Current Events > Anyone here CCNA certified?

(+) Yeah! (+)

I know there are a lot of IT whizzes here, so figured I'd ask.

My A+, Net+, and Sec+ are all set to expire in May, so I've been studying to take the latter again and therefore get the others renewed. To my surprise, I'm having a lot easier of a time than I did three years ago.

I know that a CCNA would make me a fuck of a lot more hirable in my field, and I've been considering going for it for awhile.

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Wanted to ask you this but ive been trying to major in IT and having trouble which to go for. Do you recommend going for A+ first and then network/security and then ccna?
I wanted to do ccna a in october but heard it was going to change to the new ccna in february which no way I would make it in time.
Im about to get my associates in CIS in may and then transfer for computer science. Kinda not sure where to start.

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The CompTIA trifecta (A/N/Sec+) are generally considered to be easier than the CCNA, and it's common to get all three in consecutive order.

If you're looking to get a generalized hardware knowledge cert to get things started, A+ is a good route. On its own it doesn't have the hiring potential it once did, but as a take-off point it has a bit to offer.

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ive had it before, but ive moved out of networking so i havent kept up with it...

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DaveTheUseless posted...

The CompTIA trifecta (A/N/Sec+) are generally considered to be easier than the CCNA, and it's common to get all three in consecutive order.

If you're looking to get a generalized hardware knowledge cert to get things started, A+ is a good route. On its own it doesn't have the hiring potential it once did, but as a take-off point it has a bit to offer.

Ahh i see, just hear so many different sides i hear like ccna doesnt guarantee IT for others while A+ worked out for some etc. Or some say A+ is worthless and go for ccna first. Just confusing lol.

I guess ill go for that first then as a safer bet and a good start then thanks.

Altho I hear some people say google IT certification is helpful and lands an IT job but not sure if true.

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I have a CCNP Route/Switch cert. Getting Cisco certs was one of the best things I've done for myself.

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I haven't tried the Google cert, but have glanced it. It looks potentially valuable if you have an interest in the job roles it prepares you for.

The A+ takes a lot of crap from people with strong IT knowledge who view it as people trying to superficially package a passion of theirs. It also takes some flack for having sone outdated material (fair, but it's been updated in recent years) and not being a good ultimate aim, but that would be like bashing associate's degrees for not being bachelor's degrees.

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Godnorgosh posted...

*raises hand*

I just have a CCNA and CMNA and 2-3 years of prior IT (NOC) experience. Landed a network engineer role at the end of last year. Make over 70k, almost 80k with bonus.

I'm so happy for you, man

You're doing it!

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CableZL posted...

I have a CCNP Route/Switch cert. Getting Cisco certs was one of the best things I've done for myself.

Yeah, I want the CCNA R&S. I've been studying a $3 subnetting book, and have a large CCNA book by Browning. I'm thinking that my best bet is to be willing to budget a lot of time and absorb the concepts and then brush up again when I'm more confident that I can put my logic to work.

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I also have a silly little Linux Essentials cert from the LPI. It never expires, which is kinda rad.

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I got it in December. I just need to find a job to use it now. Seems like a lot of places want way more than just what ive learned on that cert but i only started applying this week so maybe they'll overlook the zero work experience i have in the field. Ive been in web design for 5 years and it feels strange starting something fresh again. Im hoping i can find something that pays comparable but im willing to take a hit if i have to. The upward mobility of networking looks to be pretty nice.

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I had an interview to be a full-time networking teacher. I applied last July, got interviewed in October--and my application is still in consideration. I have a suspicion that my lack of a Cisco cert is holding back my candidacy, given their course offerings.

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Yippie.

I actually know a little Python. The literal compilation can make it frustrating, but it can also be fairly straightforward with the proper mindset.

Hopefully I can find some good video resources for CCNA: The New Class. Books are fine, but stuff like Professor Messer got me far in the CompTIA world.

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I also wonder if any of the newer, post Sec+ CompTIA certs have any real value. I considered doing the CySa+, but I have a hunch that there are better uses of my study time.

