CCNA Certification:

The Most Important Studies Of Your Cisco Career

By Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933

Speaking as a CCIE, it may sound strange for me to tell you that your CCNA certification exam studies are the most important of all. After all, isn't the CCIE the pinnacle of the Cisco Learning Pyramid? Isn't the CCIE where so many aspire to be? Aren't CCIE studies the most difficult of all?

The answer to those questions is "yes", but what makes advanced learning and study possible is the foundation you lay when you begin your CCNA certification test prep. I'm often asked what it takes to become a CCIE, and my answer is always the same: You have to become a true CCNA and CCNP first.

Take OSPF for example. If you don't know the basics of OSPF - what a virtual link is, how routes are created, the importance of Area 0 - then how can you master advanced OSPF studies? You can't! Success in any field is all about mastering the fundamentals, and that's what your CCNA certification exam studies are all about.

As human beings, it's natural for us to admire the peak of a pyramid rather than look at the foundation that makes it possible. When it comes to Cisco certifications, it's easy to focus on the work ethic and knowledge it takes to become a CCIE - and that work ethic and knowledge foundation are forged during your CCNA certification exam studies.

In today's world, it's often said that instant gratification takes too long. Many CCNA certification candidates I meet are in a real hurry to earn this certification, and I understand that feeling! Just keep in mind that the foundation you create during your CCNA certification test prep is the foundation for your future studies, and also for your career. Take your time and build that foundation with care, and you'll be amazed at the career you can build - and you just might be able to build a CCIE number on top of it, too!

To your success,

Chris Bryant

CCIE #12933

chris@thebryantadvantage.com