You’ve decided to get Cisco certified as a CCNA or CCNP. You’ve selected this certification for a variety of reasons, but now you have realized that it is a demanding process. Just keep in mind that the Cisco exams test your analytical skills, and is not merely a test that you can pass simply by memorization.

The key to exam and job success is in the details, and part of those details is that you have to really be familiar with Cisco routers and switches in order to succeed. Some great training for Cisco certification can be found at www.netwind.com, where the training includes simulations, so you can get “hands-on” experience working in a safe simulated environment, so you don’t have to worry about wrecking any systems as you practice.

If you are interested in becoming CCNP you must first earn your CCNA. A valid CCNA certification is a pre-requisite before you can go on towards your CCNP certificate. Having successfully passed your CCNA and CCNP exams is a great boost to your confidence, not to mention your career.

Once you have acheived your Cisco certification(s), it is important to keep up with the most current trends in networking technology. The CCNA and CCNP certifications are each vaild for three years. As long as your certification is valid, you can continue to renew it indefinitely, by passing the appropriate recertification exam. If your certification has expired, you have to begin the whole certification process from the beginning.

Cisco regularly updates their exams to keep them current with the most recent technologies and products. This list provides information about retired or soon to be retired exams, such as the exam number, retirement date and course:

642-565 SSSE   1/31/09   Cisco Security Solutions and Design Specialist  
646-562 ASAM   1/31/09   Cisco Security Sales Specialist 
642-503 SNRS   1/18/09   Securing Networks with Cisco Routers and Switches 
642-176 SMBE   1/1/09 
646-171 SMBAM   1/1/09 
650-173 SBCSAM   1/1/09
650-178 SBCSEN   1/1/09 
642-552 SND   11/17/08   Securing Cisco Network Devices Exam  
642-523 SNPA   11/17/08   Securing Networks with PIX and ASA 
646-362 CXFA   7/31/08   Foundation Express Sales Specialist  
642-382 CXFF   7/31/08   Express Foundation Field Specialist   
642-372 CXFS   7/31/08   Express Foundation Design Specialist  
642-445 CIPT 5.0   7/26/08   CCVP  
642-432 CVOICE   7/26/08   CCVP  
642-414 IPTD   6/24/08   IP Telephony Design Specialist  
646-203 CSE   5/24/08 
646-229 IPCAAM   5/18/08   Advanced IP Communications Sales Specialist
646-967 CDCNSS   4/8/08   Cisco Data Center Networking Sales Specialist
642-511 CSVPN   2/1/08   VPN Specialist
642-532 IPS   1/16/08   IPS Specialist  
642-055 ARSFE   12/18/07   Routing & Switching Field Specialist 
646-574 LCSAS   12/10/07 
642-054 RSSSE   11/15/07   Advanced Routing & Switching Specialist
646-002 ARSAM   11/15/07   Advanced Routing & Switching Specialist
642-055 ARSFE   11/15/07   Advanced Routing & Switching Specialist 
640-801 CCNA   11/06/07   CCNA   640-802
640-821 INTRO   11/06/07   CCNA   640-822
640-811 ICND   11/06/07   CCNA   640-816
642-522 SNPA   10/31/07   CCSP   642-523
642-425 IPTT   10/22/07   CCVP   642-426
642-354 CSNSS   09/03/07   Data Center Storage Networking Support Specialist
646-011 CSSS   09/03/07   Storage Networking Design Specialist  
642-353 CSNDS   09/02/07   Storage Networking Design
646-151 CSA    09/01/07   
642-381 FOUNDFE   08/31/07   Express Foundation Field Specialist
642-371 FOUNDSE   08/31/07   Express Foundation Design 
646-361 FOUNDAM   08/31/07   Foundation Express Sales 
642-567 ASFE   07/30/07   Advanced Security Field Specialist 
642-143 IPTX   07/29/07   IP Comm. Express
642-564 SSSE   07/27/07   Security Solutions & Design
646-561 ASAM   07/27/07   Security Sales Specialist
640-861 DESGN   07/13/07   CCDA  
642-502 SNRS   06/20/07   CCSP  
646-391 LCSE   05/14/07 
646-573 LCSAS   05/14/07 
646-589 LCSAWLAN   05/14/07  
646-056 LCSARS   05/14/07   
646-227 LCSAIPC   05/14/07   
642-452 GWGK   04/26/07   
642-071 CUDN   03/28/07   Cisco Unity Design Specialist
642-321 Optical SDH   02/15/07   Cisco Optical Specialist  
642-311 Optical SONET   02/15/07   Cisco Optical Specialist 
642-551 SND   01/31/07   CCSP, Cisco Firewall, Cisco IPS, and Cisco VPN Specialist  
642-811 BCMSN   12/31/06   CCNP, CCDP 
642-821 BCRAN   12/31/06   CCNP   
642-801 BSCI   12/31/06   CCNP, CCDP, CCIP 
642-831 CIT   12/31/06   CCNP 
642-891 COMPOSITE   12/31/06