The CCNA certification (Cisco Certified Network Associate) is a certification that indicates a foundation in and learner knowledge of networking. CCNA certified professionals can install, configure, and operate LAN, WAN, and dial access services for small networks the use of protocols such as IP, IGRP, serial, frame relay, IP RIP, VLANs, RIP, Ethernet, and access lists. There are no requirement that are required for a CCNA certification. There are two options available for CCNA certification: 640-801 CCNA or 640-821 INTRO combined with 640-811 ICND. The 640-801 single exam option is the most popular route for earning the CCNA certification; however, a two-exam option has been present by Cisco since 2003.

There are several free CCNA study guides available on the market. Most of these sites provide free tutorials and study notes. While some sites provide free practice exams for CCNA, others include a section on tips for studying articles and tips and suggestions on how to get the maximum out of the studying time. Also, people residing in the U.S. or Canada can also get a completely free subscription to many computer magazines that can help them further in preparing for these exams.

Generally, each course includes a pre-assessment, course map, and post-assessment module. The course covers topics such as sub-netting, layered communication models (OSI, TCP/IP & Cisco), IP addressing, and hex and binary. Some free study centers not only include free study guides for CCNA but also provide interactive networking tools such as a sub-netting calculator and real IP address catcher for better understanding of networking concepts.

These free study guides are proven to be a good stepping stone towards preparation for the CCNA exams; it should be the first step of CCNA hopeful towards the certification