CCNA qualified

[Destroyer^]

Im doing a university course that has allowed me to gain CCNA explorer 1 and Explorer 3, what are company's views on people being CCNA qualified, would it be worth me getting 2,4 and final exam? career wise i mean and also money wise... just wondered what your thoughts are

[Jay]

well worth it to be honest mate.

[Moby-Dick]

do it

[b0redom]

Definitely do it.

[Guy]

Another definately do it vote!

[Destroyer^]

okays so i guess its worth doing then lol, lets hope its not too expensive to finnish

[MaddAussie]

Do it, end of.

[badass]

Yep do it

[kidzer]

Do it.

I did it recently, work paid for it (although I would've been due them the cost if it back had I failed) - I think it was about £144 for the test.

Not only is it a qualification to stick on the CV, but I think it's a pretty good intro to the Data Networking world. Sure, you won't be the greatest Network Engineer as soon as you pass it (I'm certainly not!) - and you'll need to keep using the skills to keep them in your mind - I know very little of STP again, having only implemented one non-standard STP setup since I started my current job in June!

I didn't make any more money from it, but I'm going to start doing the CCNA Voice once the new exam is up and running and the study materials are available for it (reading the CCVP book at the mo, but that is becoming the CCNP Voice and has the CCNA Voice as a pre-requisite!) - that should net me a pay increase of some description.

Plus, it's pretty interesting stuff if you ask me! >.<

I take it your opening post means you've done the 'Networking Fundementals' and 'LAN Switching and Wireless' sections, yes?

[Destroyer^]

Yes mate, well im doing LAN switching and wireless at the moment, taking test end of the month.. i really think its pretty interesting...What sort of pay would a basic network engineer be getting roughly? am curious

[praveeprenha]

Yah!! i can do it

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[matthab]

Ive done it and caused me to move into a new and better position. Also great to have the know how.

Some aspects are boring some of it is really interesting.

[blackbox]

General advice from my uncle: “As long as you enjoy it, study as long as you can.”

Now I don’t know if he meant to have a lot of fun and do a 3-year curriculum in 5, or actually keep on studying.

My view would be to go for it!

[crazy]

Is it a prerequisite to have the CCENT before you go for the CCNA?

[twostroke]

As long as you intend to make networks your career then yes. I did a CCNA while doing my degree at uni but then went into programming so it's no more than an extra line on the CV for me now.

[kidzer]

Is it a prerequisite to have the CCENT before you go for the CCNA?

No - there are two options for the CCNA Cert;

- Option 1, a combined exam (640-802) - if you pass this then you get your CCNA.
- Option 2, a seperate exam for the ICND1 and ICND2 sections (640-822 and 640-816 respectively). When you pass ICND1 then you are awarded the CCENT cert - you can then 'upgrade' that to a CCNA by passing the ICND2 exam.

tbh, unless you are coming from a background of virtually no IT exposure, I'd expect the single exam to be the way to go!