Career Zone: CCNA Changes

AnimeFrusionSmoothieAnimeFrusionSmoothie Member Posts: 22 ■■■□□□□□□□
"The onslaught of new certifications is continuing unabated. Cisco announced this week that they were making several changes to the CCNA in an effort to maintain the value of their entry-level certification. These include a two-step process, allowing those with little or no exposure to a Cisco environment an opportunity to learn in stages, while maintaining the current single exam process for those who have familiarity with the environment, as well as expanding how CCNA's can re-certify.

In a news release dated June 24th, 2003, Don Field (Senior Manager, Internet Learning Solutions Group) states "Given the popularity and success of the CCNA program, we continue to enhance CCNA to meet our customers needs through skills assessment aimed at today's rapidly-evolving job requirements. The two-step approach offers those new to the networking field the option to test their networking knowledge in stages."

I spoke with Don Field regarding the changes. "Since we introduced the CCNA in the spring of 1998 the skills, knowledge and requirements for understanding network environments have grown exponentially. Based on feedback from candidates and our testing centers we saw a need to provide a certification path that would include emerging technologies and an entry path into our various certifications." Field went on to say that the new structure, a two-step approach, includes two new exams; Introduction to Cisco Networking Technologies (INTRO, 640-821) and Interconnecting Cisco Network Devices (ICND, 640-811). INTRO is currently available in beta as the 641-821, while the new CCNA (640-801) and ICND will be available June 30th 2003.

CCNA's who need to re-certify every three years can either take the CCNA, ICND or any of the professional or specialist certifications to qualify for recertification. "We added the ICND in our continuing effort to make recertification easier for existing CCNA's" said Field.

Non-CCNA candidates will not be able to take the ICND without first passing the INTRO exam. "It allows the entry-level person to get a feel for the technology before moving on to more advanced concepts rather than trying to learn everything in one exam. Once they finish the INTRO exam, they can then take the ICND, which will give them the CCNA designation. In essence they can work at their own pace," Field told me.

Additions to the CCNA 640-801 include some switching and configuration as well as new routing protocols such as OSPF and Extended Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (EIGRP). "
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