Roadmap to Success: CCNA Routing and Switching

Roadmap to Success is a series of posts designed to help learners better understand certification pathways, career opportunities associated with those certifications, and the next steps beyond certification.

UPDATED: We updated this article on July 27, 2016, to reflect relevant changes to the CCNA Routing and Switching certification curriculum.

The CCNA Routing and Switching is an excellent starting point for your IT career. The CCNA R&S is extraordinarily popular among CBT Nuggets learners and highly sought after by the IT industry. This certification validates your ability to install, configure, operate, and troubleshoot medium-size routed and switched networks. Typically, the CCNA R&S qualifies you for roles that include network technician, network engineer, systems administrator, and more.

Cisco Certified Network Associate Routing and Switching (CCNA R&S)

The Cisco Certified Network Associate Routing and Switching (CCNA R&S) certification is designed for entry-level networking professionals. The CCNA R&S certification is made up of two exams, both of which are covered by CBT Nuggets training:

• Cisco CCENT/CCNA ICND1 100-105

• Cisco CCNA ICND2 200-105

To earn your CCNA R&S, you must first complete the ICND1 exam, which will result in the Cisco Certified Entry-level Network Technician (CCENT) certification. The ICND1 exam tests your knowledge and skills to successfully install, operate, and troubleshoot a small branch office network, including topics like the operation of IP data networks, LAN switching technologies, IPv6, IP routing technologies, IP services (DHCP, NAT, ACLs), network device security, and basic troubleshooting.

The second exam for the CCNA R&S is the ICND2, which tests your knowledge and skills to successfully install, operate, and troubleshoot a small to medium-sized enterprise branch network, including topics on LAN switching technologies, IP routing technologies, IP services (FHRP, Syslog, SNMP v2 and v3), troubleshooting, and WAN technologies.

Downloadable Study Plans

CBT Nuggets offers two study plans that map to Jeremy Cioara's Cisco CCENT/CCNA ICND1 100-105 and Cisco CCNA ICND2 200-105 courses. These downloadable Cisco CCNA Routing and Switching study plans break down the courses and supplemental learning resources to equip learners with a strategic and manageable approach to conquer training goals. Download the Cisco CCENT/CCNA ICND1 100-105 and Cisco CCNA ICND2 200-105 study plans.

Another CCNA R&S Path

While most learners take Parts 1 and 2 of the certification exam in succession, you can attack both in just one exam: the CCNA Composite Exam or the CCNAX 200-125.

Though CBT Nuggets does not offer coursework addressing the CCNAX, the exam's content comprises the same material discussed in the ICND1 and ICND2 courses. The CCNAX is not any more complex than the ICND1 or ICND2 exams, but due to the volume of information learners must master to be successful, most choose to earn the certification in two parts.

Typically, learners pursuing this certification path should have 1-3 years of experience and some familiarity with Cisco products. However, the CCNA R&S is considered an entry-level certification, so learners new to the industry can start here if they are motivated and ready to study!

Included in the playlist, you will find several supplemental courses to help ensure your success in pursuing the CCNA R&S:

• Cisco CCNA Hands-on Labs Using Wireshark & GNS3

• IPv4 Subnetting

• Exam Walkthrough: ICND1/CCENT 100-101

• Exam Walkthrough: ICND2/CCNA 200-101

These supplemental courses are recommended to help learners deepen their understanding of the content, which is essential for success in earning certification.

Exam Details

The CCNA Routing and Switching certification is made up of two distinct exams. The details for each are provided below.

