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CCNP hunt without real world experience.?

I got a CCNA certification about 4 ½ years ago and since it was quite a rough time back then to get an IT job without years of experience, I even heard back in 02 and 03 people with years of experience were forced to work at IT help desk, anyways long story short I thought if these geniuses weren’t getting a job of their choice so I with no experience and just an associates degree and a certification stand no chance. So I dropped the idea and took any job to pay bills, now after so long I realize I am not going to give up so I convinced myself to give another chance. This time in pursuit of renewing my CCNA certification I enrolled in CCNP classes because clearing any one of the four exams will certify your CCNA and it sounded too good to pass It was like killing two birds with one stone and without realizing how tough it’s going to be for someone who has no real world experience configuring router on daily basis so I signed up for the class and now after a month or so through the session I realize its an overkill. Even after burning midnight oil I manage to memorize commands the concept will still be unclear since our instructor assumes that we have an adequate experience in the filed and he doesn’t see a need to explain complicated terms in more detail. So question before you guys is this that should I put my learning abilities to test by letting this curriculum torture me for another month or so, in order to grasp the material, I know I can do it but it’ll be good for nothing or go the other route which is to recertify CCNA by retaking the 640-801 exam and get a job and maybe a year or two later look into getting CCNP?. Please suggest something as I am in such a confused state. Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

Public Comments

1. Go for it, you should just be able to sit for the CCNA exam as long as you are familiar with the OSI model. Then go and get your CCNP! The tech sector is finally picking up! I'm working part-time as a network engineering technician for a telecommunications company and making 1200 per week! I'm planning on getting my CCNP and then going on to the CCIE!
2. Uh, one major flaw you have, the CCNP exam only recertifes your CCNA if the CCNA is CURRENT. If the CCNA has EXPIRED (you said 4.5 years ago), then you have to start over. That being said you still can take a CCNP exam (or even all 4), but you will still not get the CCNP cert until you pass the CCNA. From Cisco's website: "How to Recertify Renewal requires certification holders to register for and pass the appropriate Cisco recertification exam(s). In order to recertify, exam requirements must be met prior to the certification expiration date. Individuals with an expired certification(s) must repeat the entire certification exam process in order to regain their certification(s). Visit the Cisco Career Certifications Tracking System to check the status of your certification(s). " About the course: You should get done with one exam in your CCNP track soon, so try that exam. If the CCNP exam is way over your head and you know you can get by it with the poor instruction you are receiving, then leave. Since the class you are taking didn't prepare you for the 1st exam (probably routing), then it is doubtful it will prepare you for any of the remaining three exams. The CCNA is not easy though, so study hard.