Army COOL Snapshot - Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)

Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)

Renewal Period: 3 years

Cisco Systems, Inc., Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) is an entry-level certification for associate-level jobs in the IT industry. Updated in 2020, the CCNA program covers a broad range of fundamental concepts including network fundamentals, security, and automation and programmability. Although there are no formal experience or education prerequisites, a candidate is recommended to have one or more years experience implementing and administering Cisco solutions as well as an understanding of basic IP addressing and network fundamentals.

More information can be found on the certifying agency's website.

Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)

The following Army Occupations provide training and/or experience that contributes to attaining this credential. Please review the "Civilian" tab, if present, for information about which DOL Job Families this credential falls under.

Personnel Category	Occupation	Occupation Type	Related As	CA Eligible	Promotion Points	Skill Level	Star
Enlisted	12Y Geospatial Engineer	MOS	Some	CA Eligible	Promo Points
Enlisted	17C Cyber Operations Specialist	MOS	Most	CA Eligible	Promo Points	Skill Level III
Enlisted	1C Satellite Systems/Network Coordinator	ASI	Some	CA Eligible	Promo Points
Enlisted	25B Information Technology Specialist	MOS	Most	CA Eligible	Promo Points	Skill Level III	Star
Enlisted	25C Radio Operator-Maintainer	MOS	Some	CA Eligible	Promo Points	Skill Level II
Enlisted	25D Cyber Network Defender	MOS	Most	CA Eligible	Promo Points	Skill Level III
Enlisted	25E Electromagnetic Spectrum Manager	MOS	Some	CA Eligible	Promo Points
Enlisted	25L Cable Systems Installer-Maintainer	MOS	Some	CA Eligible	Promo Points
Enlisted	25N Nodal Network Systems Operator-Maintainer	MOS	Most	CA Eligible	Promo Points	Skill Level II	Star
Enlisted	25P Microwave Systems Operator-Maintainer	MOS	Most	CA Eligible	Promo Points	Skill Level III	Star
Enlisted	25Q Multichannel Transmission Systems Operator-Maintainer	MOS	Some	CA Eligible	Promo Points	Skill Level II
Enlisted	25R Visual Information Equipment Operator-Maintainer	MOS	Some	CA Eligible	Promo Points
Enlisted	25S Satellite Communications Systems Operator-Maintainer	MOS	Some	CA Eligible	Promo Points	Skill Level II
Enlisted	25T Satellite/Microwave Systems Chief	MOS	Some	CA Eligible	Promo Points	Skill Level IV
Enlisted	25U Signal Support Systems Specialist	MOS	Most	CA Eligible	Promo Points	Skill Level IV	Star
Enlisted	25W Telecommunications Operations Chief	MOS	Most	CA Eligible	Promo Points	Skill Level III	Star
Enlisted	35N Signals Intelligence Analyst	MOS	Some	CA Eligible	Promo Points	Skill Level II
Enlisted	35P Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) Voice Interceptor	MOS	Some	CA Eligible	Promo Points	Skill Level II
Enlisted	35S Signals Collector/Analyst	MOS	Some	CA Eligible	Promo Points
Enlisted	35T Military Intelligence (MI) Systems Maintainer/Integrator	MOS	Some	CA Eligible	Promo Points
Enlisted	E6 Interactive On-Net Operator	ASI	Most	CA Eligible	Promo Points
Enlisted	J2 Communications Cable and Antenna Systems Maintainer	ASI	Some	CA Eligible	Promo Points
Enlisted	R3 Digital Network Exploitation Analyst (DNEA)	ASI	Some	CA Eligible	Promo Points
Warrant Officer	125D Geospatial Engineering Technician	WOMOS	Other	CA Eligible
Warrant Officer	170A CYBER Operations Technician	WOMOS	Most	CA Eligible
Warrant Officer	170B Electronic Warfare Technician	WOMOS	Most	CA Eligible
Warrant Officer	255A Information Services Technician	WOMOS	Some	CA Eligible
Warrant Officer	255N Network Management Technician	WOMOS	Most	CA Eligible
Warrant Officer	255S Information Protection Technician	WOMOS	Some	CA Eligible
Warrant Officer	255Z Senior Network Operations Technician	WOMOS	Some	CA Eligible
Officer	25Z Senior Signal Operations	AOC	Other	CA Eligible
Officer	26A Network Systems Engineering	AOC	Most	CA Eligible
Officer	26B Information Systems Engineering	AOC	Most	CA Eligible
Officer	26Z Senior Network Systems Engineering	AOC	Most	CA Eligible
Officer	30A Information Operations Officer	AOC	Other	CA Eligible
Officer	51A Systems Development	AOC	Other	CA Eligible
Officer	51R Systems Automation Acquisition and Engineering	AOC	Some	CA Eligible
Officer	51S Research and Engineering	AOC	Other	CA Eligible
Officer	51T Test and Evaluation	AOC	Other	CA Eligible
Officer	70D Health Services Systems Management	AOC	Most	CA Eligible

