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Difference between Network+ and CCNA exam?

palit

Can anyone tell me the difference between CCNA and Network+ exams in terms of syllabus,networking knowledge,how difficult they are and their demand when it comes to a job hunt in the networking field?

Is Network+ the easier one compared to CCNA?

Is it quivalent to CCENT/ICND1 exam?

Thanks in advance.

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Comments

networker050184

If you want to know the details of the exam objective just go to Cisco or CompTIA's web sites.

Most people view the CCNA as the harder of the two.

kweevuss

I took both in the last year. The network+ is a good start to certifications if you have never tried to study one before. N+ for me, covered basically the basis of networking and the theory behind it, which in turn did help me for the ICND1. You will basically learn most of the theory stuff again in ICND1, plus more.

So the ICND1 is harder IMO and the CCNA is much more involved

palit

networker050184 wrote: »

If you want to know the details of the exam objective just go to Cisco or CompTIA's web sites.

Most people view the CCNA as the harder of the two.

Thanks for the information..seen people having both the certifications..so just wanted to know if both are same then I see no point in writing both the exams

networker050184

I honestly don't see any sense in doing both. If you plan to go the networking route it's best to just head down the CCNA path. If you plan to be a systems admin or something similar and just need an ovrview of networking then the Net+ might be a little better fit.

fivedollarcouch

networker050184 wrote: »

I honestly don't see any sense in doing both. If you plan to go the networking route it's best to just head down the CCNA path. If you plan to be a systems admin or something similar and just need an ovrview of networking then the Net+ might be a little better fit.

agreed. if you are heading for networking, skip the net+ and start with CCENT. granted my knowledge is outdated because i took it 4 or 5 years ago, but the network+ was kind of useless to me. i had no networking experience (just pc repair), plowed through the online community college class in one weekend and passed the net+ that monday. really just came down to memorizing cable lengths and types. im sure theyve beefed it up since, but its going to be redundant basics if you head for CCENT/CCNA.

gadav478

Network+ is good for general knowledge and the CCENT makes networking concepts applicable on CISCO equipment. The same information you learn on the Network+ will be useful on the CCENT and CCNA. There is a decent amount of overlap from Network+ to the CCENT, but I wouldn't completely rule it out unless you are already IN the networking world. The Network+ is a gentle ramp up to the CCENT. Some of us may need that, again, if you NEW to the networking world. Just my opinion.

wintermute000

I can tell you straight up that I would not even consider a network+ only for a junior network engineering position.
CCNA (or Juniper equivalent etc.) or bust!

Hondabuff

I would not skip Network+. Network+ teaches you about everything that is networking. CCNA will not teach you what a GBIC is or the difference between a SC and a LC end on multimode fiber but NET+ will. CCNA will fill in the blanks that NET+ doesnt go deep into. CCNA doesnt teach you what a Demarc point is but its required to know if you want any job in the network field. If you dont plan on getting the cert then atleast read a Network+ book once.

networker050184

You can learn all that stuff without spending money on the Net+ exam. I don't think anyone here is suggesting someone skip the basics, just that there is not much ROI in doing the Net+ if you plan on a serious career in networking.

gadav478

100% percent agreed. The ROI isn't comparable to a CCNA but it's worth a read-through at least. Maybe getting the cert persay isn't neccessary, but the foundational knowledge it provides is worth the time.

joshmadakor

My opinion:

Network+ = 50% of CCENT
CCENT = 50% of CCNA
Network+ = 25% of CCNA

MrXpert

I did my Net+ in 2011 and at the time I had very little understanding of networks. I didn't know the difference between a switch and router and the concept of a MLS was a new one to me.I think if I could go back in time now armed with the knowledge of what the Net+ and CCENT/CCNA entails I would happily do the Network + study again because in my opinion it helped me prepare myself for the CCENT at least in fundamentals. Had I skipped Network+ and gone straight to CCENT I think I would have struggled and potentially given up with Cisco citing it as being over my head for now.
I think if you have no or very little networking experience and are not 100% sure of where you want to go..i.e cisco or Microsoft or something else then Network+ is very helpful as it gives you a reasonable understanding of stuff without going deep. If on the other hand you have quite a lot of experience already and have worked in either 1st or 2nd Line support for a while and you know what you want to do then CCENT/CCNA is a very good option.

FastEthernet

There's a big difference between N+ and CCNA.

Start with N+ if you have little or no experience with networks.