Since last year I’ve received a number of emails and calls all with the same question …

… what’s the difference between the old CCNA certification exam and the new one?

With the release of Train Signal’s new CCNA Training Videos I’m anticipating even more of these questions. So hopefully putting all of this down on paper will help answer some of your questions about the new CCNA.

CCNA is one of the most valuable certifications you can get, and the reason it has changed is to reflect the advancements in networking technologies. Cisco wants its certified professionals to be ready for the future, and the new CCNA certification will be able to ensure this.

So What Has Changed?

Well for starters, the CCNA Certification itself has slightly changed along with the exam objectives and the paths you can take to obtain your certification.

CCNA will no longer seem like the entry level Cisco cert. The title now goes to Cisco’s new and true entry level certification: Cisco Certified Entry Network Technician, aka CCENT.

You’ve probably heard that the CCENT cert is your half-way point to a CCNA, which is correct. The required exam for CCENT is ICND1 (640-822) Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices Part 1 exam, which is also one of the exams required for your CCNA.

But wait a minute … I thought you only needed to take one exam for the CCNA cert.

And you still can, if you want to. There are now two certification paths to obtaining a CCNA.

You now have the option of taking two exams: ICND1 640-822 and ICND2 640-816 or a single composite exam: CCNA 640-802. Both options test the same knowledge and skills, but it’s up to you if you want to take the exam in two chunks or one.

Old CCNA vs. New CCNA

As far as the exam content goes, the CCNA exam objectives include many of the same topics, after all it’s still the same certification.

However, the curriculum has been revised and lots of new stuff has been added. Some of the new topics include the Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol, IP Version 6, router and switch security, VPNs, wireless routing and more.

The exam objectives also focus more on performance-based skills and not just theory. The new CCNA exam includes more maintenance and troubleshooting scenarios than ever before.

It’s very hard, if not impossible to pinpoint all of the changes that have been made to the new CCNA certification, but there’s one thing we can be sure of … the CCNA certification will always be valuable.

If you’re interested in finding out more detailed information on the three certification exams, check out the links below. You’ll get information on the length of the exams, how many question there are on each exam, descriptions and objectives for each exam, and more:

• ICND1 640-822
• ICND2 640-816
• CCNA 640-802

What You Need to Know About Cisco Certifications

If computer networking is what you’re interested in, then here’s what you need know …

• Cisco has three levels of certifications:
  
  • The Associate level includes the CCENT and CCNA certifications and represents the foundation level of Cisco networking certification.
  • The next level up is the Professional level, which includes the CCNP, CCDP, CCSP, CCIP, and CCVP certifications.
  • The most advanced level is the Expert level, which includes the CCIE and CCDE certifications.
• There are also a number of Specialist certifications in different areas of interest including Advanced Routing and Switching, IP Communications, VPN and Security, Wireless LAN , and more.
• There are six different career paths that you can choose from, depending on your area of interest:
  
  • Routing and Switching path - for those interested in installing and supporting Cisco networks
  • Design path - for those interested in designing Cisco networks
  • Network Security path - for those interested in designing and implementing Cisco Secure networks
  • Service Provider path - for those interested in working with solutions for Cisco telecommunications
  • Storage Networking path - for those interested in implementing storage solutions for network infrastructures
  • Voice path - for those interested in installing and maintaining Voice solutions over IP networks
• The CCNA certification is valid for three years. To retain your certification you must either retake the CCNA (or ICND) exam, or pass one of the Specialist or Professional certification exams. Here’s a link to the complete list of Cisco certifications.
• You can register with Cisco if you want to take advantage of the CCNA Prep Center where you have access to practice questions, labs, simulations, tips, discussion forums, videos, and advice from experts in the field. The CCNA Prep Center is free of charge, however you must first register with Cisco.com to obtain a login.
• When you’re ready to take your exam you must register through Pearson VUE. The cost for the CCNA composite exam is $150 USD, and $125 USD for both of the ICND exams (please note that these prices are subject to change). Here’s a link to more information about registering for Cisco exams.

I hope this information was able to answer some of your questions about the new CCNA certification exam and about obtaining a Cisco certification. But if there’s anything you’re still unsure about feel free to let me know in the comments.

And don’t forget, our brand new CCNA Training Videos offer complete coverage for the CCNA and both of the ICND exams. So get started on your CCNA today!

10 Responses to “CCNA 101: What You Need to Know About the New Exam”

• Dave Lawlor Says:

  February 13th, 2008 at 3:18 pm

  Great Post Kasia! It is nice to see all the information clearly laid out for the different options to get your CCNA. Have you talked about the exam itself? I have taken many of the Microsoft exams through the years, but I have yet to take a Cisco exam but I have seen discussion that they are a bit harder because of the way they test.