This credential is related to the following DOL Job Families:

Civilian Job	Job Family	Bright Outlook	Local Salary Info
Computer Network Architects	Computer and Mathematical	Bright Outlook	find local salary
Computer Network Support Specialists	Computer and Mathematical	Bright Outlook	find local salary
Network and Computer Systems Administrators	Computer and Mathematical		find local salary

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Attainability:

Eligibility Requirements (View Details)

Credential Prerequisite
Experience: 1 year recommended
Education
Training
Membership
Other
Fee

Note: This credential may have multiple options for a Service member to meet eligibility requirements. Requirements listed here are based on the minimum degree required. To view other options, see the Eligibility tab.

Exam Requirements (View Details)

Exam
Written Exam
Oral Exam
Practical Exam
Performance Assessment

Exam Administration (View Details)

In-person exam
Remote proctored on-line exam
Third-party test vendor

RECERTIFICATION SUMMARY

Renewal Period: 3 years

Continuing Education
Exam
Continuing Education OR Exam
Fee
Other

AGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION

Cisco Systems, Inc.

170 West Tasman Dr.
San Jose, CA 95134

Phone: (800) 553-NETS

Contact Page

Other REQUIREMENTS

The Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) credential has the following other requirements:

A candidate must acknowledge the Cisco Career Certifications and Confidentiality Agreement online at the authorized testing center.

A candidate must agree to follow the Cisco Candidate Conduct Policy.

