CCNA Certification: Exam Cost, Salary, and Jobs in 2024

A CCNA Certification: What Is It?

To demonstrate their knowledge of network fundamentals, cybersecurity fundamentals, and system fundamentals pertaining to the Cisco technology environment, technical professionals at the entry-level or associate level take the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification exam.

Cisco, a provider of networking hardware, provides CCNA. Its purpose is to confirm that you comprehend fundamental networking concepts that are commonly required in IT networking tasks. It can aid in your preparation for networking positions in the IT sector, such as network expert, network administrator, and network engineer.

The Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certificate is one of Cisco's most sought-after entry-level IT qualifications. A network professional's knowledge and skills for setting up, configuring, and managing medium-sized systems are evaluated by the CCNA test. The CCNA training program and exam establish the foundation for you to follow any professional route. You may learn more about subjects like LAN/WAN, the TCP/IP paradigm, switches, routers, network utilities (ping, tracert, arp), IP addressing and subnetting, VLANs and trunking, and other things with the assistance of the certification.

Previously, there were eleven CCNA specialties, each of which concentrated on a particular area of cloud computing, teamwork, security, data centers, wireless, and other issues. In February 2020, Cisco combined all of its fundamental networking certificates into a single comprehensive CCNA certification. The Cisco Certified Network Associate certification is the first of a five-level career certification route from Cisco.

The institutions and universities that provide Cisco training are part of the Cisco Networking Academy. The validity of all expert certificates is two years. Cisco decides if recertification necessitates passing a more difficult exam or retaking the prior one. According to a 2021 Robert Half survey of more than 3,000 senior managers, the CCNA is one of the top 15 technical qualifications sought for by companies. The benefits of completing the CCNA test include the following:

gaining knowledge: Exam passees exhibit a fundamental knowledge of network operation.

gaining new skills: Successfully passing the CCNA exam offers considerable practice in a variety of vocations and skills.

Increasing credibility: When a candidate's CCNA certification appears on a résumé, potential employers may note that they have Cisco validation and are educated about a variety of Cisco networking hardware.

Curriculum for CCNA Certification Courses

Students have access to e-learning, classroom instruction, digital subscriptions, and private group training, among other possibilities. You should review the following topics in preparation for the CCNA exam:

1. Fundamentals of networking, which make up 20% of the test

You must first explain the function and role of each network equipment, including routers, layer 2 and layer 3 switches, intrusion prevention systems (IPS), next-generation firewalls, access points, controllers, endpoints, servers, and power over Ethernet (PoE). In the second section under network fundamentals, the characteristics of network topology architectures such two-tier, three-tier, spine-leaf, wide area network (WAN), small office/home office, on-premise, and cloud are explained.

Next, you must evaluate the differences between single-mode, multi-mode, copper, and point-to-point and Ethernet shared media physical interface and cabling. You must detect interface and cable issues (collisions, errors, incompatible duplexes, and speed) in the fourth section. You will be asked to compare User Datagram Protocol (UDP) and Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) in the sixth section. You are need to configure and test IPv4 subnetting and addressing in the next section.

You will be asked to describe the need for private IPv4 addressing in the next section. Next, test your understanding of IPv6 configuration and prefix verification in this section.

You are required to establish the foundational concepts of wireless technology in the next section, including non-overlapping Wi-Fi channels, SSIDs, RF, and encryption. The CCNA exam then tests your understanding of the fundamentals of virtualization, switching concepts, MAC learning and aging, frame switching, frame flooding, and MAC address table.

2. Network access makes up 20% of the test.

Students' abilities to configure and test the standard VLAN range, spanning many switches, including connections, access ports, and default VLAN settings, are assessed as part of this curriculum component. Additionally, the Cisco Discovery Protocol and LLDP mechanism are used to assess configuring and validating layer two discovery solutions. In the CCNA syllabus, configuring and verifying EtherChannel follows next.

The Rapid PVST+ Spanning Tree Protocol's root port, root bridge (primary/secondary), and other port names, port statuses, and PortFast benefits are among the essential activities of this protocol that are tested on the CCNA exam as well as your ability to explain their requirement and identify them. You'll be required to contrast Cisco Wireless Architectures with access point (AP) modes. You must also explain the connections between the physical IT infrastructure and the WLAN components (AP, wireless LAN controller or WLC, access/trunk ports, and link aggregation).

