CCNA... What's next ? :)

Yahel

Hello

Here is mine problem I am still at ccna 3 ( academy training ) once I am done with it, I'll go for more
Since I am interested in all topics, it's hard for me to choice.... so here are few questions, and I hope to see responses

What is in ur opinion a better track, to go for CCNP after getting CCNA and than get some CCNP certificates i.e wireless,voice,security... while skiping those on CCNA level...
Or after getting ccna to start studying for CCNA voice,wireless and security.Are those CCNA specialisation worthy ? Because it takes time and money to earn any of it....and I know CCNP security for example worth more then ccna security

I am in dilema because I see many ppl here fighting for their CCNA wireless,voice and security certs.

I hope u get the point, because mine english isn't the best


Edit : just to add... studying isn't a problem for me... because I am really interested, and I love reading and practicing...u may find it odd, but it's actually fun for me

jjbrog

I'm not a pro by any means but after talking with my teacher who is a CCNP/SP and CCSI(certified instructor) he told me it would be best to go to NP after NA cause its a pro level cert then go for the specializations. Although it wouldn't hurt to have some security basics down beforehand though(just my opinion)

jovan88

Yahel wrote: »

What is in ur opinion a better track, to go for CCNP after getting CCNA and than get some CCNP certificates i.e wireless,voice,security... while skiping those on CCNA level...

Can't do that unfortunately, CCSP requires CCNA:S, and CCVP requires CCNA:V

I'm not saying CCNP is extremely hard, but you have to sit down and have a think about if your able to commit to it. If at this stage the answer is no, I would go for CCNA Security.

Yahel

Thanks for the answers looking forward to see more

@jjbrog I heard that many times, even mine instructor suggests the same, because NP will u teach u a bit more about everything, and after NP it's easier to chose ur next goal so I guess I'll stick to it...

@jovan88 I've forgotten about that u have to meet conditions in order to take ccnp security exam... thanks for mentioning it. Now I see why ppl are choosing only one topic even though it's all interesting and fun
It would take ages to get all those certs.

So CCNP is probably the best option out there ...

MosGuy

The most recommended track I've heard/read is CCNA -> CCNP -> Then which ever CCNP specialization track you find most interesting. The reason it's not recommend to jump direct to specialization after CCNA. Is there's assumed knowledge that you learn in CCNP. While it's possible to skip over CCNP. Everything I've heard from long time Cisco people say it's best to do CCNP & then branch out after that. I'm sure the other CCNA certs are of value, IMO they're more of a nice optional extra. In my view CCNP holds more weight long term.

bermovick

Dang; wish I'd've known this 2 weeks ago when I ordered all my CCNA:Security books, etc. I guess I'll just finish this and start CCNP rather than grabbing :Voice first, like I'd originally planned.

:Security material I'm finding terribly boring... I'm still in chapter 1 but I can only read a few pages at a time heh

Bl8ckr0uter

MosGuy wrote: »

The most recommended track I've heard/read is CCNA -> CCNP -> Then which ever CCNP specialization track you find most interesting. The reason it's not recommend to jump direct to specialization after CCNA. Is there's assumed knowledge that you learn in CCNP. While it's possible to skip over CCNP. Everything I've heard from long time Cisco people say it's best to do CCNP & then branch out after that. I'm sure the other CCNA certs are of value, IMO they're more of a nice optional extra. In my view CCNP holds more weight long term.

I don't know if this is correct. I think doing the CCNA:Security after CCNA will not only give you an extra cert, but it lays the foundation of an infosec career. A CCNP w/o experience isn't going to help you too much. CCNA and CCNA:S could help differ you from other CCNAs in the Netcad. All of the CCNP specializations require some version of the CCNA (or CCIE) anyway so why not do the ones you want before jumping into the Pro levels.

Yahel wrote: »

So CCNP is probably the best option out there ...

I really think you should think about what you want to do before you just jump into the Pro levels. They aren't easy and they make the CCNA material look like baby food in a world a steaks.

MosGuy

knwminus wrote: »

I don't know if this is correct. I think doing the CCNA:Security after CCNA will not only give you an extra cert, but it lays the foundation of an infosec career. A CCNP w/o experience isn't going to help you too much. CCNA and CCNA:S could help differ you from other CCNAs in the Netcad. All of the CCNP specializations require some version of the CCNA (or CCIE) anyway so why not do the ones you want before jumping into the Pro levels.

