Value of the CCNA in job market.

Factual Questions
1

I have taken two years of Cisco networking in highschool. I can now take the CCNNA assuming that I pass is it worth the $80 test fee that it would cost me?

2

The CCNA, like the MCSE, has little value in the job market. CCNAs are a dime a dozen and having passed the CCNA mainly proves that you can cram for and pass one of those silly tests.

About all they’re good for is getting in the door at companies whose HR directors are easily impressed by Letters After The Name. Also, the CCNA is the entry level to the certification program that terminates in the CCIE, which is a relevant certification.

3

Of course, the new CCNA exam, the 607 version, is a harder test than most. And it can be helpful, to at least get looked at. It’s more of an entry-level cert for Cisco, but it’s harder than a Microsoft entry level test.

4

I would disagree with KellyM. You’ve already done the work, and if you don’t have much experience then it may give you a slight edge on getting a position. $80 isn’t much for that, is it?

5

For what it’ll cost it doesn’t make any sense not to do it.

I’ve always advised my kids to get any certification, license, etc. that they can. Reasons are many…

  1. Can’t hurt.
  2. You never know when opportunity will knock (and it will) and it might make THE difference. Don’t close a door if you can help it.
  3. In many instances the holding of a certificate or license will preclude you having to go to greater, pehaps more inconvinent lengths when the rules change. In other words you are often “grandfathered” into the new rule set by virture of having been certificated before a certain date. Flight Instructor certs were a good example.
6

Actually, having a cert can hurt, especially if you got the cert while working for someone else. Some managers see that as a willingness to spend the company’s money for personal gain. (This is not an issue in the OP’s situation.)

Basically, getting a cert when you already have experience is often pointless and can be detrimental. Getting the cert when you have no experience is unlikely to hurt and might possibly help. I have years of experience and would never consider getting a cert. But I’m not looking for entry level positions, either.

7

I’m of the opinion that any test under $100 is worth it if you think you’re going to pass.

I also still regret not taking all my AP exams.

8

I administer the network of a small company. I think my CCNA helped me out at least a little bit to get the job. The interviewer certainly noticed it on my resume and asked me about it. Of course, this is pretty much an entry-level-difficulty job, but that’s what the CCNA is meant for.

So how do you get to take the test so cheap, caffeine_overdose? Got a voucher or something? I had to pay $125 to take mine over a year ago.