Cisco certification

[Spoiler]

I have the opportunity to get started on Cisco certification in the new year. Checking out the CCNA cert, there looks to be 2 paths to it. Do both the ICND1 & 2 courses & then either:

1. Take the 640-802 CCNA exam
2. Take the 640-822 ICND1 & 640-816 ICND2 exams

Which option would those who've done their CCNA recommend?

Looking a little further down the road, I'm thinking of doing the 'Network Security' path, rather than 'Routing & Switching'. Sound reasonable??

[AtW]

Looking a little further down the road, I'm thinking of doing the 'Network Security' path, rather than 'Routing & Switching'. Sound reasonable??

This question is way too serious for General. Maybe snaw will oblige though - apparently he is such a bright networking engineer that John Chambers himself handwritten his certificate.

[Jog On]

I did mine in 1 exam, it depends how quickly you want to do it. What study methods are you using?

[snaw]

Been a long time since I did my CCNA - looks like it's completely changed from when I sat it.

Whatever suits you I guess - want to sit it in one exam, slightly harder, or two? Real decisions come after you've got it about which track you want to go down.

[Spoiler]

On further investigation the new curriculum came into effect in August this year.

The CCNA & ICND1 exam look similar in terms of duration (90 Minutes, 50-60 questions). The ICND2 exam is 75 minutes, 45-55 questions. I'm leaning towards doing the 2 seperate exams.

I'll be doing this at a training provider.

[Jog On]

Apparently the second exam is more similar to the single one. I went on a really good course for my one that is geared to the single exam, it only took about 3 months.