Cisco Certified Network Associate commonly known as CCNA, is a certification for IT professionals that is issued by Cisco Systems, Inc. Cisco manufactures and markets a wide range of devices for both enterprises and telecommunications carriers. Cisco is an abbreviation of San FranCISCO. The CCNA certification is an apprentice, or foundation level program within the three levels of certification that include Associate, Professional, and Expert.
CCNA professionals are certified to install, configure, and operate LAN, WAN, and dial access services for small networks (100 nodes or fewer), including (but is not limited to) the use of these protocols: IP, Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (EIGRP), Serial Line Interface Protocol Frame Relay, Routing Information Protocol Version 2 (RIPv2),VLANs, Ethernet, access control lists (ACLs). The certification is valid for three years, after which recertification will be necessary.
In order to obtain CCNA certification, you have to pass either the composite Cisco Certified Network Associate exam (640-802) or the combination of Interconnecting Cisco Network Devices ICND1 (640-822) and ICND2 (640-816 ) exams. When you pass the ICND1, you have acheived CCENT Certification. Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician (CCENT™) validates the ability to install, operate and troubleshoot a small enterprise branch network, including basic network security. The CCENT is the starting point for many successful careers in networking. The curriculum covers networking fundamentals, WAN technologies, basic security and wireless concepts, routing and switching fundamentals, and configuring simple networks. CCENT is the first step toward achieving CCNA, which covers medium size enterprise branch networks with more complex connections.
To ensure that the CCNA remains a prestigious certification, Cisco maintains it’s difficulty level by changing the exam guidelines at any time without notice. Training for the CCNA Certification