Before the update in February 2020, all the CCNA tracks from the Cisco certification program required several exams and covered different domains each. Cisco offered a whole list of credentials with various specializations that include the following badges: CCNA Cloud, CCDA, CCNA CyberOps, Exam-Labs CCNA Routing and Switching, CCNA Collaboration, CCNA Service Provider, CCNA Wireless, CCNA Data Center, CCNA Security, and CCNA Industrial. But now you just have to attempt a single test to get an associate-level certificate that will provide you with all the required skills.
If you look at the table with the certifications of each level on the Cisco website, you will see only three choices in the “Associate level” section, which include the following:
- Completely new DevNet track;
- CyberOps Associate that now has two exams instead of one;
- Updated CCNA.
- Cisco CCNP Enterprise Certification VCE
With the change to the CCNA certification path, the new version has no prerequisites, but there are some recommendations that you can fulfill depending on your preferences. They include practical experience of at least a year in implementing and administering Cisco solutions, basic knowledge of IP addressing, and understanding of network fundamentals.
Cisco 200-301 as the only exam for the new CCNA certification
In today’s world where networking plays a great role in our lives, the CCNA badge can be a huge bonus. Getting this certification can prove to be extremely fruitful for those individuals who want to pursue their career in this area. To obtain this associate-level credential, you need to pass only one exam that combines all the domains relevant to the today’s field – Cisco 200-301. It is designed to evaluate one’s knowledge in the field of networking at the basic level. There are no prerequisites that you need to fulfill before taking this test, except for thorough learning and mastering of all the exam topics.
The Cisco 200-301 test is not only a great way of gaining some extra skills, but also your assistant in your job search. The companies that want to hire the specialists with networking skills will certainly give preferences to someone who has the CCNA credential and specializes in the areas it covers. This badge is proof that the candidates can perform network installation, configuration, operation and troubleshooting, as well as different routing and switching techniques.
Cisco 200-301 and its important details
To avoid possible stress and anxiety during the test, you need to know all the details beforehand. This way you will know what to expect and where to start. Therefore, please note that Cisco 200-301 covers the following topics that you need to ace:
- Network Fundamentals (20%);
- Network Access (20%);
- IP Connectivity (25%);
- IP Services (10%);
- Security Fundamentals (15%);
- Automation and Programmability (10%).
- Download Cisco DevNet Associate
The exam includes about 100 questions that should be completed in 120 minutes. The applicants must score at least 825 points in order to get the certificate. The fee for attempting 200-301 CCNA is $300. Passing this test requires that you build a study plan and strictly follow it if you want to succeed. That is why let’s look at some tips that can assist you in obtaining your certification.
Cisco 200-301 and some effective preparation tips
To pass this exam, there are a number of options that you can use during your preparation days. Here they are:
- Read books
All the study guides that you can find on the Cisco website or the Amazon platform provide you with deep coverage of the exam topics. Most of them also have brief tests at the end of the chapters to check the level of knowledge that you have gained during the preparation process. Some books such as Click CCNA 200-301 Official Cert Guide from the Cisco Press are beneficial to many learners. The unique thing in this tutorial is that each chapter starts with a quiz that helps them determine how much time they need to spend on a particular objective. The chapter ends with exercises that can help them prepare for their exam in an effective manner.
- Join online communities
Make the best use of technology by joining forums and chat rooms where people communicate regarding the Cisco 200-301 exam. This can help you know how other individuals are preparing for this test and what study materials they are using. They may even share some important links and resources, which could be very useful for you prep process visit here .
- Take practice tests
The best way to finish your preparation is to take some mock tests before your scheduling the actual exam. They allow you to identify your weaknesses so that you can take some action to improve them. There are a lot of sites that offer this type of preparation tools, but you need to be careful and use only reliable ones, such as ExamSnap, Cisco CCNP 300-435 ENAUTO VCE , Exam-Labs, and others.
Final thoughts
Although the Cisco 200-301 exam can be tough and tricky, with the proper preparation options and updated resources, you can easily achieve the passing score or get even more points. The key to passing the test is to study hard and gain as much knowledge as you can. So if you do this, you will surely get all the sweeteners. And don’t forget, as soon as you obtain the CCNA certification, it will open up a number of job options for now and infinite opportunities in the future.