Written Exam 200-301

1.0 Network Fundamentals (20%)
- 1.1 Explain the role and function of network components
- 1.2 Describe characteristics of network topology architectures
- 1.3 Compare physical interface and cabling types
- 1.4 Identify interface and cable issues (collisions, errors, mismatch duplex, and/or speed)
- 1.5 Compare TCP to UDP
- 1.6 Configure and verify IPv4 addressing and subnetting
- 1.7 Describe the need for private IPv4 addressing
- 1.8 Configure and verify IPv6 addressing and prefix
- 1.9 Compare IPv6 address types
- 1.10 Verify IP parameters for Client OS (Windows, Mac OS, Linux)
- 1.11 Describe wireless principles
- 1.12 Explain virtualization fundamentals (virtual machines)
- 1.13 Describe switching concepts
2.0 Network Access (20%)
- 2.1 Configure and verify VLANs (normal range) spanning multiple switches
- 2.2 Configure and verify interswitch connectivity
- 2.3 Configure and verify Layer 2 discovery protocols (Cisco Discovery Protocol and LLDP)
- 2.4 Configure and verify (Layer 2/Layer 3) EtherChannel (LACP)
- 2.5 Describe the need for and basic operations of Rapid PVST+ Spanning Tree Protocol and identify basic operations
- 2.6 Compare Cisco Wireless Architectures and AP modes
- 2.7 Describe physical infrastructure connections of WLAN components (AP,WLC, access/trunk ports, and LAG)
- 2.8 Describe AP and WLC management access connections (Telnet, SSH, HTTP,HTTPS, console, and TACACS+/RADIUS)
- 2.9 Configure the components of a wireless LAN access for client connectivity using GUI only such as WLAN creation, security settings, QoS profiles, and advanced WLAN settings
3.0 IP Connectivity (25%)
- 3.1 Interpret the components of routing table
- 3.2 Determine how a router makes a forwarding decision by default
- 3.3 Configure and verify IPv4 and IPv6 static routing
- 3.4 Configure and verify single area OSPFv2
- 3.5 Describe the purpose of first hop redundancy protocol
4.0 IP Services (10%)
- 4.1 Configure and verify inside source NAT using static and pools
- 4.2 Configure and verify NTP operating in a client and server mode
- 4.3 Explain the role of DHCP and DNS within the network
- 4.4 Explain the function of SNMP in network operations
- 4.5 Describe the use of syslog features including facilities and levels
- 4.6 Configure and verify DHCP client and relay
- 4.7 Explain the forwarding per-hop behavior (PHB) for QoS such as classification, marking, queuing, congestion, policing, shaping
- 4.8 Configure network devices for remote access using SSH
- 4.9 Describe the capabilities and function of TFTP/FTP in the network
5.0 Security Fundamentals (15%)
- 5.1 Define key security concepts (threats, vulnerabilities, exploits, and mitigation techniques)
- 5.2 Describe security program elements (user awareness, training, and physical access control)
- 5.3 Configure device access control using local passwords
- 5.4 Describe security password policies elements, such as management, complexity, and password alternatives (multifactor authentication, certificates, and biometrics)
- 5.5 Describe remote access and site-to-site VPNs
- 5.6 Configure and verify access control lists
- 5.7 Configure Layer 2 security features (DHCP snooping, dynamic ARP inspection, and port security)
- 5.8 Differentiate authentication, authorization, and accounting concepts
- 5.9 Describe wireless security protocols (WPA, WPA2, and WPA3)
- 5.10 Configure WLAN using WPA2 PSK using the GUI
6.0 Automation and Programmability (10%)
- 6.1 Explain how automation impacts network management
- 6.2 Compare traditional networks with controller-based networking
- 6.3 Describe controller-based and software defined architectures (overlay, underlay, and fabric)
- 6.4 Compare traditional campus device management with Cisco DNA Center enabled device management
- 6.5 Describe characteristics of REST-based APIs (CRUD, HTTP verbs, and data encoding)
- 6.6 Recognize the capabilities of configuration management mechanisms Puppet, Chef, and Ansible
- 6.7 Interpret JSON encoded data

Exam Preparation Resources

There are a number of resources available to help you prepare for the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) examination:

Best Sources

General References
- Cisco Candidate Conduct Policy

Related Training
- Cisco Certification Training Resources
- Implementing and Administering Cisco Solutions (CCNA) v1.0

An additional resource is O'Reilly Learning Safari Books Online, a searchable digital library that provides online access to thousands of books, training videos and conference sessions. See the Educational Resources section on the Related Sites page here on COOL to learn how to get free access.

Testing Information

Exam Administration
Credential exams may be administered in-person at a testing site, proctored on-line remotely, or have options for both. If an exam is administered through a test vendor, the third-party test vendor box will be checked. The following test administration options apply to the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) credential where checked:
- In-person exam
- Remote proctored on-line exam
- Third-party test vendor

For more information on the Cisco Systems, Inc. testing process, visit the agency website.

Third-Party Test Vendor Information
Testing for this credential is handled by the following vendor:

Pearson VUE

The test centers are located in the U.S. They also have some test centers on military bases.

To find out more, use the following links on the Pearson VUE website:

RECERTIFICATION

Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)

Renewal Period: 3 years

The Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) credential has the following recertification information:

CCNA certifications are valid for three years. To recertify, certification holders may chose between passing an exam or earning Continuing Education (CE) credits.

For the exam option, certification holders must pass ONE of the following before the certification expiration date:

Pass any one Associate exam
Pass any one professional concentration exam
Pass one technology core exam
Pass one CCIE lab exam

For the Continuing Education option, certification holders must earn 30 Continuing Education credits. For additional information on earning CEs, visit the Cisco Continuing Education page on the Cisco website.

More information on the Cisco recertification policy can be found on the agency's website.

Additional considerations for the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) include:

Although not required, a candidate is recommended to have:
- One or more years of experience implementing and administering Cisco solutions
- Knowledge of basic IP addressing
- A good understanding of network fundamentals