• Kasia Grabowska Says:

  February 13th, 2008 at 3:28 pm

  Hi Dave!

  Thanks so much for your comment!

  You bring up an excellent point … information about the CCNA exam itself is just as important. I’ll have to do some serious research on that and write another post on the topic.

  Kasia

• Sugath Fernando Says:

  February 15th, 2008 at 6:36 am

  Thank you Kasia, for the very important information regarding the new CCNA exam.

  Well, I am bit confused. How can someone willing to take the CCNA exam, can prepare for it. Some of my trainers say you have to follow a course. And some say if you just be thorough with the official Cisco Press study guide(s) it would be sufficient. And some of my friends who had already taken the exam say you need good experience troubleshooting Cisco devices.

  Well I would like to know your opinion. What would you suggest for a starter who wants to complete CCNA as soon as possible.

  Thank You.

• Kasia Grabowska Says:

  February 15th, 2008 at 7:01 am

  Hi Sugath!

  Thanks for your comment!

  Through all my research and talking to CCNA professionals I found that the best way to prepare for the CCNA exam is through sufficient knowledge and experience — you have to have balance between the two.

  Here’s my suggestion … you need to master all the vocabulary and all the theory so you know how everything works. But this will not be enough for you to pass your exam; you also need some experience with configuring, managing and troubleshooting Cisco routers and switches.

  Our CCNA training ( http://www.trainsignal.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=35 ) does teach you both — theory and practical knowledge — but you have to try out the commands on your own, otherwise you’ll never remember them. So make sure you get your hands on real Cisco equipment so that you know what you’re doing. Learning through experience is the best way to learn.

  If you know you want to go all the way and get your CCNA, I would suggest studying for the composite exam and getting it all done at once. It would be less stressful and a lot quicker.

  I hope this information is helpful to you. I’ll definitely work on getting some input from recent CCNA professionals, our Cisco instructors and some experts in the field. So keep an eye out for an article on this topic in the next couple of weeks.

  Kasia

• Johan Cheung Says:

  February 15th, 2008 at 7:44 am

  Thank you Kasia for as always starting an excellent thread.

  Well I passed my CCNA couple of weeks ago !.

  It took me two attempts to pass it. I went for the single exam option of CCNA and in the end required two attempts to pass it !

  My advice is that if you want to play it safe and don’t want the stress of studying all the topics of the CCENT syllabus then go for the two exam option. However, if you are like me, you want to get it over and done with then go for the single exam option.

  Remember you have to sit there longer and you also get more simulation questions in the single exam option. I would say that the simulations are one of the key differences compared to microsoft exams.

  Mind you I have only done two MCP’s so I haven’t done much Microsoft compared to others !!

• Kasia Grabowska Says:

  February 15th, 2008 at 8:04 am

  Hi Johan,

  Thanks for your input and your helpful suggestions. It’s great to get some advice from someone who has been-there, done-that! And congratulations on your CCNA!

  If you have any study tips for TST readers who are working on their CCNAs, feel free to share them here … your input is most appreciated.

  Have a great weekend!

  Kasia

• greg bell Says:

  February 15th, 2008 at 9:03 am

  Thanks!

• Yousif Anwar Says:

  February 15th, 2008 at 11:15 am

  Dear Kasia,

  I would like to thank you so much for clarfication you wrote, it’s much clearer now, and I don’t know if I am willing to start ICND1 with your course material until you release the ICND2, hopefully it will not take so much !

• Kasia Grabowska Says:

  February 15th, 2008 at 11:24 am

  Hi Yousif!

  Thanks for your nice comment!

  I just wante to make you aware that our CCNA training ( http://www.trainsignal.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=35 ) covers both the ICND1 and ICND2 exams.

  I know this is a bit confusing, because we are selling the CCENT training separately as well, but the reason we’re offering it as a separate course is for those interested in just obtaining the CCENT cert.

  So if you want to go through both of the ICND exams, I would suggest getting the CCNA training. The first CD covers the ICND1 exam and the second covers the ICND2 exam.

  Please let me know if you have any questions and have a great weekend!

  Kasia

• Ghulam Jeelani Says:

  February 16th, 2008 at 2:48 am

  thanks u to say us to consider all valuable thinks about ccna exam concepts
  thanks you very much that i have cleared my doubt about new old to comprehend your materials whatever you have given in the website.
  thank you so much
  ghulam jeelani

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