CCNA

mdixson · 14 Nov 2006 at 21:38

Okay just done my retake of CCNA 1 at uni on Monday and got 64% now the uni only want 40% but Cisco want 70%+
I'm a tad annoyed as i got 98% in my skills test, and over 70% on the online modules...

Anyway to the point do i need CCNA to get a job after uni; I'm doing the network computing BSc and i will have a year in industry in the 3rd year. Will that alone be enough to get me a job then they will put me through Cisco again or is it essential.
The job i would love at the end of this is to be a network annalist (similar to system annalist)
So what do you guy who work in the industry think?

Over to you...

teaboy5 · 14 Nov 2006 at 21:40

Simple really, retake 1 and do the other three and pass. But yes the year out will be a big help as well.

All the best

asim · 14 Nov 2006 at 21:41

Some network analyst jobs dont require a ccna. Depends on what the job entails.

Didnt know cisco was 70%, When I did it the pass percentage was about 85%.

teaboy5 · 14 Nov 2006 at 21:43

asim said:
Some network analyst jobs dont require a ccna. Depends on what the job entails.

Didnt know cisco was 70%, When I did it the pass percentage was about 85%.

As far as i know cisco was always 70%, if you fail it its 75% on that retake and if you dont pass again its 80%

Richdog · 14 Nov 2006 at 21:45

Really looking to take my CCNA soon witht he ultimate aim of becoming a systems analyst.

Planning on CCNA, CCDA, CCNP among other things. Cisco are very good certs to have and can open up many doors, and are imo a great base for anyone looking to make it big in I.T. as an analyst as if done right they will give you a hell of a lot of knowledge and confidence.

asim · 14 Nov 2006 at 21:47

teaboy5 said:
As far as i know cisco was always 70%, if you fail it its 75% on that retake and if you dont pass again its 80%

I took the two exam route which I self studied for (Intro and ICND). Test centre here required 85% pass mark.

Psyk · 14 Nov 2006 at 22:38

Cisco don't care what you get for the CCNA 1 exam. All they care about is what you get in your INTRO and ICND exams (or the combined one, I forget what it's called). The Cisco academy program is completely separate from the actual CCNA certification. Completing the academy program does not get you a CCNA. It's just a way to prepare you for the proper certification exams. So no one really cares if you only got 64% in an academy exam, you can still take the certification exams.

teaboy5 · 14 Nov 2006 at 22:52

Psyk said:
Cisco don't care what you get for the CCNA 1 exam. All they care about is what you get in your INTRO and ICND exams (or the combined one, I forget what it's called). The Cisco academy program is completely separate from the actual CCNA certification. Completing the academy program does not get you a CCNA. It's just a way to prepare you for the proper certification exams. So no one really cares if you only got 64% in an academy exam, you can still take the certification exams.

So in short you dont recommand the academy program then?

I am on it my self and i think its ok tbh, i could have went down the boot camp or self study route but thought maybe the boot camp might fry the mind and the self study it would take me like 3 years to complete as i would never open the books.

But academy is just right, make you learn the stuff, you get some good hands on skills as long as the location has good equipment mind you. So imo its worth it, and if you have to do the exam and know the stuff inside out all the better.

I know people that done the boot camp in 7 days and cant remember any of it.

Beansprout · 14 Nov 2006 at 22:53

I think the Academy site/interface/etc rocks

asim · 14 Nov 2006 at 22:53

Depends on how you learn. I knew I could grab the two books, read them and pass. Others need more formal learning. Self study doesnt take too long if you assign yourself reading hours everyday.

Psyk · 14 Nov 2006 at 23:01

teaboy5 said:
So in short you dont recommand the academy program then?

No I think it's great. It'll prepare you for the exam better than any other way. It's just some people don't seem to understand the difference between the academy program and the certification. They think that by completing the academy program they automatically have the CCNA.

teaboy5 · 14 Nov 2006 at 23:03

Psyk said:
No I think it's great. It'll prepare you for the exam better than any other way. It's just some people don't seem to understand the difference between the academy program and the certification. They think that by completing the academy program they automatically have the CCNA.

