A recurring query that I receive is more or less the following: "I want to become CCNA certified, what do you suggest to prepare me?" On this subject I have already written some time ago a series of posts which I titled at that time "CCNA from Zero". Although the suggestions I made at that time are still fully valid, it seemed appropriate to return to the subject and review it from another perspective. A step-by-step to prepare for the CCNA certification exam:

Step 1: Select the certification path to follow.

In the Cisco world today, there are multiple paths to follow. A technical or a commercial certification? A complete certification path, or a specialization? In what area? The full overview of the available Cisco certifications is available. In this exercise we assume that the intention is to obtain the CCNA 200-301 certification.

Step 2: Verify the necessary official information: exam identification code and syllabus.

For this, the best source of information is the Cisco page itself, not forums or other publications. In the case of CCNA 200-301 this information can be obtained here.

Step 3: Choose a preparation modality: self-study or guided study + self-study?

There will always be personal study. The result of the exam is always the result of personal effort and preparation work that we do. There is no instructor, academy or course that can guarantee that we will pass; it always depends on personal effort.

A. Guided study

Today there are multiple proposals (for methodology, quality and price) available to take a training. In my opinion, the most important thing today is not whether it is an official or unofficial training. There are other points to review. In the first place, ensure that corresponds to the currently valid exam and all the agenda is covered. The advantage of 200-301 dumps is that those points are guaranteed. In Second, the instructor and the workload. To evaluate the instructor in this case I would not look at their field experience or their certifications; what matters to me is his teaching experience, track record in training technicians to be certified, ability to transmit knowledge, clarity, dedication and professionalism. The best technician is not always the best instructor, and vice versa.

Regarding the hourly load, that will depend to a large extent on the methodology that is implemented, but in general the complete and quality trainings take between 80 and 240 hours depending on the prerequisites they have. In less than 80 hours it is very difficult to even cover the agenda. By finally considering methodology and study materials are delivered. The choice of methodology depends in the first place on personal possibilities: face-to-face or online, synchronous or asynchronous rather than on the choice of "the best". In most cases it depends on the possibilities of travel and time of each one. If they give me a choice, of course I choose face-to-face, but for many this is not possible, so I think it is important to prioritize agenda, instructor and time load. Regarding study materials, it seems to me very important for the personal preparation that follows in order to pass the certification exam. In this I believe that it is very important that the 200-301 dumps leaves me a good study manual and not simply a set of printed presentations.

Finally, what practical training does the training provide?

The importance of this element varies according to the personal situation of each one. It is less relevant for those who already work in the area and have the possibility of frequent access to devices; It is essential for those who are new to the area and have no prior experience. Keep in mind that more practical intensity means greater workload; Sacrificing syllabus development to allow more time for practice is not an option.
In the case of CCNA 200-301, the laboratory used is not so relevant, the ideal is always to have physical devices in a model, but a good simulator can perfectly cover the requirements of a preparation for the exam.

B. Self-study

It is entirely possible to prepare for the certification exam without attending a training and through self-study. However, it must be borne in mind that this requires some important personal qualities for success: staying focused throughout a process that will last several months, being able to maintain the effort over time, having the capacity for self-evaluation, perseverance and perseverance.
With these conditions, what is needed for self-study?

In the first place, a good guide Exam Preparation. It is the basis of a good self-study plan, without that it is possible to prepare the exam but it will be more work and will require more time. If the chosen Guide is good, it will have a proposal of minimum practical exercises to be able to establish knowledge and acquire the skills required by the exam.

One additional suggestion. It is not essential but in my opinion it is very important to get a mentor. That is, to have someone experienced who has already obtained their certification and who can serve as guidance when they have doubts about the agenda, the orientation of the topics or simply solve doubts about the methodology. Having an experienced mentor is a great help for those who undertake preparation on their own.

Step 4: Define a work plan.

Obtaining the objective (certifying) implies making a systematic and sustained effort. For this, it is necessary to have a work plan that details actions, resources and assigned times.
Correct planning is an important help to achieve the objective.
A frequent question in this is how long can I prepare for the exam?
It is a question that does not have a single answer. The time required depends on multiple factors: prior knowledge, the study capacity of each person, the real possibilities of dedicating themselves in a sustained way to an intensive effort, the path of preparation chosen and the resources available. There is a different answer for each case. What is really important is that the work plan you define is realistic and possible.
A note: as a suggestion, try that the periods dedicated to study each day are not less than 2 hours; This will allow you to make better use of the time you can spare.

Step 5: Study, study, practice, study, practice

The only key, the only secret, is effort and study.  There are no shortcuts, only paths to travel. And in this case it is a study path.

Step 6: Set a date for the exam

When you have completed your syllabus study and have acquired the setup skills required by the exam, don't let time pass, it's time to set the exam date (no more than 30 days). Don't get bogged down in endless reviews and endless reviews of topics. It is always possible to know a little more, to go a little deeper into a protocol. When you have completed the study of the syllabus, it is time to define the date of the exam and face it. Allow 15-30 days (depending on how much time you can spend each day) for a final review and set the exam date.

Keep in mind that the date does not depend exclusively on your decision but also on the availability of the testing center you choose.

Step 7: Choose a Testing Center and register

To take your exams, you need to register in advance at a Pearson VUE Testing Center. If this is the first time you are taking a CCNA certification exam, you must first register on the Pearson VUE page. Each testing center has days and hours enabled for these exams with limited availability. Therefore, you must adjust your intentions to the existing availability in the testing center of your choice.

You are not obliged to take your exam in a particular testing center, you can choose it according to your convenience. To find out which are the closest testing centers, you can use the search engine on the Pearson VUE page. At the time of registration, you will be required to enter the information of an international credit card to make the payment of the fee. If you have a discount voucher, this is the time you will enter it.

Step 8: The day of the exam

That day make sure you are in the testing center at least 15 minutes before the agreed time for the start of the evaluation. It is extremely important that you are calm and relaxed before starting the exam. Please note that before entering you must complete the registration and accept the Pearson VUE policies; these procedures require some time.