The CCNA modified my life. This isn’t exaggeration or hyperbole. It began again in 2001, proper right here in Ottawa, Canada. I used to be instructing highschool laptop science (Visible Primary!) and internet design (Macromedia!) when Cisco Networking Academy approached our college board to see if we might be interested by becoming a member of their fledgling program.

I knew nothing about networking then, however the of us at Cisco Networking Academy defined that they might ship me to lessons to be taught and earn one thing known as the CCNA. Little did I do know that this determination would begin an unbelievable journey with Cisco.

I used to be despatched again to high school to learn the way routers and switches work, find out how to terminate Ethernet cables, find out how to subnet, and what ISDN and Body Relay have been used for. To organize for CCNA certification, I learn Cisco Press books, reviewed the Networking Academy’s CCNA content material, took follow exams, and constructed labs on 2501 routers and 1924 switches the varsity had purchased. (No, Packet Tracer wasn’t round again then!)

I ultimately took the CCNA examination in 2002. I used to be nervous, however I felt able to attempt my luck. Like lots of you beginning your CCNA journey, this was my first time taking a certification examination.

The examination had so many inquiries to reply in such a brief period of time—multiple-choice, lab simulations, drag-and-drops—it had all of it. And there was no again button! After I lastly clicked “Finish Examination” and noticed the “Congratulations” message, I used to be surprised, thrilled, and so proud.

Passing the CCNA and the Networking Academy teacher coaching meant I’d grow to be a Cisco Licensed Academy Teacher (CCAI), entitled to start out instructing my highschool college students about Cisco networking. This was means higher than instructing them Visible Primary!

That one determination again in 2001 opened so many doorways for me. Just a few years later, I turned a Cisco Licensed Programs Teacher (CCSI) licensed to offer CCNA and CCNP coaching with a Cisco Studying Associate.

Over the previous couple of years, I’ve introduced at many Cisco conferences and achieved Distinguished Speaker standing throughout a number of Cisco Reside occasions in Melbourne, Amsterdam, and Las Vegas.

I’m now a Cisco Press creator, I’ve helped develop Cisco course content material like Implementing Cisco Enterprise Superior Routing and Providers (ENARSI) and Implementing Cisco SD-WAN Options (ENSDWI), and I work for Cisco as an teacher and lead content material advocate in Studying & Certifications.

I by no means might have predicted the affect that call in 2001 would have on my future, however I do know that I’m not alone. So many others have skilled the ability of a Cisco certification, with the CCNA standing the check of time since its launch greater than twenty years in the past.

This brings us to the newest iteration of this foundational networking certification: the 200-301 CCNA v1.1 examination replace. It is going to arrive on August 20, 2024, marking the primary change to the examination in 4 years.

In April 2024, Cisco Studying & Certifications introduced a minor 200-301 CCNA examination replace. This meant we wanted to replace the CCNA v2.0 Studying Path you see on Cisco U. (and in addition taught by our Studying Companions) to align with the up to date CCNA v1.1 examination. Over the previous few months, it’s been my privilege to guide this effort and guarantee we get the replace performed earlier than the brand new examination goes dwell on August 20, 2024.

I’m pleased to verify that the brand new CCNA v2.1 Studying Path will likely be obtainable in Cisco U. beginning July 26, 2024.

Whereas we have been updating the content material to align with the brand new 200-301 CCNA v1.1 examination subjects, we determined to rebuild the CCNA Studying Path provided in Cisco U. The picture under exhibits the brand new construction:

The CCNA 2.1 Studying Path will function shorter, extra centered tracks and three new programs.

New CCNA programs:

The entire CCNA 2.1 Studying Path programs include newly written introductions that present which examination subjects are coated in that course. For instance:

As per the brand new CCNA examination v1.1, the CCNA v2.1 Studying Path now consists of further content material on:

We additionally rewrote the Automation and Programmability content material to be simpler to know and eliminated the content material on Puppet and Chef.

We’re internet hosting a free CCNA v1.1 webinar on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, 9–10 a.m. Pacific Time.

Whether or not you’re presently finding out in your CCNA or interested by studying find out how to get began, that is your likelihood to get a more in-depth take a look at the brand new CCNA v1.1 examination subjects, the brand new CCNA v2.1 Studying Path, and the explanations the CCNA certification continues to be a significant, worthwhile certification to pursue right now, greater than 25 years after its launch. (I’d know— I’m residing proof!)

I sit up for seeing you all there!

Use  #CiscoU and #CiscoCert to affix the dialog.

Learn subsequent:

CCNA within the Age of AI

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