The CCNA modified my lifetime. This isn’t exaggeration or hyperbole. It started again in 2001, suitable appropriate listed here in Ottawa, copyright. I was instructing highschool pc science (Noticeable Essential!) and net layout (Macromedia!) when Cisco Networking Academy approached our school board to find out if we could possibly be concerned about turning out to be a member in their fledgling program.
I understood almost nothing about networking then, nevertheless the men and women at Cisco Networking Academy described that they might ship me to lessons being taught and get paid one thing generally known as the CCNA. Little did I do know that this willpower would start out an unbelievable journey with Cisco.
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Cisco 2500 Assortment Router*
I was despatched all over again to high school to Learn how routers and switches operate, just how to terminate Ethernet cables, the way to subnet, and what ISDN and Entire body Relay were useful for. To organize for CCNA certification, I discover Cisco Press textbooks, reviewed the Networking Academy’s CCNA written content materials, took use examinations, and manufactured labs on 2501 routers and 1924 switches the varsity had bought. (No, Packet Tracer wasn’t round yet again then!)
I at last took the CCNA assessment in 2002. I was anxious, however I felt in a position to try my luck. Like loads of you beginning your CCNA journey, this was my initial time getting a certification assessment.
The assessment experienced a lot of inquiries to reply in these kinds of a short length of time—multiple-option, lab simulations, drag-and-drops—it had all of it. And there was no once again button! Following I Finally clicked “End Evaluation” and recognized the “Congratulations” information, I used to be surprised, thrilled, and so proud.
Passing the CCNA as well as the Networking Academy Instructor coaching intended I'd mature to be a Cisco Licensed Academy Teacher (CCAI), entitled to begin out instructing my highschool higher education pupils about Cisco networking. This was suggests bigger than instructing them Obvious Fundamental!
That 1 dedication once more in 2001 opened countless doorways for me. Quite a few yrs later, I grew to become a Cisco Licensed Plans Instructor (CCSI) certified to supply CCNA and CCNP coaching by using a Cisco Finding out https://dailyhealthinsight.com/ Affiliate.
About the past handful of decades, I’ve available at many Cisco conferences and achieved Distinguished Speaker standing throughout numerous Cisco Reside occasions in Melbourne, Amsterdam, and Las Vegas.
I’m now a Cisco Press writer, I’ve helped create Cisco program content material materials like Employing Cisco Business Exceptional Routing and Companies (ENARSI) and Employing Cisco SD-WAN Alternatives (ENSDWI), and I function for Cisco as an Instructor and direct written content material advocate in Studying & Certifications.
I by no means may have predicted the influence that call in 2001 would've on my future, however I do know that I’m not by itself. Lots of Many others have proficient the flexibility of the Cisco certification, Along with the CCNA standing the Test of your time due to the fact its launch better than twenty years in past times.
This delivers us to The latest iteration of this foundational networking certification: the 200-301 CCNA v1.1 assessment swap. It’s likely to arrive on August 20, 2024, marking the main change to the assessment in four several years.