About CCNA

CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) is a certification from Cisco.
CCNA certification is a first-level Cisco Career certification. CCNA certification validates the ability to install, configure, operate, and troubleshoot medium-size routed and switched networks, including implementation and verification of connections to remote sites in a WAN.
To achieve CCNA certification, one must earn a passing score on Cisco exam #640-802, or combined passing scores on both the ICND1 #640-822 and ICND2 #640-816 exams. Passing the ICND1 grants one the Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician (CCENT) certification. Passing scores are set by using statistical analysis and are subject to change. At the completion of the exam, candidates receive a score report along with a score breakout by exam section and the passing score for the given exam. Cisco does not publish exam passing scores because exam questions and passing scores are subject to change without notice.^[2]
The 640-802 CCNA is the composite exam associated with the Cisco Certified Network Associate certification. This exam tests a candidate's knowledge and skills required to install, operate, and troubleshoot a small to medium size enterprise branch network. The topics include connecting to a WAN; implementing network security; network types; network media; routing and switching fundamentals; the TCP/IP and OSI models; IP addressing; WAN technologies; operating and configuring IOS devices; extending switched networks with VLANs; determining IP routes; managing IP traffic with access lists; establishing point-to-point connections; and establishing Frame Relay connections.
The exams themselves include a mixture of question types. Multiple choice, drag and drop, testlets, and simulations are the most common.

The Available Exams

 

To receive the CCNA certification, one must pass either:

• the ICND1 Exam (640-822) and the ICND2 (640-816)
• the combined CCNA Exam (640-802)

The Material Covered In Each Exam

The ICND1 covers "Network Types, Network Media, Switching Fundamentals, TCP/IP, IP Addressing and Routing, WAN Technologies, Operating and Configuring IOS Devices, and Managing Network Environments."
The ICND2 covers "Extending Switched Networks with VLANS, Determining IP Routes, Managing IP traffic with Access Lists, Establishing Point-to-Point connections, and Establishing Frame Relay Connections." The combined CCNA covers all topics covered under the ICND1 and ICND2.

References

1. ^ "CCNA Certification". Cisco.com.
2. ^ "Certification Exam Policies". Cisco.com.
3. ^ "CCNA - Career Certifications & Paths".