What does it take to pivot from a product administration function right into a full-time community engineering place?
For Michelle Szklarska, the reply was clear: earn the CCNA. Her journey proves the worth of Cisco’s certification ecosystem and exhibits why the CCNA stays a premier networking credential. Michelle sat down with Be taught with Cisco’s Patrick Gargano to inform her CCNA success story.
Pivoting from product proprietor to community engineer
Earlier than incomes her CCNA, Michelle labored as a community and safety product proprietor. She wished a extra hands-on function. After passing her examination, she transitioned right into a full-time community engineer place. How?
“Due to the CCNA,” Michelle mentioned merely, when requested what made the distinction.
The CCNA did greater than validate her technical data—it opened the door to a brand new profession path.
Why the CCNA nonetheless issues for community engineers
In a world of cloud platforms and automation instruments, you would possibly wonder if a foundational certification just like the CCNA continues to be value pursuing. Michelle’s story proves that it completely is.
The CCNA gives a complete, structured understanding of networking fundamentals, from IP addressing and routing protocols like OSPF to community safety ideas like AAA and entry lists, to important providers like DHCP and NAT. These aren’t simply examination matters; they’re the constructing blocks of real-world community engineering.
For professionals pivoting their careers like Michelle, the CCNA serves as a reputable, industry-recognized sign to employers that you’ve got the foundational data wanted to function successfully. It bridges the hole between understanding what a community does and realizing how to configure, handle, and troubleshoot one.
The problem: The place to start
Anybody who has downloaded the official CCNA examination matters is aware of the sensation Michelle described: “You obtain the listing of necessities, the matters, and also you’re like—oh my gosh, the place to begin?”
The CCNA curriculum is broad. Choosing the proper research assets is crucial. Michelle didn’t depend on a single supply; she constructed a various research toolkit to remain engaged, challenged, and ready.
Research useful resource 1: CCNA Prep
One in every of Michelle’s major assets was CCNA Prep, a free video sequence accessible on the Cisco Studying Community, created by Patrick Gargano and Hank Preston at Be taught with Cisco.
CCNA Prep stands out for its sensible, lab-focused strategy. As a substitute of simply explaining principle, every episode dives into actual configuration duties, strolling viewers by means of hands-on labs overlaying:
- OSPF
- NAT
- Entry lists
- AAA
- DHCP troubleshooting
The training continues after the video. Each CCNA Prep episode contains:
- A Cisco Modeling Labs (CML) lab file for these utilizing CML.
- A Cisco Packet Tracer model for wider accessibility.
- Assessment questions to bolster the fabric.
- A downloadable PDF lab information to maintain as a reference.
Michelle highlighted the downloadable reference sheets as one in all her favourite options. “On the finish, you possibly can obtain a sheet of the data, and that was actually helpful.”
She additionally known as out the DHCP troubleshooting episode, noting an vital networking lesson: you study extra when one thing breaks.
“You truly study extra when one thing’s damaged. It makes you determine the way it’s imagined to be working.”
This philosophy drives CCNA Prep’s strategy: transcend definitions and dive into the issues you’ll truly encounter on the job.
Research useful resource 2: Cisco U.
Michelle additionally used Cisco U., Cisco’s digital studying expertise, which gives an entire, structured CCNA Studying Path.
The Cisco U. CCNA Studying Path, Implementing and Administering Cisco Options, gives:
- Subject-by-topic protection of the complete CCNA curriculum
- Built-in labs to bolster hands-on abilities
- Preparatory follow exams to check your data earlier than examination day
For learners who desire a guided setting, Cisco U. gives organized, progressive studying. It builds confidence for examination day with built-in follow checks that simulate the actual expertise.
Combining the structured curriculum of Cisco U. with the hands-on, scenario-driven content material from CCNA Prep is a profitable technique. The 2 assets complement one another—one gives breadth of information, the opposite gives depth by means of utility.
Enter in your likelihood to win the CCNA Studying Path free of charge (ends: August 31, 2026) Enter giveaway
The CCNA as a basis for CCNP and past
Incomes the CCNA is a launchpad, not an endpoint. Michelle’s dialog with Patrick Gargano made this clear.
After incomes her CCNA, Michelle set her subsequent profession aim: the CCNP certification. The CCNP Enterprise observe builds straight on CCNA data, diving deeper into superior matters coated in exams like ENCOR and ENARSI.
This pure development is why the CCNA is structured the best way it’s. The foundational ideas you study—routing protocols, switching, safety, automation—are the pillars that CCNP-level certifications increase upon. Once you sort out the CCNP, you construct on a stable base.
Cisco’s studying group actively invests within the CCNA-to-CCNP journey. Patrick famous that future content material from the CCNA Prep crew will possible deal with bridging the hole from CCNA to CCNP, serving to learners transition with the identical sensible, lab-driven strategy.
“Getting somebody from CCNA to CCNP—beginning to have a look at extra superior matters which might be coated in ENCOR and ENARSI—that’s most likely going to be the main target.”
For Michelle and 1000’s of networking professionals, this roadmap gives a transparent path towards profession development.
Key takeaways from Michelle’s CCNA success story
Whether or not you’re model new to networking or trying to formalize abilities you constructed on the job, Michelle’s story gives sensible classes:
- Use a number of assets: Mix structured studying (Cisco U.) with sensible, scenario-based content material (CCNA Prep).
- Embrace troubleshooting: Be taught what occurs when issues break to construct actual understanding.
- The CCNA opens doorways: For Michelle, it catalyzed a profession transition into community engineering.
- Assume past the CCNA: The data you acquire prepares you for the CCNP and past.
Prepared to begin your personal CCNA journey?
If Michelle’s story impressed you, discover how the assets under can assist you put together for the 200-301 CCNA v1.1 examination:
- CCNA Certification Information: Jumpstart your studying journey with our free information.
- Keep on observe for CCNA success: Discover expert-curated assets, suggestions, and extra that will help you attain your CCNA cert aim.
- Enter to win the CCNA Studying Path free of charge. (Enter the giveaway by August 31, 2026.)
Your CCNA success story is ready. Take the subsequent step in the present day:
1. Free CCNA Cert Information | 2. Keep on observe for examination success | 3. Enter giveaway
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CCNA: The muse that constructed my IT profession (might be yours, too)