The administration access connections for APs and WLCs through Telnet, SSH, HTTP, HTTPS, terminal, and TACACS+/RADIUS will also be described. Your ability to use graphical user interfaces to configure a wireless LAN access for client connectivity, including WLAN configuration, security settings, Quality of Service (QoS) profiles, and advanced WLAN settings, will be evaluated last.

3. 25 percent of the exam is made up of the IP connection.

You will be graded on your comprehension of the components of the routing table, including the routing protocol code, prefix, network mask, next-hop, administrative distance, metric, and gateway of last resort. Your understanding of the default forwarding choices made by routers, such as the longest match, administrative distance, and routing protocol metric, will be tested by the CCNA exam curriculum.

The configuration and testing of IPv4 and IPv6 static routing, including the default, network, host, and floating static options, will come next. Next, your knowledge of router ID, point-to-point, broadcast (DR/BDR selection), and neighbor adjacencies for single area OSPFv2 is evaluated. The purpose of the first-hop redundancy protocol in an IP connection must also be explained.

4. IP services make up 10% of the test.

Your ability to configure and test inside source Network Address Translation (NAT), leveraging static and pools, will be evaluated. The configuration and testing of the client and server modes of the Network Time Protocol (NTP) follow. You will also need to explain the roles played by the computer network's Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) and Domain Name System (DNS).

You will be tested on your understanding of SNMP's role in network operations as part of the CCNA program. Additionally, you will be required to explain how Syslog features like levels and capabilities are used.

You'll be put to the test on configuring and checking DHCP clients and relays. Explaining forwarding per-hop behavior (PHB), which entails classification, marking, queuing, congestion, policing, and shaping, will be required. Finally, you will be asked to specify the Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP) and File Transfer Protocol (FTP) capabilities and functions of the network. Your ability to configure network hardware for remote access using Secure Shell Protocol (SSH) will be assessed.

5. Fundamentals of security, which make up 15% of the test

You must define key security topics (such as cyberthreats, vulnerabilities, exploits, and mitigation approaches) in this area of the CCNA program. You'll be asked to specify the security software's components as well. Your ability to define the elements of security password regulations, such as administration, difficulty, and password alternatives, will be examined when you set up local passwords for device access control.

Additionally, your knowledge of remote access and site-to-site virtual private networks (VPNs) will be evaluated. This module's setting and verification of access control lists are essential.

The next step is to configure layer two security measures. You must make a distinction between the themes of accounting, authorisation, and authentication here. Finally, you will need to talk about WLAN configuration utilizing Wi-Fi Protected Access 2—Pre-Shared-Key (WPA2 PSK) and wireless security protocols.

6. Programmability and automation make about 10% of the test.

Today, it is impossible to ignore how automation affects network administration. A comparison between controller-based network automation and traditional networks will also be required of you. The distinction between controller-based and software-defined architectures, which use different application programming interfaces (APIs), must then be made.

Finally, you'll be asked to contrast the Cisco DNA Center's device management with traditional device management. You must be able to list the attributes of REST-based APIs for activities like "create, read, update, and delete" (CRUD), HTTP verbs, and data encoding as part of the CCNA curriculum. Finally, understanding JSON-encoded data and understanding the capabilities of configuration management technologies like Puppet, Chef, and Ansible will be expected of you.

Cost of CCNA Certification

In addition to educational costs, the CCNA certification costs $300 before taxes. Candidates are prepared to take the test once they have studied independently, taken outside courses, or taken part in the Cisco Learning Network. Pearson, a partner of Cisco, offers it as an offline assessment or as an online test. You can use Cisco's Certification Tracking System after passing the test to check your certification status. After finishing, candidates will get a digital package.

The test can also be bought using Cisco Learning Credits. An employer can purchase these pre-paid credits so that employees can utilize them as required on different Cisco learning sites. You may benefit from CCNA certification exam preparation and testing through Cisco Learning Partners like MyComputerCareer in addition to the CCNA that Cisco directly offers. Which Cisco Learning Partner offers learning support services in this case determines the price of taking and passing a CCNA exam.

Exam applicants might talk about a shared cost approach if they believe CCNA credentials might help their businesses. Some companies will also let CCNA training costs to be written off against salaries.

