Retaining knowledge when persuing another Cert

jasonwall1212

How do you guys go about on retaining the knowledge you gained from one cert once you start studying for another one. for example: studying for CCNA for 6 months and then start studying for the MTA/MCSA cert(which takes around 6-8 months) How would you go about keeping your CCNA skills while learning server skills?

Node Man

jasonwall1212 wrote: »

How do you guys go about on retaining the knowledge you gained from one cert once you start studying for another one. for example: studying for CCNA for 6 months and then start studying for the MTA/MCSA cert(which takes around 6-8 months) How would you go about keeping your CCNA skills while learning server skills?

I make a point to use the skills. I try to implement as much stuff as possible at work, the rest i try to do on my lab at home. Yes a lot does slip by.

DatabaseHead

This is the reason why I do very few certifications, they have to align with my career goals and current. If not I don't bother, I prefer learning to be organic. If I have to force feed something it means I am off path.

blatini

Honestly I tried picking up Network Warrior after my CCNA and it was a snoozer. I tend to just browse forums of certs I have and see if I can figure out the answer to problems people are having. If not I do some research to refresh myself on the topic. Admittedly though I only do this maybe 2 times a month because I generally enjoy this forum more and don't spend too much time on here.

beads

jasonwall1212 wrote: »

How do you guys go about on retaining the knowledge you gained from one cert once you start studying for another one. for example: studying for CCNA for 6 months and then start studying for the MTA/MCSA cert(which takes around 6-8 months) How would you go about keeping your CCNA skills while learning server skills?

We're in a use it or loose it kind of field. Its just human physiology to retain useful information and slowly forget that which is not important to our hunter/gathering mindset. From practice comes power.

- b/eads

thomas_

I accept that some of the knowledge is going to fade away and the longer I don't use it the more it's going to fade. That being said, I know that I can pick a lot of it right back up with a little refresh or if my daily job requires it. Other things I don't think I'll ever forget such as how to make a network cable, the 7 layers of the OSI model, and subnetting.

JoJoCal19

I agree with b/eads. There's so many technical details and technologies in our field and it's very difficult to retain stuff that you do not use, let alone think of, on a regular basis. I definitely think it's helpful to have refreshers every once in a while.