I undestand that.

Just pointing out that i think its rather good, for some people that dont want to go down the self study and boot camp route. At least with the academy you will get to play with labs.

Would way did you do it your self psyk?

Psyk · 14 Nov 2006 at 23:09

teaboy5 said:
I undestand that.

Just pointing out that i think its rather good, for some people that dont want to go down the self study and boot camp route. At least with the academy you will get to play with labs.

Would way did you do it your self psyk?

I did the academy program, although technically I didn't complete it. Couldn't be bothered with the assignments for CCNA 3 and 4, so I just went ahead and booked myself in for the exam. Took me long enough to do the CCNA 2 assignment by myself and I'm not sure my school even had the equipment for 3 and 4.

teaboy5 · 14 Nov 2006 at 23:13

Psyk said:
I did the academy program, although technically I didn't complete it. Couldn't be bothered with the assignments for CCNA 3 and 4, so I just went ahead and booked myself in for the exam. Took me long enough to do the CCNA 2 assignment by myself and I'm not sure my school even had the equipment for 3 and 4.

Would way* what the hell was i typing there.

Yeah its always a good idea to check out the place where you going to do the course and make sure they have all the equipment imo

Dist · 14 Nov 2006 at 23:42

one of my planned courses with the open university is a CCNA course (its one of several choices available to get the points needed to get a ICT degree), the course doesnt actully give me a cirtificut so does that mean the course is part of the cisco academy? and that after ive done the course i can just take 1 or 2 exams or something to get the certification itself right?

teaboy5 · 14 Nov 2006 at 23:43

Dist said:
one of my planned courses with the open university is a CCNA course (its one of several choices available to get the points needed to get a ICT degree), the course doesnt actully give me a cirtificut so does that mean the course is part of the cisco academy? and that after ive done the course i can just take 1 or 2 exams or something to get the certification itself right?

Yeah seems right to me, the academy will give you a chance to use some equipment, and get you ready for the exams

Psyk · 14 Nov 2006 at 23:50

teaboy5 said:
Yeah its always a good idea to check out the place where you going to do the course and make sure they have all the equipment imo

Well I just did it at my school along side A-levels. Wouldn't have gone elsewhere to do it, I would have just done another A-level instead. In hindsight the A-level would have been a better idea, not that it mattered in the end.

mdixson · 14 Nov 2006 at 23:51

Cisco don't care what you get for the CCNA 1 exam. All they care about is what you get in your INTRO and ICND exams (or the combined one, I forget what it's called). The Cisco academy program is completely separate from the actual CCNA certification. Completing the academy program does not get you a CCNA. It's just a way to prepare you for the proper certification exams. So no one really cares if you only got 64% in an academy exam, you can still take the certification exams.

That has confused the hell out of me?!? Is that saying that the academy is useless as a qualification?

Also I'm still unsure if a job is out the question without it?

Is it almost essential to have it? Cause as far as i have been told once you have done it once thats it!
I have had two attempts at CCNA 1 on the academy, so is that it now?

If not where do i go from here?

Psyk · 14 Nov 2006 at 23:57

mdixson said:
That has confused the hell out of me?!? Is that saying that the academy is useless as a qualification?

It's useless as a qualification because it isn't one. It's a training program to prepare you for the exams that do give you the qualification.

mdixson said:
Also I'm still unsure if a job is out the question without it?

I'm sure you can get a job without one.

mdixson said:
Is it almost essential to have it? Cause as far as i have been told once you have done it once thats it!

Even after getting the CCNA qualification you have to get re-certified (take another test) every 3 years to keep it up to date.

mdixson said:
I have had two attempts at CCNA 1 on the academy, so is that it now?

If not where do i go from here?

As I said, how well you do on the academy program has no bearing on whether or not you'll get the qualification. It's just there to prepare you for it. Failing an academy test just means that you might not be ready to do the certification exam.

mdixson · 15 Nov 2006 at 00:04

so the online "final" means nothing?
and i will be able to go on and take the other exams?