CCNA Payscale

As of June 8, 2022, the average yearly salary for a technical professional in the United States with a CCNA certification is $89,020. If you need to quickly calculate a salary, it works out to be about $42.80 per hour. According to data from ZipRecruiter (as of the 15th of June), this comes to $1,712 per week or $7,418 per month.

Cisco networking gear is used by the majority of Fortune 500 companies, making CCNA a crucial credential to possess. The average annual bonus for a Cisco Certified Network Associate is $8,291 (or 7% of their salary), and all employees say they get bonuses.

It's important to note that compensation for various certification-related occupations may vary. The average salary in the US, for instance, is $53,051 for an IT support professional who has earned the CCNA certification, $64,430 for a network expert, $69,243 for a network administrator, $85,822 for a network engineer, and $116,165 for a senior network engineer.

It's also important to note that in eleven American cities, the average CCNA salary is higher than the country as a whole. The top of the list is Barnstable Town, Massachusetts, followed by Sunnyvale, California, then Santa Cruz, California, in that order. In other words, a number of factors affect the CCNA pay.

Jobs for CCNA in 2023

In 2024, the following employment roles will be compatible with the Cisco CCNA certification:

1. a network manager

Network administrators are in charge of setting up and configuring computers and networks. They are in charge of keeping computer networks up to date and offering fixes for any network-related problems. Other responsibilities include setting up new systems, planning a budget for equipment and assembly, and working with clients to develop solutions and determine system requirements.

Additionally, they monitor current hardware and network software and update it as required. According to ZipRecruiter, the average yearly salary for a network administrator in the United States is $70,853.

2. managers of information technology (IT)

They are in charge of identifying an organization's IT needs and designing the computer systems necessary to satisfy those needs. Within a company, infrastructure-related tasks are planned, coordinated, and directed by an IT manager. In certain situations, the scope of this role may be restricted to computer networks, whilst in others, it may also involve the administration of additional electronic support systems and telecommunications systems.

They must to be knowledgeable with phone systems, security, computer systems, databases, and data storage systems. In the United States, a senior IT manager has an average salary of $129,682.

3. engineers for technical help

All customers and clients of organizations require ongoing assistance and guidance given today's technology improvements. You must help with troubleshooting and assistance in one of the CCNA positions. To resolve, configure, and provide support for issues with a client's computer systems or networks, remote or telephonic assistance is required. Technical support experts make sure that clients' systems are operating properly in order to give crucial tech help.

Assuming responsibility for handling client complaints and adhering to established procedures for elevating unresolved customer concerns to pertinent internal teams are requirements of the role. You get to work on a range of IT projects and with a range of software, hardware, and systems in this position. The average annual salary for a technical support engineer in the United States is $68,368.

4. a network security expert

Since network security experts are in great demand to safeguard the company from unauthorized users and security hazards, this is a crucial role. They are in charge of carefully inspecting computer networks for unapproved users or security flaws. In addition to managing network access, job duties also include identifying security problems and coming up with workable remedies.They must locate the compromised network component and take security precautions to safeguard it.

Regular security audits are performed by network security specialists, who also install security software, assist with disaster recovery, and provide reports based on the audits. A network security professional makes an average salary of $89,533 per year.

5. network engineers

In today's climate, every company must manage a variety of infrastructure, devices, and systems. This is all done by a system engineer, along with system backup and security. Other duties include setting up, testing, and installing operating systems, system management tools, and application software.

The greatest levels of infrastructure and system availability are managed by system engineers. System engineers oversee and maintain all installed systems and IT infrastructure. In addition, the job requires testing and monitoring application performance to find possible bottlenecks, coming up with solutions, and working with developers to put them into practice. In addition to CCNA certification, important skills include knowledge and familiarity with cloud technologies. The average salary for a systems engineer in the United States is $121,892.

6. VoIP specialist

The development and administration of VoIP systems for a business is the responsibility of a voice over internet protocol (VoIP) engineer. To fulfill the needs of the company, they install software, secure equipment and accessories, and set up internal phone systems. Furthermore, VoIP experts connect the business' phone systems to the network, troubleshoot issues, recommend data services, keep an eye on user rights, and teach users. The annual salary of a VoIP engineer is on average $91,954.

After taking a CCNA training, you can attain the positions mentioned above. Large-scale enterprise networks that rely on LANs and WANs need for multi-level, highly specialized skill sets. With CCNA and the abilities it offers, working with the cloud, CyberOps, data centers, and other technologies is conceivable.

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