What is the CCNA Certification Exam?

The Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification exam is test a person takes to earn certification through a networking company named Cisco. A person earns this certification to demonstrate his ability to work with Cisco-based networks, which includes handling their the installation and configuration as well as operation and troubleshooting tasks. This certification is on the associate level and is often sought by individuals who are in or seeking entry-level jobs. A person may take the CCNA certification exam in order to demonstrate his skills to his employers or prospective employers, and he may eventually move on to earn higher-level Cisco certifications.

The CCNA certification exam is an associate-level test, which basically means it is the base-level exam for network certification through Cisco. To earn CCNA certification, a person must take a 90-minute exam, or sometimes two exams that last for 90 minutes each, and demonstrate his current level of skill with installing, configuring, and troubleshooting networks. To earn CCNA certification, a person may complete the 640-822 ICND1 examination, which lasts for 90 minutes and consists of 40 to 50 questions, and the 640-816 ICND2 exam, which lasts for 75 to 90 minutes and also includes 40 to 50 questions. Alternatively, a person can take the 640-802 CCNA certification exam, which is a combined certification exam that lasts for 90 minutes and includes between 45 and 55 questions for the certification candidate to answer.

Cisco doesn't require a person interested in taking the CCNA certification exam to meet any prerequisite requirements before seeking certification. The company does, however, recommend that a certification candidate seek training to prepare for the exams. The exams are given in several different languages and can be taken through a commercial testing center called Pearson VUE.

Once a person has passed the CCNA certification exam, his credential is valid for three years. At that time, he may decide to renew his certification, which involves taking the ICND2 examination. Alternatively, however, a person who wants to earn CCNA certification may take the currently available CCNA certification exam, or he may opt to take a CCNA concentration test. A re-certification candidate may even earn re-certification by passing one of Cicsco's professional-level examinations; by earning a passing score on the CCDA, CCIE, or CCDE examination; or by passing a Cisco Specialist exam. There is one exception to the Cisco Specialist path to re-certification, however; an individual may not earn re-certification by taking a Sales Specialist exam.