The Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification is a Cisco credential that verifies a person’s knowledge and skills to install, manage, and troubleshoot small-to-medium size networks. Cisco offers CCNA as an entry-level networking certification for people who want to break into the IT field or advance their current career in network administration.
The Cisco Certified Network Associate certification has been around since 1998 and was developed to help companies ensure they have qualified employees with the necessary skill set for installing, managing, and troubleshooting Cisco products on local area networks (LANs).
The Cisco Certified Network Associate certification is the most popular CCENT certification. It may also be known as the Associate level of expertise, which stands for Advanced-level technological expertise. The 200-301 Exam is required to obtain the CCNA credential.
In this post, we will discuss how long the CCNA certification lasts after passing the exam, what are some ways a candidate can maintain their CCNA active once they have achieved Cisco Certified Network Associate certification, and what steps must be taken to re-certify the CCNA credential if it expires. For more information on the CCNA certification series as well as other IT-related certifications and best practices, feel free to contact MyComputerCareer.
How Long is the CCNA Certificate Valid?
Your certification is valid for three years after your date of issue. To recertify before your certificate’s expiration date, you must satisfy several recertification criteria. You don’t have to do anything to keep your CCNA certification active. Cisco is known for making frequent changes to its certification program. If there are any modifications to the CCNA exam, your certificate will remain valid until your certification’s expiration date.
CCNA certification is Cisco’s way of validating that you have the expertise in Cisco technologies. It also helps to increase your marketability both within Cisco and outside Cisco. For example, if you have CCNA Routing & Switching certification, it will validate your ability to configure, administer, operate, and maintain Cisco routers and switches used for small networks.
What Are The CCNA Certification Renewal Requirements?
You must complete recertification procedures before your CCNA certificate expires. The CCNA is a network-security certificate that can be renewed in two ways. The first choice is to recertify using a conventional exam. The second alternative, which is new, calls for obtaining CE (Continuing Education) credits.
Cisco Learning Partners offer Continuing Education credits. The credits are given for activities such as passing Cisco professional-level job certifications, completing relevant Cisco authorized courses, creating exam questions for Cisco, and/or participating in local Cisco user group meetings and Live technical sessions. You must complete 40 CE credits if you want to recertify for the CCNA.
For the recertification route, you will need to pass one of the following exams:
- Passing the 200-301 CCNA exam once again.
- You can also take any one associate exam. The most realistic option is to retake the 200-301 CCNA examination. However, Cisco offers two other associate-level certifications: the DEVASC for Cisco Certified Devnet Associate and CBROPS for Cisco Certified CyberOps Associate certification. You may recertify your CCNA by passing one of the two while also earning additional certifications.
- Any one of the five technology core exams is sufficient. There is a technology core exam for each of the five CCNP tracks: Enterprise, Data Center, Security, Service Provider, and Collaboration. In addition, the Cisco Certified DevNet Professional and Cisco Certified CyberOps Professional certifications each have a core exam that may be passed to renew your CCNA while gaining more expertise and another credential. The certification you receive is based on your knowledge and experience with networking. You must pass the basic exam to become a specialist in network administration. To obtain professional accreditation, you must pass both the core test and a concentration exam.
- You may take a certification exam for any of the five CCNP credentials, including Cisco Certified CyberOps Professional or Cisco Certified DevNet Professional.
- You may qualify for any one of the CCIE lab exams. To be eligible for the CCIE laboratory exam, you must have passed a technological core test. The technology core examination would have recertified your CCNA regardless. This option is rarely chosen to recertify your CCNA, but if you do end up taking the CCIE lab, it will recertify all of your previous certifications – CCNA included.
Regaining the Certified Status Once CCNA Has Expired
Cisco requires its Cisco Certified Network Associates to recertify once every three years to keep the certification active.
There are two ways for CCNA holders to recertify if they have let their certifications expire by sitting for either a written exam or participating in an instructor-led online course and passing it with 80% correct answers. The Cisco Learning Network is a Cisco learning portal that Cisco offers to all of its CCNA holders. Candidates can participate in webinars, watch video tutorials, and review study materials available on the site’s Learning Library.
Before your certification expires, we suggest you recertify. If your certificate expires, you must retake the CCNA exam to renew your certification. It is necessary to re-certify before your CCNA certification expires if you wish to advance to the next level of certifications or use CE credits to recertify.
Keep in mind that Cisco does not extend the certification waiting period. You are responsible for recertifying on time. Also, be aware of Cisco’s five-day retake policy before scheduling your recertification exam. If you plan your recertification examination, for example, three days before your certification’s expiration date and then fail the test, you won’t be able to retake it for another five days, letting your certificates expire.
How Much Does the CCNA Recertification Cost?
The CCNA 200-301 exam costs $300. The precise cost you pay might vary somewhat based on your location and taxes, but $300 is a reasonable estimate. To avoid an expensive second attempt, make sure you’re well-prepared.
The Cisco Certified Network Associate credential is a very challenging and time-consuming one to obtain. Once you’ve earned it, you have it for three years without doing anything else. Passing the 200-301 CCNA exam once more will help you recertify, a better option is to recertify by passing an advanced professional exam to further your knowledge and job prospects and maintain your CCNA certification.
MyComputerCareer offers certification programs that include CCNA exams as well. Reach out to us if you’re interested in getting CCNA-certified and advancing your I.T. career. We would be happy to answer any questions that you might have.