CCNA CCNP Certfication

Aridhol

I'm looking to get these certifications to further my career as the company I work for (an ISP) often hires from within and I'd like paperwork to back up my hands on knowledge to differentiate myself from others.

I'd say I have an intermediate to advance knowledge of networking.

Does anyone have any experience with training materials related to CCNA and CCNP that they would recommend. I've looked around locally and suprisingly there are no courses or schools that have instruction within a couple hundred miles so this is not an option.

Jimmy King

There at least used to be some training books/software packages you could buy that had emulators for various Cisco switches and routers to allow you to work with them. Global Knowledge also offers online courses, although I don't recommend them in all circumstances as they are $2000+ for 2 weeks 8 hrs/day crash course type deals. I did learn some when I took one several years ago, I just don't know that I learned $2000 worth.

3lwap0

I did a brief stint studying for the CCNA -

The first half of the course is Networking 101. OSI model, protocols, subnetting etc., - easy stuff. The 2nd half of the book is pure Cisco product, you learn the IOS of a basic router/switch whatever. That's when hands on is pretty much required, since you're working with a proprietary product.

Some good study sources would be CBT nuggests, Test Out, and Examcram. The self-tests are pretty good too.

IronHelix

I ran through the CCNA last summer with a Bootcamp class offered by Global Knowledge. Most of the material is covered in the Interconnecting Cisco Network Devices book, if you can find some with the IOS simulation software on it I would recommend it. If you cant get access to the software the test will probably be next to impossible to complete unless you have a few spare Cisco's you can play with. So I would recommend any of the Cisco branded and approved books. If you need any help PM me ill see what i can do.

Pheezer

I took the CCNP courses in grade 11/12 for the CCNA, and in grade 12 towards the end I wrote the CCNA exam. I studied literally four hours every night for about two weeks prior to writing. I remember being able to program a router from a full reset, using the console, implementing subnetting and setting up MAC/IP address and protocol level filtering, which also meant being able to pretty much work out subnet masks in my head. The exam is very difficult, and it's adaptive, so if you're weak in an area, it'll start focusing on that area until you've failed too many questions to pass.

You need IOS simulation software. Absolutely. You need to be able to do the binary math very, very quickly. That means a lot of practicing. You need to block off a lot of time to study in preparation, and you need to accept that it honestly probably isn't even going to do that much for you career wise, and in three years, you're going to have to re-certify, which means paying to write the exam again, which means two weeks of studying, again.

Seriously, if you don't have your A+, get that first. It never expires and it's a lot easier. After your A+, I'd almost suggest looking at the MS certs first, because again, much easier, and honestly, employers mostly don't know the difference or don't care. Go for the CCNA if you know that's where your career focus is, and if you know you'll be able to use the knowledge, and climb the Cisco ladder higher than that if that's what you're into, but if you're looking for a cert that'll get your foot in the door, no one really knows the difference between the CCNA and A+ and half the time, they're more interested in A+ and MCSE certs anyhow.

EDIT:
I'll also note that I passed the exam with a score in the 920s. I don't remember the exact number (six years ago!) but the grade scale runs from 300 - 1000 and isn't linear. Time taken, number of questions answered, and number of correct/incorrect all go into a calculation that determines your ranking. I think a 700 is a pass.

supabeast

Have you asked if the company already has arrangements for online/correspondence training programs of some kind?