3 certs in 3 months?

I recently became a father a few weeks ago so starting January I'll be taking time off work and returning in the spring. Besides being a father, my goal during this time off is to complete the CCNA, CCNP, and VCP exams. Luckily for me and my wife, our son is a sleepyhead so I'm banking on all the free time I can get to study and lab.

I'm hoping to write the CCNA exam by the end of this month, testing center cancelled on me twice. I haven't fully studied for VCP but I'm very familiar with datacenter virtualization and technologies. I have all the study materials (books/equipment) and access to the entire CBT Nuggets through my company.

Realistically speaking do you think this can be achieved? What was your techniques and strategies for developing self discipline and passing exams? I tend to get sidetracked sometimes. As Mrock4 pointed out in his video on another thread (6 Figure IT: Fundamentals) I have the experience and education but I need to start being a cert junkie! Love learning new things.

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Comments

Roguetadhg

It's not impossible.

Just a bit unprobable.

CCNP has 3 exams you'll need to study for. Well, two. I'm not sure about the VCP though.

Especially with a new born, I think those are highly optimistic results. If you have indepth knowledge about the topic already, I'd say you have a good chance though.

Whatever you decide - Good luck!

MrAgent

Have you been to the VMWare class for the VCP exam? It is required to get the VCP certification.

JayTheCracker

i think 70-646 & CCNA are doable in 3 months (maybe even less than that)
add VCP if u already attended the official training

for CCNP, i don't know your routing/switching background....

WiseWun

Roguetadhg wrote: »

It's not impossible. Just a bit unprobable.

I was thinking the same but this will help me push myself because I get a lot of things done under pressure. I'll even be satisfied if I get 2/3 certs. In the past, I would study on/off and not write the exam but this time around, I'm hoping to press on and see it through.

MrAgent wrote: »

Have you been to the VMWare class for the VCP exam? It is required to get the VCP certification.

VMWare class training was approved but I have to wait until I return to work. I think your allowed to still write the exam before attending class but that's a bit weird aint it? How long did it take for you to get VCP5?

JayTheCracker wrote: »

i think 70-646 & CCNA are doable in 3 months (maybe even less than that)
add VCP if u already attended the official training

for CCNP, i don't know your routing/switching background....

I would say above average when it comes to Layer2/3 although some folks think I'm too modest. I have a network architectures class (BGP, MPLS, and traffic engineering) starting in January then I'm done with my Masters in engineering. This is a priority and might force me to put the certs on-hold.

nosoup4u

Good luck you can do it, it's just going to test your ability to stay up late for sure.

W Stewart

Congrats on being a father. My son slept a lot during the first few weeks but after a few months, you're going to miss that. If you have a solid networking background and some cisco experience then I think the CCNA is doable. I don't know about the CCNP. I'd imagine you probably have the experience but studying for some of these cisco exams is a little different unless your experience is with cisco.

WiseWun

Thanks @ W Stewardt, do you plan to get your CCNA anytime soon?

gbdavidx

I would just stick with just CCNA for those 3 months, ccna can get a little overwhelming

Ivanjam

@WiseWun - I believe you can do the 70-646 and the CCNA is a 3-month period as you have already completed the 70-640 and 70-642 exams. CCNP is a different kettle of fish, but then again I am not familiar with your background.

J_86

I've been studying for CCNP for 3 months alone!

. Is it possible? Sure, but that is a lot to take on, many many people study for more then 3 months just for CCNA but it does all depend on your background.

I still say go for it. If you are that ambitious and disciplined to study all of that in 3 months, then go for it.

NOC-Ninja

CCNA, CCNP, and VCP Realistically = No. Is it possible? Maybe, I don't know anybody that have done it.

It took me 6 months to study CCNA alone.
CCNP is tough. I dont even know anybody that finished CCNP (3tests) in 1 month or 3 months.

ChooseLife

Do you have a reason to set such a tough goal for yourself? Are you going to be working during these 3 months?

W Stewart

WiseWun wrote: »

Thanks @ W Stewardt, do you plan to get your CCNA anytime soon?

I'm sitting the exam on Monday. Hopefully I can knock this test out as easy as the last one but I'm always one to over-prepare so that I don't under-perform.

f0rgiv3n

NOC-Ninja wrote: »

CCNA, CCNP, and VCP Realistically = No. Is it possible? Maybe, I don't know anybody that have done it.

It took me 6 months to study CCNA alone.
CCNP is tough. I dont even know anybody that finished CCNP (3tests) in 1 month or 3 months.

Mee mee!! :P

I, like everyone else say go for it on CCNA and VCP but CCNP I would take it slower... I did do the CCNP (all 3 exams) in 3 months but I have 4-5 years of networking experience and have seen most of the topics in production so it was easier to solidify the knowledge in my brain. Also, I had my CCNA for 5 years before going for CCNP. Learning it without hands-on experience or seeing it in production will take quite a bit longer.

BTW: Congrats on becoming a father!

WiseWun

@Ivanjam - I will, it's been on the back burner for quite some time.

@ChooseLife - No, I'll be on parental leave for at least 4 months with pay. This goal needs to be set in stone because the past year or so, I have been studying for these certs on and off. SChool, work, personal life been keeping me busy and I honestly think is now or never with this time off.

@W Stewart - Over-preparing is what I have been doing! I'm goin to give it a shot by the end of this month. Good luck on Monday.