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I have ICND1 100-105, but not ICND2. I just got it in December. I also have the A+ Certification.

Cisco is replacing the ICDN1 and ICND2 exams in a week or two.

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The CompTia certs are babys first IT certs. None of them really hold weight anymore except Security + and thats only because government contracting jobs still often require it which in itself is an outdated requirement.

If you want to get into networking go straight for the Cisco certs. The networking field and advancing in it is very dependant on climbing the Cisco very ladder. More so than any other IT field. Having certain Cisco certs will guarantee you a particular salary range. If I remember correctly a CCIE cert will net you a $150k job.

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Pro-Tip to anyone who plans on getting a CompTIA cert: before you buy a voucher, get it from the Academic CompTIA store. With a .edu e-mail address you get them at a significant discount.

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DaveTheUseless posted...

Pro-Tip to anyone who plans on getting a CompTIA cert: before you buy a voucher, get it from the Academic CompTIA store. With a .edu e-mail address you get them at a significant discount.

Thanks for this.

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Sure 'nuff. I blew somewhere around $130-$200 because I didn't know it existed.

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Found this cert chart. Thought it was interesting.



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I went ahead and printed it out and put it on my wall (the 2020 version, tho').

I can only imagine how difficult the highest certs are to get. You probably have to hit the books as if you're studying a foreign language.

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I found out earlier today that I can easily get my CompTIA trifecta renewed by completing an online course that shouldn't take me more than a few hours to complete

l0l me

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DaveTheUseless posted...

I went ahead and printed it out and put it on my wall (the 2020 version, tho').

I can only imagine how difficult the highest certs are to get. You probably have to hit the books as if you're studying a foreign language.

Damn this overwhelmed me im not gonna lie looking at all these.

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Don't blame you. Fortunately, I'm not looking to reach the peak of the mountain. Just looking to attain a full-time job in teaching computer networking or cybersecurity at the community college level.

Current game plan:

Trifecta Renewal (could happen as soon as tomorrow)
CCENT (doesn't look too bad if you get the appropriate prep)
CCNA (taking the 2 exam path, with the CCENT first)

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Well, already have a potential monkey wrench in those plans: the CCNA Cyber Ops looks a little more in line with my goals than the CCNA R&S is.

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My A+/Network+/Security+ are officially re-certified, courtesy of a brief online course that someone recommended I complete to satisfy CEU requirements.

Woo hoo!

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DaveTheUseless posted...

My A+/Network+/Security+ are officially re-certified, courtesy of a brief online course that someone recommended I complete to satisfy CEU requirements.

Woo hoo!

Congrats, hopefully you acheive your goals. Dumb question but how long did it take u to get those certs the first time you did it? Some people say their able to pull it off less than two weeks and made me think if its true or not lol.

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Naw, that's a fair question. It depends on your familiarity. Unless you blow a bunch of money on training materials it's hard to fill in all the gaps, unless you print out the list of objectives for each exam and review everything using whatever you can get a hold of.

I took a long time to get mine, based on feeling like a total n00b/lack of confidence. I think it's reasonable to start studying from scratch for the A+ exams and get them both done in a couple of months (obviously less if you're familiar with the topics on hand). I was overconfident for the Net+ and caught off guard with a bunch of questions: tbqh, I found the Security+ to be a bit easier, even if it's supposed to be higher on the totem pole. It feels like no matter what you'll end up getting some questions on things you didn't prepare for, but based on what you did you can logic your way to correct answers and end up doing quite well.

I'm way behind, really. I got my first cert in 2016, and all I have to show for my efforts at the moment are the CompTIA trifecta and a very basic Linux Essentials cert. I gotta get my ass moving. I'm an old man.

(Also, looks like the CCENT is retiring with the new CCNA, so that makes my gameplan even simpler. I need that frigging certification.)

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SONIC_305 posted...

Congrats, hopefully you acheive your goals. Dumb question but how long did it take u to get those certs the first time you did it? Some people say their able to pull it off less than two weeks and made me think if its true or not lol.