Your are correct, like most things in IT it really depends on your experience and background. There is always more then one path to an end goal. In broad general terms I heard CCNA->NP-> specialization is the most common path. That doesn't always make it the best choice for everyone. We have to individually decide the best path based on various factors. Funny you should mention InfoSec, I started going for the OSCP pen-testing cert prior to starting CCNA. I didn't mean to imply the other CCNA certs are a waste. I'm glad I got my A+/Net+ nine years back though I had 12+ years experience and breezed through the exams. Every cert is worth going for no matter what anyone else thinks

gouki2005

my path CCNA---CCNA Security.... why well in my country not many people have the ccna security..so is a plus for me

Yahel

Thanks all it makes sense now, I'll read some CCNA:S,W and Voice material before making a decision...
Cisco offers the best recertification system, so it is possible to get all those certs it just takes times..

wbosher

I think it depends a lot on the line of work you want to get into. Me personally, CCNA voice might be the next best thing after CCNA (of course I have to actually get CCNA first ).

I work for an ISP/Telco, we set up and support IP telephony systems for call centres etc...it makes sense for me to go down the voice path.

Horses for courses.

Tyson87

wbosher wrote: »

I think it depends a lot on the line of work you want to get into. Me personally, CCNA voice might be the next best thing after CCNA (of course I have to actually get CCNA first ).

I work for an ISP/Telco, we set up and support IP telephony systems for call centres etc...it makes sense for me to go down the voice path.

Horses for courses.

I worked for a msp and voice/IPT is the new craze at the moment and i find it very interesting so thats what im doing at the moment, i done the ccna, and im doing the CVOICE exam and its part of the ccvp track, sooo instead of doing the ccna voice and then take 5 exams to do the ccvp as well, you can take the CVOICE and still get your ccna voice credentials which will allow you to take the CCVP track and only leave 4 exams to complete the ccvp. Also im reading the TCP/IP routing volume 1 second edition as it give you a great in depth review of routing and will come in veryyyyy handy for the ccnp. ( ill admit it does delve farrrr too deep into routing protocols for my experience but its quite interesting and makes things alot more clearer. And its less pages than CCNp ROUTE book that is available!) overall, do what your interested in and once you start seeing the trends in the job market you will make your own preferences.

mella060

I too am in a little bit of a dilemma of what to do next. Basically i completed my NA exams (ICND1 & 2) over 12 months ago (May last year) but have not worked since. I have studied quite abit of the NP level stuff learning abit about things like layer 3 switching and CEF. Pretty interesting stuff i might add. Also did abit of multi-area OSPF. and some AAA stuff. Have kept my skills fairly sharp and up to date checking numourous forums each day so i havent completely lost it lol. In fact i prob know more now then then i completed my NA studies. Can still subnet and do VLSM fairly well.

Ive also got a copy of Routing TCP/IP Vol1, 2nd edition so have been going through abit of that. Ive been debating for a little while whether to jump in and do either ROUTE or SWITCH first. Havent given much thought to the CCNA exams (voice, sec etc). A job has come up that i might apply for. Its an IT Technician role covering abit of everything. Windows admin, server maintenance, and PC and network issues. It also requires abit of routing and switching knowledge, including VLANs and QoS. Now i have never really touched QoS, but it has always been at the back of my mind being interested in learning more about QoS and VoIP.

So yeh just basically wondering whether to brush up on my routing and switching skills by getting into some of the ROUTE and SWITCH stuff, or look at maybe CCNA voice. Ive also got a copy of the Network Warrior book so maybe i should read the chapter on QoS.

Also im sure the SWITCH exam would cover abit of QoS, so i am at abit of a dilemma as what to dive into.

Any advice would be very much appreciated !!

fasi112

I suggest first you must completed your ccna.CCNA is basic knowledge of networking,after ccna you could do CCNP(Cisco certified network professional).After both certification you could do CCI,you became a network engineer after cci.

PsychoCisco

fasi112 wrote: »

I suggest first you must completed your ccna.CCNA is basic knowledge of networking,after ccna you could do CCNP(Cisco certified network professional).After both certification you could do CCI,you became a network engineer after cci.

That's a three year old thread, just saying