How long did it take you to study for ICND 1?

sincere11105

I started studying a couple of months ago. I definitely know more than I did lol. Just curious on how long did it take you and what materials did you use to pass?

pamccabe

I had basic networking knowledge and worked help desk for years before I gave ICND1 a shot. I used Odom's Cisco Press guide and Packet Tracer. (I'm a student.) I'd say it took me 3 months before I felt comfortable sitting the exam. It was my first certification exam experience so I really wanted to make sure I was ready.

theodoxa

Depends on how you look at it.

05 - 08/2001: CCNA 1 & 2 (Net Academy)
08 - 12/2001: CCNA 3 & 4 (Net Academy)
01 - 04/2002: Wireless LANs (Not Sure if it was a Cisco Academy course or not, but we used all Cisco equipment)
.............................................
11 YEARS LATER
.............................................
02/2013: Odom's ICND1
03/2013: Odom's ICND2
04/2013: Odom's ICND2
05/2013: INE Videos (ICND1 Topics)
06/2013: Lammle CCNA (ICND1 Topics)
..............Passed ICND1
..............Lammle's CCNA (ICND2 Topics)
07/2013: Lammle's CCNA (ICND2 Topics)
..............INE Videos (ICND2 Topics)
..............Reviewed Odom's ICND2
..............Passed ICND2

DoubleNNs

I studied for 2 weeks, then dropped the material temporarily. When I picked it back up, it took me a little over 2 months to finish studying and pass the exam.

About 3 months total.

I'm thinking if I had a clearer study plan, I could have halved the time.
I have a better study plan for the ICND2 - hoping that it works (since I'm on a 2 month deadline).

offthenonagain

I took about a month (~2 hours everyday) to study for the ICND1 and I think it was a little overkill. I used CBT Nuggets, Odom's prep, labs from CCNAguides.com. I spent the first few weeks watching the CBT Nuggets videos, reading the corresponding chapter in the Odom's book, then labbing and I spent the last week taking every practice test I could find. If you haven't already, just book your test. Give yourself a deadline and just sit the exam. It's the best advice I was given.

FloOz

About 3 months each for ICND1 and ICND2

QHalo

45 days each test.

Ismaeljrp

After my first study plan, I'd say I was ready after about 7 weeks, I was logging my hours and I had a 19 hr/week average. Life got in the way of taking the test, 8 months later, I reviewed for 2 weeks took the test and passed with a 899/1000.

I reviewed my notes, memory tables from Odom OCG, and CBT ICND 1 videos, 4-5 practice tests, took me about 30 hrs total.

wallpaper_01

3 months for ICND1, ICND2 will be about 45 days when I come to sit it. Studying for ICND2 feels easier, no idea what the test is like though! Hope not too much harder than ICND1.

shortcut144

I have had a base knowledge of networking too. Been about 2 months and I think I'll be taking the test soon! Hope it goes well!

DoubleNNs

To answer your 2nd question, I used CBT Nuggets 1st to get general familiarity w/ all the materials. Then I read thru the CCENT for Dummies book, followed by labbing w/ Cisco Packet tracer then GNS3. Then I went thru about half of the Todd Lammle book (didn't like it - it jumped around too much, altho I did love the conversational tone. A book I might revisit later in my career.) I finished by reading the Odom ICND1 book in it's entirety and then used the Boson Test Engine.

A large portion of the time was spent figuring out my plan of attack and finding materials, as well as figuring out how to use PT/GNS3.

For the ICND2 I plan on simply using CBT Nuggets for familiarity, Odom to learn the material in depth w/ simultaneously labbing, then follow w/ INE.com's free CCNA videos. Then spend a week at the end reviewing/using Boson. I'm thinking it should take me about 45 days or so this time.

SharkDiver

3 months each, I think.
I was studying Security+ at the same time.

jamthat

Took me about a month for ICND1 and about 3 for ICND2, although I went for weeks at a time without picking up a book during ICND2..oops. No work experience in the field