When I had to get my Security + for a job, I watched Profresor Messor's youtube channel. He has play lists for different CompTia certs. I watched about 75% of that certs playlist and aced the exam.

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^ Second'd. The training course I just completed for Sec+ renewal was made easy largely thanks to ProfMesser videos, and I also used part of an old book by a guy named Gibson.

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cool

Signed up for an inexpensive Udemy course. Got PacketTracer installed again.

Guy who teaches this course seems to think it's reasonable to think you can pass the CCNA after 6 weeks of devoted study. Seems a bit ambitious to me, but hey.

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The Linux+ cert never expires, apparently.

Very sexy...

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Not sure if there are any people here who use Udemy courses or the like, but I'm somewhere around 7% into this course and I'm having a good time of it:

https://www.udemy.com/course/ccna-complete/

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DaveTheUseless posted...

I went ahead and printed it out and put it on my wall (the 2020 version, tho').

I can only imagine how difficult the highest certs are to get. You probably have to hit the books as if you're studying a foreign language.

CCIE is a fucking nightmare from what I understand. The test is go into some room and set up a network with a bunch of devices in the room according to some specifications. Then leave the room and some Cisco engineers go in and fuck everything up and you go back in and have to figure out what they broke and how to fix it.

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I have no plans on ever touching that thing. CCNP, sure, maybe in several years. CCIE? lololol hellno

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I want to go for CCIE route switch or whatever it's called now and security at some point.

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Got my CCNA R&S last fall, crammed Sec+ last month and working on the new CCNP ENCOR now.

CompTIA is more of a vocabulary test but it gets your resume past screening and Sec+ makes you eligible for government jobs. The Cisco track has tangibly helped me on the job and you'll obliterate any technical interview question about networking that gets thrown your way. I wish I had studied for it years ago instead of coasting in a comfortable job.

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That's about as good a brief comparison as I've seen tbqh. Sec+ is concepts, CCNA is more 'OK tough guy, let's see what you know'.

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DaveTheUseless posted...

That's about as good a brief comparison as I've seen tbqh. Sec+ is concepts, CCNA is more 'OK tough guy, let's see what you know'.

Yeah, Cisco exams definitely test real world knowledge. If you learn Cisco well, you'll be able to understand a number of other networking platforms, too. It's mostly just a difference in what some things are called. The concepts are the same, though.

I had my CCNP before I ever had a good amount of hands on experience, but I was able to step in at my old job and manage and build their network pretty well.

I have CCNP a route switch and CCNA Security. Picking up on managing Palo Alto firewalls and configuring them was really just a matter of learning how the platform functions more so than having to pick up on basic security related stuff.

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I have a temptation to get yet another Master's degree (I already have 2) through WGU, because the Cybersecurity M.S. looks like something I could do quickly, get something out of, and also be more hirable for as a result.

Then again, 3 master's degrees. o_O

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As someone working on an EdD, I wonder how wtf my doc would look if I applied for a network engineering job (since it doesn't directly apply, unless you consider it in a soft skills sense). Then again, I'm only looking to teach, so hey.

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Interesting and informative topic

I'm hearing that the CCNA composite that's about to expire has a couple simulations on OSPF and EIGRP that people end up spending a bunch of time on. I'm not surprised that the simulation questions are the ones stressing people. It's the same with the CompTIA exams, but they can literally pull theirs from anywhere (although I imagine they're much simpler than anything you'd see on a CCNA).

Linux+, Server+, and Project+ and don't expire, so I'm considering nabbing those at some point.

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I'm enjoying the history and logical short-term workarounds I'm learning, e.g. organizations using NAT to compensate for the shortage of IPv4 addresses.

I'm starting to dive into 'remember these numbers' territory, so have a loooot of preparation to go yet...


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With subnetting, I would recommend learning how to figure out subnetting problems quickly instead of trying to memorize a huge chart of information. That has sufficed for me.

Certain subnet sizes you'll eventually memorize because they're so commonly used like /24, /30, and /29... But for the most part it's fine if you can just figure out the info you need quickly.

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