Concentrating on the CCNA Certifications: Cisco's New Voice, Security, and Wireless Concentrations
Cisco's popular, entry-level networking certification, the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification, has been updated with three areas of specialization that CCNAs can opt to concentrate on. Aptly referred to as "concentrations," CCNAs can now distinguish their skill sets by concentrating on a specific area of networking technology, enrolling in CCNA training, and passing an additional exam centered on that specific concentration. Cisco created the three concentration exams, Voice, Security, and Wireless, after surveying 1500 employers from around the world and discovering that employers want associate level employees to have specialized skills, with voice, wireless, and security being the skills most sought after.
Cisco has taken these new concentrations and incorporated them into its higher level certification programs. For instance, CCNA Voice is now a prerequisite for the Cisco Certified Voice Professional certification; CCNA Wireless has become a prerequisite for the Cisco Certified Network Professional Wireless certification; and CCNA Security will be the prerequisite for the Cisco Certified Security Professional certification once the Securing Cisco Network Devices exam is retired in November 2011.
More than one concentration can be earned by CCNA. In fact, if a CCNA wants to earn all three concentrations, that is possible, especially when enrolled in a good Cisco training program. Each certification is for three years. Recertifying is a matter of passing either a CCNA concentration exam, Cisco specialist exam (except Sales Specialist), any 642-XXX professional exam, or a current CCDE or CCIE exam.
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