CCNA

The Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA®) certification is an "associate" level certification in Cisco's certification pyramid.  It confirms the ability to install, configure, operate, and troubleshoot small and medium-sized routers and switches.

The Cisco CCNA certification must first be obtained before the CCNA Voice, CCNA Wireless, CCNA Security, or CCNA Service Provider Operations certifications can be achieved (unless you already possess a CCIE certification). 

CCNA Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites.

CCNA Required Exams

There are two testing paths to achieve the CCNA certification:

1. CCNA Composite (640-802 CCNA)
2. OR Interconnecting Cisco Internetworking Devices 1&2 (640-822 ICND1) (640-816 ICND2)

CCNA Books and Videos

1. 31 Days Before Your CCNA Exam: A day-by-day review guide for the CCNA 640-802 exam
2. CCENT/CCNA ICND1 Official Exam Certification Guide (CCENT Exam 640-822 and CCNA Exam 640-802)
3. CCNA ICND2 Official Exam Certification Guide (CCNA Exams 640-816 and 640-802)
4. CCNA Video Mentor: (CCNA Exam 640-802) 
5. Chris Bryant's Youtube Channel (CCIE #12933)

CCNA Topic Summary

1. Connecting to a WAN
2. Implementing network security
3. Network types
4. Network media
5. Routing and switching fundamentals 
6. The TCP/IP and OSI models
7. IP addressing
8. WAN technologies
9. Operating and configuring IOS devices
10. Extending switched networks with VLANs
11. Determining IP routes
12. Managing IP traffic with access lists
13. Establishing point-to-point connections
14. Establishing Frame Relay connections

CCNA Additional Resources

• Cisco Certification Agreements
• GNS3 Graphical Network Simulator
• GNS3-Labs:  Cisco Router Simulator Network Labs