Last Updated on July 29, 2023 by Vishnu Nambiar
CCNA stands for Cisco Certified Network Associate. It is a job oriented IT networking training program. In this article, we will have an in-depth analysis of CCNA certification.
If you want an entry level IT job, this course will be of help to you. By the time you finish CCNA training and pass the evaluation test, you will become a certified IT hardware and networking professional! Cisco Systems, Inc is a well known tech MNC. The fact that Cisco is providing certification (at the end of training) will add value to one’s CV! This is one of the main reasons why IT and networking professionals run after CCNA certification! Though CCNA is ideal for IT technicians and networking technicians, anyone who has passed 10+2 is eligible to pursue this program. What’s CCNA all about? What’s the course structure like? What’s the scope associated with networking engineering? You will find answers to these questions in the next section.
CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate): Basic Details
In simple terms, CCNA is an IT certification program by Cisco. It is one among the many certifications offered by Cisco! CCNA certification program primarily focuses on Switching and Routing. IT systems are made up of hardware, software, network and databases. Networking plays a huge role in IT sector. Networking is a broad field. It consists of aspects such as hardware, software, OS (Operating system) and wireless technology! Switching, routing, security, LAN, WLAN etc are important parts of networking. Among these parts, CCNA focuses primarily on Switching and Routing! CCNA program trains students in the following areas –
- Inter networking
- Assembling Cisco networking devices
- Fundamentals of Routers
- Router assembling and configuration
- IP Addressing
- Routing Protocols
- ACL
- NAT/PAT
- Catalyst Switch Operation
- VLAN Technology
After completing the training, a candidate will be able to perform the following tasks –
- Install switched and routed networks
- Configure switched and routed networks
- Operate switched and routed networks
- Maintain switched and routed networks
- Manage switched and routed networks
- Design, Develop and Optimize switched and routed networks
Let us take a closer look at the course details. Here we go –
Course/Training Details
| Type of course | Duration | Eligibility | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| IT Certification | 40-70 Hours | 10+2 pass from a recognized board | Anywhere between 8-15K INR |
Course content and Exam pattern
CCNA training program consists of the following important subjects –
- Inter networking
- Assembling Cisco networking devices
- Fundamentals of Routers
- Router assembling and configuration
- IP Addressing
- Routing Protocols
- ACL
- NAT/PAT
- Catalyst Switch Operation
- VLAN Technology
In order to obtain the certification, you must quality any one of the following tests –
- CCNA Composite Exam (200-120 CCNA)
- ICND1 and ICND2 (100-101 ICND1 and 200-101 ICND2)
The certification is valid for 3 years.
Career prospects
We are living in the Digital Age now! IT (Information Technology) and computers play an important role in our day-to-day lives. The following sectors are known to rely on IT and computers – healthcare, education, banking, business, aviation, governance etc. Due to this trend, the demand for skilled networking technicians will increase in the future! CCNA training will help one enter the IT sector. It can also help IT employees advance their careers!
Also read: Job oriented computer courses
Hardware and Networking courses
In short, the prime recruiters are IT firms or firms relying heavily on IT systems. Some such recruiters are –
- Cisco Systems, Inc
- IBM
- Dell
- TCS
In the above mentioned firms, CCNA certified professionals may don the following roles –
- Network Engineer
- Network Technician
- System Administrator
- Network Security Specialist
- Network Architect
- System Engineer
Salary
Starting salary of an networking professional depends upon a number of factors. Some of the prominent factors are –
- Institute from which the candidate completed the course
- Level of education (UG, PG etc)
- His/her specialization
- The domain he/she has chosen
- Job location
On an average, starting salary could be anywhere between 15-30K INR per month. In case of a Government job, the salary will be as per the pay scale and grade.
I am Vishnu Nambiar a career and educational blogger from India. I am also a full time educational consultant having more than 12 years of experience in the educational sector.
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