Preparing for a Cisco Certification solely with Practice exams is a method that many candidates follow, however I do not recommend this study method at all. My intention in this article is not to slam practice exams. I just want to address the phenomenon among Cisco certification candidates who use practice exams solely as an attempt to pass their exams with the least possible effort. Practice exams should be used in your study strategy as a complimentary option together with other study resources such as books, video trainings, practice labs etc. When you are in the field in front of a rack of routers and switches trying to implement a network design, there is no A, B, C, or D choice like the practice exams. You’ve got to know what you are doing.

The current Cisco certification exams are designed in such a way as to weed out those candidates who just memorized hundreds of possible exam questions in their attempt to pass the exam. If those candidates used only practice tests for preparation, they will just be disappointed on exam day. The certification exams will not only test if you possess the requited knowledge, but also if you have the ability to apply that knowledge in real world cases. Thats why the current Cisco exams are full of practical scenario questions. By taking one practice exam after the other will certainly not develop this skill.

Practice simulators are also fine up to a certain extent, but also do not depend very heavily on them. The most common network simulators I’ve seen do not let you make any mistakes on the router or switch configuration, so you do not actually learn from your mistakes. Remember that making mistakes on a Cisco configuration, observing them and then fixing them is what really helps to actually learn what you are doing.

When preparing for a Cisco Certification (especially for an entry level certification such as CCENT and CCNA) you are not just studying for an exam. Rather, you are building and fortifying your base and foundation for the upper layer certifications and for your career as well. Try to make your study efforts as effective as possible by building a solid foundation. You will achieve this by learning all possible networking theory and fundamental concepts, rather than memorizing hundreds of exam questions. Especially when studying for CCNA, the knowledge that you will acquire will be the most important from all and will be the corner stone for future certifications such as the CCNP and CCIE.

The best preparation for Cisco certifications is to stick to a well-rounded study plan which includes books, lab networking equipment (real or virtual) and practice exams. A recommended training package for Cisco certification exams is this computer based training here. If you combine it with a relative book from CiscoPress then you will have a complete well-rounded study package for passing your Cisco exam.

The following is a very good article I have read over at Buzzle.com. It talks about the various opportunities that a professional will acquire after passing the Cisco CCNA exam and obtaining this entry level certification.

Software industries are desperately in need of information technology professionals certified in the aspect of networking. You are almost guaranteed a job provided you possess an excellent working knowledge of protocols such as IP, IGRP, Serial, Frame Relay, IP RIP, and VLAN’s as well as installing, configuring, operating, maintaining, and trouble shooting LAN, WAN and other networks. One way to be sure you have such proper networking experience and knowledge is through obtaining your Cisco Certified Network Associate certification.

This CCNA certification is an entry level certification for all certified IT professionals who specialize in computer networking. This certification is just the first step towards even higher levels of training, such as Cisco Certified Network Professional or Cisco Certified Internet work Expert certification.

A CCNA certification is often the best option for field technicians, IT helps desk engineers, and other professionals of information technology based on overseeing the computer networking process. It is considered to be the basic qualification for installing, operating, configuring and troubleshooting a mid-sized switched and routed network. A professional with CCNA training is trusted to work with a networking environment which would include a group of switched networks. They can manage a host of computer routed networks connected through switches with the greatest of ease.

There is an ever increasing demand for networking specialists as businesses reliance on computers grow and with that the value of a CCNA certification is also finding itself to be a hot commodity among the information technology industry’s job market. It is a benchmark for discovering who are the best and the most efficient technicians are who aren’t in network management. Think of it as a way to filter out the cream of the crop from the rest.

The certification examination is structured around a set of questions with drag and drop options, multiple choice single answers, multiple choice multiple answers, simulations and fill in the blank type of questions. While at first glance, that may sound to be quite easy, to be truly successful and pass this test professional training is required. The examination is built so that your technical and special knowledge of computer networking environments and solutions are pushed to the limits. Basically, not everyone can pass this test.

In today’s ultra-competitive job market, you need every advantage you can to market yourself. You need something to make yourself more attractive to a business compared to another IT professional. A CCNA certification, accepted and recognized all over the world, is the perfect tool to do just that. The CCNA examination is used as a tool for sorting out the best networking professionals who would be responsible for the management and maintenance of the networking environments.

I recommend this CCNA Training to help you pass this useful exam guaranteed.

Article Source: Buzzle.com

I found the following interesting article about the advantages of getting a Cisco certification as an important step in your career advancement in networking. Another important reason that I would add for getting a Cisco certification is that you will force yourself to learn the theory behind network technology and not rely only on hands-on practical experience (which is also important of course). Learning the theory behind networking technology concepts will tremendously help you in troubleshooting (if you are a field engineer) or in properly designing networks (if you are a network designer and planner).