@NOC-Ninja - I'm not really starting from scratch, really been all over the place. Covered most of the topics in SWITCH and the routing protocols in ROUTE. The VCP might be pushing it a little but will see. If time permits, I'll go for it if not wait until I return to work for the class training. Nothing to loose.

@f0rgiv3n - Thanks! It feels great to be a father. Hands-on experience definitely helps, that's how I learn new concepts. Besides knowledge, did he CCNP help you get a raise or a new job/title?

Iristheangel

Congrats on becoming a father!

I wouldn't recommend setting those steep goals for yourself. Can you do it? Sure. Will you retain the majority of the information, get enough labbing done, or commit it to long term memory in that short of time? Probably not. That's the big thing. Anyone can go to a boot camp or get enough information to pass an exam but if you don't retain the info or lab it out for enough hours to recall it in production, then what's the point? I know you're a smart guy, WiseWun, but even the smartest of guys will lose information if they're not constantly using it. Why not set some goals that will realistically allow you enough time to become an expert in the course material?

ChooseLife

WiseWun wrote: »

@ChooseLife - No, I'll be on parental leave for at least 4 months with pay. This goal needs to be set in stone because the past year or so, I have been studying for these certs on and off. SChool, work, personal life been keeping me busy and I honestly think is now or never with this time off.
...
@NOC-Ninja - I'm not really starting from scratch, really been all over the place. Covered most of the topics in SWITCH and the routing protocols in ROUTE. The VCP might be pushing it a little but will see. If time permits, I'll go for it if not wait until I return to work for the class training. Nothing to loose.

Well, with these additional details I start to think it may be possible. You are not really doing them in 3 months, time was spent before preparing for them, now you're just bringing it to the logical ending.

Good luck!

WiseWun

@Iristheangel - Thanks! I posted this thread to see if my goals were realistic and hear from the TE community. I definitely wouldn't want to memorize the material just to pass the exams. Been pacing myself nicely, now it's time to write. For me personally, one exam per month for NP sounds reasonable. I did some calculations, I can set aside 7hrs of dedicated study time per day. How much study time did you put in for CCNA:S? And how do you feel about coworkers/friends who stacked up on certs but lack knowledge?

Iristheangel

I put about a month into the CCNA: Security. It wasn't that hard to be honest but the CCNA:Voice has been kicking my butt a little in terms of motivation. I have spent about 45 days on it and I have the test scheduled for the 29th so hopefully I'm ready by then!

Roguetadhg

Slacker. :P

WiseWun

Good luck on your exam. What is your method of preparation? Are you labbing and reading?

CaptainL

Iristheangel wrote: »

I put about a month into the CCNA: Security. It wasn't that hard to be honest but the CCNA:Voice has been kicking my butt a little in terms of motivation. I have spent about 45 days on it and I have the test scheduled for the 29th so hopefully I'm ready by then!

CCNA: Security in 1 month? how did you prepare for this and how many studying hours per day?

Iristheangel

I studied about 6 hours a day, read the official CCNA Security guide, labbed with a ASA 5505, watched some training videos, and my work includes a lot of CCNA/CCNP:Securityish things. I happened to be working on a DR test that month which included creating object oriented ACLs through the VPN ASA so a lot of the work was applicable to the exam. I breezed through it because it was fun but the CCNA:Voice is not what I would consider "fun" for my tastes.

1-2 months is average for an exam for me with the exception of monster-sized exams like the CISSP which took me about 8 months of study.

CaptainL

Iristheangel wrote: »

I studied about 6 hours a day, read the official CCNA Security guide, labbed with a ASA 5505, watched some training videos, and my work includes a lot of CCNA/CCNP:Securityish things. I happened to be working on a DR test that month which included creating object oriented ACLs through the VPN ASA so a lot of the work was applicable to the exam. I breezed through it because it was fun but the CCNA:Voice is not what I would consider "fun" for my tastes.

1-2 months is average for an exam for me with the exception of monster-sized exams like the CISSP which took me about 8 months of study.

cool! do you work on a security position?

Iristheangel

I work as a network engineer in a corporate office of a Fortune 100 company. My work involves ALL of networking including security, voice, data, etc. It all depends on the project I'm working on at the time. These days I'm so crazy busy that I have about 30 projects going at once

RouteMyPacket

I am going to say this is completely unrealistic. Then again, do just want to "pass" or truly understand the material and apply it on a daily basis? You didn't mention your current position, Sys Admin? Net Admin, Net Engineer?

Reason I ask, even if you pass how do you plan to retain the knowledge? I would lean toward whatever strengthens my cvurrent position the most. The VCP you will need to sit the class/seminar before taking the test.

instant000

If you have the experience, and/or already been studying for it, it is very possible.

My reasoning is that if you basically know the stuff, it's about taking a little bit to review for the tests.

The Cisco Associate Program has you ready to take your 'IE after 90 days of intensive starting from zero, and this guy has 4 months off work for paternity leave, is in a program where he's studying network architecture, and has been studying off-and-on for the past year.

I say he can do it.

dontstop

imho "the journey is the reward"

I would spend my time learning the CCNA back to front and Lab it well.

kurosaki00

I guess it can be done
Like others have said, you will just push yourself pretty much out of social life, sleep and fun.
Do you have a network background?
If not... its very improbable

powerfool

Not knowing you, my first vote would be a "no."

That is quite the undertaking, and depending on your experience in each of those areas, it is certainly possible. However, if you are starting from scratch, it is extremely improbable.