CCENT/ICND1:

• Time allotted for exam: 1.5 hours (90 minutes)

• Number of questions: 45-55 questions per exam

• Passing score: Cisco does not publish the passing score for its exams

• Question types: Multiple choice/single answer; Multiple choice/multiple answer; Drag and drop; Fill-in-the-blank; Simulation; Testlet; Simlet

• Exam registration: Pearson VUE

• Exam cost: $150* *Learn more about exam fees from Pearson VUE

• Exam topics: (free resource): Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices Part 1 (100-105)

CCNA/ICND2:

• Time allotted for the exam: 75 minutes

• Number of questions: 50-60 questions per exam

• Passing score: Cisco does not publish the passing score for its exams

• Question types: Multiple choice/single answer; Multiple choice/multiple answer; Drag and drop; Fill-in-the-blank; Simulation; Testlet; Simlet Exam registration: Pearson VUE

• Exam cost: $150* *Learn more about exam fees from Pearson VUE

• Exam topics: (free resource): Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices Part 2 (200-105 ICND2)

Recertification

Cisco's Associate-level certifications, including CCNA R&S, are valid for three years from the certification date. Learners can re-certify by passing any Cisco 642-XXX or 300-XXX exam, CCIE written exam, CCDE written or practical exam, or the CCAr interview and the CCAr board review.

The Next Step

The CCNA R&S is a building block that enables learners to earn various other, more advanced, Cisco certifications. After gaining the CCNA R&S, most learners take the next step by earning a CCNP (Cisco Certified Network Professional) R&S or choosing another CCNA specialization.

CCNP:

For those learners wanting to continue down the path of Routing and Switching, the next step is to earn the Cisco Certified Networking Professional (CCNP) certification. The CCNP R&S certification is made up of three exams, all of which are covered by CBT Nuggets training:

• Cisco CCNP Routing and Switching 300-101 ROUTE

• Cisco CCNP Routing/Switching 300-115 SWITCH

• Cisco CCNP Routing/Switching 300-135 TSHOOT

The CCNA is a prerequisite to any CCNP-level certification.

CCNA Options:

The CCNA R&S is often a building block for your IT career. Once you have earned your Routing and Switching certification, additional CCNA-level certifications are typically just one exam away. Among CBT Nuggets learners who have earned the CCNA R&S, the most highly sought-after CCNA certifications are (in order of popularity):

1. CCNA Security (made up of just one exam: 210-260 IINS)

2. CCNA Wireless (made up of just one exam: 200-355 WIFUND)

3. CCNA Data Center (made up of two exams: 640-911 DCICN and 640-916 DCICT)

4. CCNA Collaboration (made up of two exams: 210-060 CICD and 210-065 CIVND [broken into two CBT Nuggets courses: 210-065 CIVND1 and 210-065 CIVND2])

Career Considerations

Payscale.com/ provides a helpful salary guide to help learners determine appropriate pay scales for job opportunities associated with the CCNA. Depending on professional experience, an employee holding a CCNA can earn between $40,643 and $124,889.

Typical roles for those holding the CCNA Routing and Switching certification include network engineer, network technician, network administrator, IT manager, systems administrator, and more.

Cisco Certifications

Cisco certifications are layered, with each layer building upon the knowledge and skills developed at previous layers. They are structurally designed as pyramids. The layers are Entry, Associate, Professional, Expert, and Architect. Associate-level certifications include Cloud, Collaboration, Data Center, Industrial, Routing and Switching, Security, Service Provider, and Wireless.

Once learners have earned an Associate-level certification, they can pursue Cisco Certified Network Professional-level certifications. Cisco offers a variety of Professional-level certifications, including Design Professional (CCDP), Cloud, Collaboration, Data Center, Routing and Switching, Security, Service Provider, and Wireless.

Finally, learners can pursue Expert-level certifications, including Design Expert (CCDE), Collaboration, Data Center, Routing and Switching, Security, Service Provider, and Wireless.

Cisco provides an excellent certification overview that succinctly outlines each certification, its prerequisites, and related careers.

Begin exploring other Cisco certification options for which CBT Nuggets provides training to open up even more professional development opportunities.

Concluding Thoughts

Earning a CCNA is one of the first steps to launching a long-term, growth-oriented career in IT networking. It is a certification that prepares learners to choose areas of specialization that can equip them for high-wage and high-satisfaction roles. Your CCNA is only the beginning. So kickstart your career by training for the CCNA today!

Watch. Learn. Conquer the CCNA!

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