Article:

If you work in the information technology field, or if you are trying to break in to start your career, getting a certification is a crucial step. Companies often require at least one IT certification to qualify for a position. There are many choices for which certification to pursue, though. Here are four great reasons why you should consider a Cisco certification for career advancement:

1. Cisco is a trusted name in the industry. Cisco is one of the world’s leading providers of IT and networking solutions. That gives them a lot of credibility in the technology world. As a result, employers place a lot of trust in Cisco to certify knowledgeable workers. After all, who better to test your skill with technology than the people who created that technology? Adding a Cisco certification to your resume lets you benefit from their very reliable name.
2. There are a wide variety of Cisco certifications to choose from. Cisco may specialize in computer networking, but there are dozens of specializations to choose from in their catalog of certifications. Whatever your particular IT interest is, there is probably a Cisco certification that is right for you. Interested in network design? Try a CCNA, CCDA, or CCDP. Is network security your thing? Then look into getting a CCSP. You can even specialize in voice, wireless, or storage networking. Research the type of specialization that interests you, and then plan out the certification path that suits your goals.
3. Cisco certifications follow a distinct career path. Cisco makes it very easy to turn your certification pursuits into a career track. There are seven main paths for Cisco certification: Routing and Switching, Design, Network Security, Service Provider, Storage Networking, Voice, and Wireless. Each path contains a separate set of certifications that build on one another and prepare you for increasing levels of responsibility in your field of specialization. You can use these certification paths as a guide to building your career. Just find a position that requires the entry certification level, and then continue increasing your certification level and seek out new positions or internal promotions that match your current level of certification.
4. Getting a lower-level certification prepares you for certifications higher up the chain. Cisco structures their certification paths in a unique way, where lower level certifications qualify you for more specialized certifications further up in the hierarchy. Most IT pros start out with the basic CCENT certification, which is a prerequisite for most other Cisco certifications. The Associate level CCNA certification usually follows, since it qualifies you for more certifications at the Professional and Expert level. This makes those low-level certifications even more valuable. Not only do they give you a boost in your career, but they also open up certification doors for you should you choose to advance your education and continue to specialize.

If you are convinced, you can find out more about Cisco certifications, paths, and levels at http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/index.html. Once you decide on which path to take, consider enrolling at a qualified certification training school to help you prepare for your exam. With a little guidance and practice, you will be able to pass your Cisco certification exam the first time and start enjoying the benefits to your career right away.

Shawn Livengood works for TechSkills, a career training school with over 25 campuses nationwide. TechSkills offers career training programs for IT certifications, healthcare services, accounting, and project management.

Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shawn_Livengood

The world of technology moves at a rapid pace. Once you learn one thing, you can expect that knowledge to be obsolete in a couple of years. The only fields that probably compete with technology in how fast they change is probably being a scientist or maybe even a doctor. If you are a professional in the tech field, it is your job to be on top of new and up coming technologies. This is not to say that you must master everyone of them, but you should at the very least be aware that they are out there. The first time you stop attempting to gain new knowledge in your chosen field, is when you start to become obsolete. The people behind Cisco Certifications reinforce these ideals. Their certifications are only valid for three years. After that you have to be re certified.

When a company decides to back something, they are putting their good name at risk. This is the same when it comes to certifications. The company is basically backing you with their reputation. If you walk around with a badge, advertising that you are Cisco Certified, they want to make sure that you know your stuff. Getting a certification ten years ago and never retaking the test, doesn’t show that you are knowledgeable about the latest technology. If you go to a potential employer and you know nothing about the questions that they are asking you, this makes them have a dim view of the certification itself. A bad reputation then makes the certification useless. Certifications are mostly about impressing the employer, in addition to getting the tech knowledge. If you are not able to do that, then it is worthless.

Some people will complain about too many new trends in technology and not all of them will last. Of course most of them will not last, but that is not the point. You should have known going in that technology is an ever changing field. This is not an unknown fact. It will not stop, just because you wish it to. The field is all about growth and taking ideas to the next level.

Cisco truly cares about their certification process. So much so, that they have set their certifications up with levels. There are five different levels of certifications, they are Entry, Associate, Professional, Expert, and Architect. If you are able to keep up with their technology, you will be able to rise up in levels. Becoming re certified every three years is a perfect way to do this. In that three years span of time, you should have been able to gain a lot more knowledge in your chosen section, so that you would be able to rise a level or two. This takes a large amount of discipline and future employers will recognize that.

Achieving a Cisco Certification every three years will help weed out the people who are not willing to keep up with the latest technology. In the world of tech, it is your job to be able to keep up with the latest developments. If you do not, then you will only be qualified for taking care of older technology. This can help you earn a steady paycheck but not in the most exciting way.