To CCNA or not....

OK, so I've just finished watching New CCNA exams, chat with Jeremy Cioara

My question is this, I'm 35, I have IT experience, building custom pc's, dropping cables, punching patch panels etc.. I have never really done anything with a switch (besides plugging in), firewall, router. I am currently studying for Net+, thinking I will get that, get some of the main networking fundamentals down and then go for my CCNA.

However, after seeing the above video and reading some places, they are making it sound like the new ICND1 and 2 are going to be a lot more difficult.

1) Would you scrap Net+ and go for CCNA?

2) Would I have enough time to be FULLY prepared before Sept. 30th to pass it if I can study every day from today?

I do not want to try and rush to get CCNA, but at the same time, ICND1 is cheaper then Net+ which helps me right now lol I am not afraid of a more difficult test, in fact if I get to learn more the better, I don't think I am going to have enough time honestly.

Thanks for reading

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Comments

Arod95

haven't fully touch ccna yet but from my understand ICND1 is alot like network+(which I have) but it does go more in-depth into so subjects. also ICND2 is more of implementing and troubleshooting everything you learned in ICND1 plus the fact you will learn cisco specific equipment knowledge and configuration as well. where network+ is general networking skills only. So I would say if you really want ccna before September go for it. the exact date is about 2 months from now if you read, study, and do labs everyday from this point on mainly focus on that then you could probably do it. but if you are only putting a few hours a week I wouldn't recommend it.

NetworkVeteran

One point of exam updates is to make them more up-to-date and relevant--good if you plan to work in networking. Yes, there is enough time between then an now if you focus and put in a consistent couple hours per evening.

luberguilarte

I think it can be done , for my experience ICND1 is almost the same as Network + but more useful , that will give you all the knowledge you need for ICND2 . Best of luck my friend , you can do it .
Ahhh , something else , please apply minimum 4 hour per day.

Dyasis

Thanks for the replies everyone, let me ask you something else then, If I go ahead and start studying right now and when it comes time to take the test and I either fail or do not feel that I am ready, with the studying from ICND1 could I take net+ and pass it? I would assume so.

luberguilarte

NO , network+ will only help you with the basic networking stuff . ICND1 is a cisco test, you have to know concepts related to VLANs , Distance Vector Protocols like RIP , ect . I can't remember the all now , but is plenty stuff . But why do you think you will fail ? just go through the book multiple times , buy a boson practices test for ICND1 , watch some cbt nuggets videos , and lab lab lab , cisco packet tracer can help you for hands on . that's why I said to you to apply at minimum 4 hours per day or more if you really want to learn all the ccna materials .

DoubleNNs

Dyasis wrote: »

with the studying from ICND1 could I take net+ and pass it?

No. But you'd be pretty close.
The Net+ has a much larger breadth of knowledge. You just don't go as deep. After studying for the CCENT, you'd have to get up to speed w/ the rest of the terms, how they fit together in the scheme of networking, learn a bit about servers, and also learn the Windows networking commands.

Still, if you honestly know all the material on the CCENT intimately you could probably pass the Net+ after a few nights or a week of studying. You don't need to know any of the Net+ topics intimately.. simply what they are and where they fit into the general scheme of networking. That's pretty much why a lot of people refer to the exam as a difficult vocab test.
However, there is a much higher learning curve towards going CCENT after the Net+.

Edit: At the same time, if you study for the CCENT and fail, I don't recommend downgrading to the Net+. You should figure out your weak spots, improve upon them, then reschedule your exam.

DoubleNNs

I also want to put it out there that the CCENT is NOT that hard.

That's coming from someone who just got certified earlier today.

I'll let you make your own decisions based off that single statement.

Dyasis

I don't think I would fail, but I was thinking more of if I did, I would have to retake it which would push it after the deadline date, so I would just go grab the Net+ and then study for the new exam material. and then be able to study at my pace...

Which thinking about it may be a better choice right now.... take Net+ in Aug and then study with the new CCNA material and not having to worrying about studying really hard to get it done just because they added new things to the test.

edit: This is more of a open mind, thinking out loud thread lol just get some general thoughts from everyone.

NetworkVeteran

Alternatively, you could begin studying the new ICND1 material now. Already, tests are available and books are out.

Decisions, decisions.

Xyro

Dyasis wrote: »

1) Would you scrap Net+ and go for CCNA?

2) Would I have enough time to be FULLY prepared before Sept. 30th to pass it if I can study every day from today?

I do not want to try and rush to get CCNA, but at the same time, ICND1 is cheaper then Net+ which helps me right now lol I am not afraid of a more difficult test, in fact if I get to learn more the better, I don't think I am going to have enough time honestly.

1. No
2. It depends what else you have occurring in your life & how fast you can read and absorb the material. Two months wouldn't be enough time for me to study for the full CCNA cert.

Dyasis wrote: »

Which thinking about it may be a better choice right now.... take Net+ in Aug and then study with the new CCNA material and not having to worrying about studying really hard to get it done just because they added new things to the test.

This sounds like a good plan to me. Concentrating on N+ will give you a better foundation as to be able to fully comprehend the CCNA material. I know it helped me... a lot.

JeanM

N+ is not as specific, as they say mile wide by only inches deep, it won't hurt if you have time. New CCNA is not very different from the old CCNA, look at the objectives of both and you'll see , the core doesn't change much. The differences you can learn/pick-up yourself with reading/lab/experience. No sense to rush it, rushing things will only be cheating yourself.