare 3.1x CNA, January 1997), there was no such thing as a simulator question, and my practical skills really were not tested. ... Every time you hit the "next" button after question 15, you didn't know if you'd get another question or if the exam would suddenly end and give you a pass or fail response. ... To earn the world's most difficult technical certification, the CCIE, the candidate must first pass a rigorous 100-question qualification exam, and must...

CCNA Certification Exam Training: Doing Your Best On Test Day by Chris Bryant
CCNA certification is tough enough without you making it tough on yourself. There are a few simple things you can do that will increase your exam day performance greatly. Let's take a look at these simple yet powerful techniques. First, get plenty of sleep the night before. ... I know that you know how to answer a multiple choice or "radio button" question type, but taking a few minutes to take the exam tutorial will help you loosen up, catch your breath, and also allow you to notice any problems with the mouse or computer speed before you take the real exam.

Cisco CCNP Certification FAQ by Chris Bryant
To earn your CCNP, you've got to pass some very rigorous Cisco exams, and you also need to know the rules regarding this important certification. In this article, I'll answer some of the most commonly asked questions regarding the CCNP. Q: What exams do I need to pass to get my CCNP? ... The three-exam path combines the BCMSN and BSCI exams into a single exam, the Composite exam. ... A: You have two options, a three-exam path and a four-exam path. ... During that time, you must either pass the Composite exam, the BSCI and BCMSN exams, or pass any CCIE written exam.

Cisco Certification: Don't Delay Those CCNA Studies! by Chris Bryant
Every once in a while, a rumor floats that Cisco’s getting ready to change the version number of their CCNA and CCNP exams, which also means the questions will be changed. This prompts a flurry of posts to certification boards around the ‘Net (and my mailbox!), with Cisco certification... The knowledge you acquire every time you study does not become invalid because an exam version changes. ... Let’s say Cisco changes the CCNA exams tomorrow. ... The second reason is that studies that are delayed for one reason are often delayed again for another reason.

Cisco CCNA Certification: Becoming A Truly Valuable CCNA by Chris Bryant
I've been active in the Cisco Certification track for four years, working my way from the CCNA to the coveted Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert title, and during that time I've conducted job interviews and casual conversations with hundreds of CCNAs and CCNA candidates. ... Do NOT go the easy route of memorizing a subnet mask chart for the CCNA exam. ... I know some people brag about being able to pass the CCNA exam without really understanding binary math. ... It's what you achieve after the exam that counts, and it's the work you put in before passing the exam that makes those...

Cisco CCNA Certification: Becoming A Truly Valuable CCNA by Chris Bryant
I've been active in the Cisco Certification track for four years, working my way from the CCNA to the coveted Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert title, and during that time I've conducted job interviews and casual conversations with hundreds of CCNAs and CCNA candidates. ... You can't get experience until you get a CCNA, and you can't get a CCNA without real experience. ... I know some people brag about being able to pass the CCNA exam without really understanding binary math. ... Do NOT go the easy route of memorizing a subnet mask chart for the CCNA exam.