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Western Governors University Cisco Certifications

Cisco Certified Network Associate.

When you earn a B.S. Network Operations and Security degree at WGU, you'll also earn valuable industry certifications—at no extra cost. The Cisco CCNA certification is just one of the many valuable certs you can earn as part of your degree program. In the IT industry, certifications are a valuable way to demonstrate knowledge and skills. IT certs at WGU help you boost your résumé before you even graduate. And the Cisco CCNA is an extremely valuable addition to your list of credentials.

Cisco's CCNA stands for Cisco Certified Network Associate and is the most popular IT certificate in the world. The certification program offers candidates the chance to demonstrate core IT knowledge. The main focus of the CCNA is to educate on ever-changing technological and networking information for IT professionals.

In 2019 Cisco released a new CCNA certification program that is taking over several of their other certifications. The old certifications stopped being applicable in February 2020. The new CCNA certification program has entirely replaced the older version.

The CCNA certification is ideal for those who have IT experience or are pursuing an IT degree. The knowledge you learn in a degree program or from experience will help prepare you for this exam. It's recommended you spend about 10 hours per week studying for at least one month to be prepared for the CCNA exam.

B.S. Network Operations and Security Certifications

Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)

LPI Linux Essentials

ITIL® Foundation Certification

CompTIA A+

CompTIA Cloud Essentials

CompTIA Network+

CompTIA Project+

CompTIA Security+

CompTIA IT Operations Specialist

CompTIA Secure Infrastructure Specialist

Amazon AWS SysOps Administration-Associate

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The new CCNA certification released in 2019 replaced the following certifications:

  • CCNA Cloud
  • CCNA Collaboration
  • CCNA Data Center
  • CCNA Industrial
  • CCDA
  • CCNA Routing and Switching
  • CCNA Security
  • CCNA Service Provider
  • CCNA Wireless

The new CCNA is a more comprehensive exam that prepares students for many of the same tasks as the older exams. If you're an IT student, discover why the B.S. Network Operations and Security degree and included Cisco certification is a great idea for your career.

CCNA exam.

The CCNA exam tests your knowledge and skills related to:

  • Network fundamentals
  • Network access
  • IP connectivity
  • IP services
  • Security fundamentals
  • Automation and programmability

Students in the B.S. Network Operations and Security degree program at WGU will be prepared to take the CCNA exam as part of their program. 

CCNA certification

The CCNA certification looks great on a resume and will demonstrate to potential employers that you have the fundamental IT knowledge to perform needed job functions. You can set yourself apart from other candidates with a CCNA certification in your toolbelt. 

WGU allows you to prepare for your CCNA certification while getting your bachelor's degree at the same time. WGU helps you by covering the CCNA certification fees, and giving you the training you need to pass the exam.

CCNA salary.

The average salary for a CCNA is approximately $84,000 per year. IT employees who get their CCNA certification can expect a salary raise of anywhere from 5-10%, or more. Many organizations view certifications and degrees as an important measure in your abilities and reward your work with salary increases. A CCNA certification can also help you be eligible for promotions. While some positions will require additional education, such as a master's degree, many IT positions will be available to those with a bachelor's degree and industry certs like the CCNA. Below is a list of IT job titles and the average pay for these titles when the employee has their CCNA certification.

Frequently asked questions about CCNA certification.

What is CCNA certification?

The Cisco Certified Network Associate or CCNA certification is an IT certification offered by CISCO. It is designed to test your knowledge and skills surrounding network administration and security, demonstrating to employers and colleagues that you have a solid understanding of how these important systems function.

How difficult is CCNA certification?

For those who are studying network administration and security, the CCNA examination will not be too challenging. It will take a month or two of study, but for those who are studying for a degree program in network administration, your coursework should help you be well-prepared. It is not recommended to take this test unless you have a firm grasp of network administration, IP connectivity, IP security, etc. 

Can I get a job with CCNA certification?

The CCNA certification is an extremely valuable credential that IT professionals can add to their résumé. While you may get hired with just a CCNA certification, combining your certification with other important credentials and skills, such as a degree or other certifications, will make you stand out from the competition. It's ideal to find a degree program that can give you a bachelor's degree as well as industry certifications, like the IT programs offered at WGU.

WGU IT certifications.

Each WGU IT degree comes with top industry certifications at no extra cost.

Learn more about IT certs