How to Pass the CCNA

One of the most challenging things about the CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) exam isn't subnetting, spanning-tree, routing protocols, ACLs, or calculating longest prefix match. The most challenging thing is figuring out what study resources to use. There's a ridiculous amount of CCNA study material available out there and all of them claim to be the best. I spent far too much time trying to find the best and least complicated material. I'd spend time working through a resource and either discover quickly or far too late that the material isn't great. In retrospect I had far better options right under my nose. Some resources are better than others, but it's important to really narrow down and simplify the resources to use and create a study strategy for yourself. I've wasted more time than I care to admit on terrible resources or looking for a shortcut. I recently took the CCNA exam and passed, but this was my second attempt. I first took it last September (2025). I was trying…