CCENT questions

Well...I was debating getting my CompTIA Security + certification (I am required to get a new cert every year or so) and stumbled upon the fact that Cisco has this CCENT...

My questions are:
1) It appears this is a certification you get by completing the INCD1 & ICND2 (kinda like the A+ HW & Software exams). Is there a COMBO test that will allow you to knock it out in one sitting?

2) What (in your experience [collectively and/or individually]) is thought of as the best study guide? I see Cisco Press and the Lammle mentioned frequently

3) How does this test compare to the CompTIA N+ exam? Less difficult / more / on par with (obviously not going to be as vendor neutral)

4) What are the current test #'s for this cert? It looks like ICND1 = 640-822, ICND2 = 640-816? If there is a single test that will allow you to knock both the ICND1 & 2 out, does that have a separate test #?

Thanks for your time!
I'm sure I will be lurking / bothering you all again...

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billscott92787

First off, Welcome to the Forums

1) It appears this is a certification you get by completing the INCD1 & ICND2 (kinda like the A+ HW & Software exams). Is there a COMBO test that will allow you to knock it out in one sitting?

Answer: This is incorrect. ICND1 gets you your CCENT the cisco 640-802 exam is the CCNA exam, which is (ICND1 and ICND2) combined. You can either do the combined tests to obtain your CCNA. Or seperate tests, the ICND1 will give you the CCENT and then when you pass the second test (ICND2) you will obtain your CCNA.

2) What (in your experience [collectively and/or individually]) is thought of as the best study guide? I see Cisco Press and the Lammle mentioned frequently

Answer: Everyone has a different opinion. i have been using the Cisco press books and I would recommend Boson practice exam question software.

3) How does this test compare to the CompTIA N+ exam? Less difficult / more / on par with (obviously not going to be as vendor neutral)

Answer: I have not taken the Network+ but, I would assume that Cisco is definitely more difficult.

4) What are the current test #'s for this cert? It looks like ICND1 = 640-822, ICND2 = 640-816? If there is a single test that will allow you to knock both the ICND1 & 2 out, does that have a separate test #?

Answer: Cisco's single test is the 640-802 which is for the CCNA. Again it combines both ICND1 and ICND2

ziggi138

in order to get the CCENT, all you have to do is pass ICND1. If you take both exams and pass, you will be a CCNA. The single test option for the CCNA is 640-802 i believe. I could be wrong.

cutter311

Ah-haaa...I see, now. So how long do I have after I pass the ICND1 to take the ICND2, and there by getting my CCNA?

Thanks for the quick responses!

rsutton

cutter311 wrote: »

Ah-haaa...I see, now. So how long do I have after I pass the ICND1 to take the ICND2, and there by getting my CCNA?

Thanks for the quick responses!

Three years and then your CCENT will expire.

billscott92787

Remember,

The certifications expire every three years like rsutton posted. The only way that I believe you do not have to retest, is if you pass a higher level certification. Such as if you had the CCENT and passed the CCNA. If you had the CCNA and passed the CCNP. Is that correct everyone?

mella060

If you are relatively new to networking then i would go the two exam route.

I think you learn better that way as you have less topics to focus on for each exam. I recently spent 6 months doing it that way. I spent around 3 months studying the ICND1 topics, sat and passed the exam then spent 3 months completing the ICND2. I like the fact that you get two certificates.

The one exam option is really for those people who already work in the industry and know most of the material.

luke_bibby

billscott92787 wrote: »

Remember,

The certifications expire every three years like rsutton posted. The only way that I believe you do not have to retest, is if you pass a higher level certification. Such as if you had the CCENT and passed the CCNA. If you had the CCNA and passed the CCNP. Is that correct everyone?

Correct. If you hold a current CCNA and pass a higher level exam such as BSCI from the CCNP track, you will get a fresh 3 years on your CCNA.

laidbackfreak

luke_bibby wrote: »

Correct. If you hold a current CCNA and pass a higher level exam such as BSCI from the CCNP track, you will get a fresh 3 years on your CCNA.

You can also re-certify by passing one of the other concentration exams or specialist exams.

See here :-
http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/le3/learning_about_recertification.html

ChristianReina

I was looking for some answer about CCENT and I found very good responses here. Thanks!

I'm planning to take the CCENT in a month. I hope i'm giving myself enough time, but if failure is emminet, I can always get up and jump higher the 2nd time.

Thanks again for the info

rsutton

The amount of study time depends on a lot of variables. I work with some Cisco equipment + studied for about 3 months and I only passed around the 860 mark. I have a low retention rate which I think was a big factor in missing the questions I missed.

cutter311

yeah..I'm figuring I'll give myself a good couple of months to study and then try to knock this out. I had a CCNA back in 2001 (it was right before the 1st time they made the test more difficult). For some reason I let it lapse...

Since my CCNA expired, I've had colleagues who have taken and failed the CCNA (prior to them implementing the CCENT), who all wish they had the CCENT as a option when they were testing for thier CCNA.
Prior to the CCENT (aside from difficulty) there was no real reason to split the tests. Now, for me, I can split the tests. Get the CCENT this year (and meet my corporate obligation), then get the CCNA in 1q 2010 (and meet that years requirement).

Thanks a for all the input!