Cisco Systems, Inc.

Cisco Certified Design Associate (CCDA)

Credential: Cisco Certified Design Associate (CCDA)  In-Demand resource  GI Bill resource
Credentialing Agency: Cisco Systems, Inc.

Renewal Period: 3 years

Cisco Systems, Inc., Cisco Certified Design Associate (CCDA) focuses on design methodologies and objectives, addressing and routing protocols, and network expansion considerations within basic campus, data center, security, voice, and wireless networks. Cisco Associate level certifications are the apprentice or foundation level of networking certification. The CCDA certification is appropriate for Information Technology occupations such as network design engineers, system engineers, and sales engineers. Candidates must have a valid CCENT or a valid CCNA Routing and Switching or any CCIE certification prior to qualifying to sit for the CCDA exam.

More information can be found on the certifying agency's website.

Cisco Certified Design Associate (CCDA)

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

 

Eligibility Requirements (View Details)

  • Credential Prerequisite: Cisco CCENT, CCNA Routing and Switching or any CCIE certification
  • Experience
  • Education
  • Training
  • Membership
  • Other
  • Fee

Note: This credential may have multiple options for becoming eligible. Listed are the minimum requirements based on the minimum degree required. To view other options, see the Eligibility tab.

Exam Requirements (View Details)

  • Exam
  • Written Exam
  • Oral Exam
  • Practical Exam
  • Performance Assessment

RECERTIFICATION SUMMARY

Renewal Period: 3 years

  • Continuing Education
  • Exam
  • Continuing Education OR Exam
  • Fee
  • Other

AGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION

Cisco Systems, Inc.

170 West Tasman Dr.
San Jose, CA  95134

Phone: (800) 553-NETS

Contact Page

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Candidates must hold a valid CCENT, a valid CCNA Routing and Switching, or any CCIE certification.

The Cisco Certified Design Associate (CCDA) credential has the following other requirements:

  • Candidates must agree to follow the Cisco Candidate Conduct Policy.

Written Exam

  • Design Methodologies (15%)
    • Describe the Cisco Design lifecycle - PBM (plan, build, manage)
    • Describe the information required to characterize an existing network as part of the planning for a design change
    • Describe the use cases and benefits of network characterization tools (SNMP, NBAR, NetFlow)
    • Compare and contrast the top-down and bottom-up design approaches
  • Design Objectives (20%)
    • Describe the importance and application of modularity in a network
    • Describe the importance and application of hierarchy in a network
    • Describe the importance and application of scalability in a network
    • Describe the importance and application of resiliency in a network
    • Describe the importance and application of concept of fault domains in a network
  • Addressing and Routing Protocols in an Existing Network (20%)
    • Describe the concept of scalable addressing
    • Design an effective IP addressing scheme
    • Identify routing protocol scalability considerations
    • Design a routing protocol expansion
  • Enterprise Network Design (20%)
    • Design a basic campus
    • Design a basic enterprise network
    • Design a basic branch network
  • Considerations for Expanding an Existing Network (25%)
    • Describe design considerations for wireless network architectures
    • Identify integration considerations and requirements for controller-based wireless networks
    • Describe security controls integration considerations
    • Identify traffic flow implications as a result of security controls
    • Identify high-level considerations for collaboration (voice, streaming video, interactive video) applications
    • Describe the concepts of virtualization within a network design
    • Identify network elements that can be virtualized
    • Describe the concepts of network programmability within a network design
    • Describe data center components

Testing Information

Testing for this credential is handled by Pearson VUE. The test centers are located in the U.S. They also have some test centers on military bases.

To find out more, use the following links on the Pearson VUE website:

For more information on the Cisco Systems, Inc. testing process, visit the agency website.

RECERTIFICATION

Cisco Certified Design Associate (CCDA)

Renewal Period: 3 years

The Cisco Certified Design Associate (CCDA) credential has the following recertification information:

CCDA certifications are valid for three years. To recertify, certification holders must pass ONE of the following before the certification expiration date:

  • Pass any current Associate-level exam except for ICND1 exam, or
  • Pass any current 642-XXX Professional-level or any 300-XXX Professional-level exam, or
  • Pass any current 642-XXX Cisco Specialist exam (excluding Sales Specialist exams or MeetingPlace Specialist exams, Implementing Cisco TelePresence Installations (ITI) exams, Cisco Leading Virtual Classroom Instruction exams, or any 650 online exams), or
  • Pass any current CCIE Written Exam, or
  • Pass the current CCDE Written Exam OR current CCDE Practical Exam, or
  • Pass the Cisco Certified Architect (CCAr) interview AND the CCAr board review to extend lower certifications.

In Demand

This certification is considered in demand

COOL Bucks

See your installation Education Service Officer for credential exam information and coordinating instructions.

COOL Summary

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COOL Summary

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Some

Credential is related to some tasks associated with the duties of the military occupation (at least one critical task but less than 80%)

Most

Credential is directly related to most of the major duties associated with the military occupation (at least 80%)

Other

Credential is related to this military occupation, but is more advanced or specialized and therefore will likely require additional education, training, or experience

Promotion Points

This certification has been approved for promotion points.

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Star

Star credentials are MOS enhancing, as designated by the Proponent. MOS enhancing credentials are directly related to an MOS or ASI, are taught either partially or completely as part of a Program of Instruction (POI), and improves the MOS technical proficiency.

Skill Level

The Skill Level reflects the level, based on MOS training and/or experience, the Soldier should be the most prepared to successfully earn the credential. See the Table Legend for details about each level.

Proponent Funded

Indicates the credential may have funding through the MOS proponent. Some proponents offer credentialing opportunities in conjunction with military training and/or as part of MOS development beyond the training base.

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Navy Bucks

Credential voucher or reimbursement for credential exam, re-certification, or maintenance fee has been approved for payment through the Navy's Credential Program Office. To get a voucher request form, click 'Complete Voucher and Apply' at the top of any page.

CG Bucks

Coming Soon - Coast Guard policy regarding service member eligibility requirements to participate in the Voluntary Credentialing Program is under review with a projected release date of first quarter FY20.

Early Career

1-3 years experience; Enlisted E1 through E4

Mid Career

4-10 years experience; Enlisted E5 through E6

Late Career

10+ years experience; Enlisted E7 and Above

Early Career

1-3 years experience; Enlisted “A” School through E5

Mid Career

4-10 years experience; Enlisted E6 through E7

Late Career

10+ years experience; Enlisted E8 and Above

LaDR

This credential is recommended on the rating Learning and Development Roadmap (LaDR) for Sailors currently in the pay grade indicated on the icon, BUT MAY BE TAKEN BY SAILORS IN OTHER PAY GRADES.

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GI Bill®

Reimbursement for exam fees has been approved for payment through the GI Bill. Click for external link to GI Bill licensing and certification information.

Note: GI Bill approval data is updated quarterly. For the latest information, visit the WEAMS Licenses/Certifications Search page. Make sure to select "Both" in the LAC Category Type drop-down before searching.

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ANSI

This credential has been accredited by ANSI. Click for external link to the ANSI web site.

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ICAC

This credential has been accredited by ICAC. Click for external link to the ICAC web site.

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ABSNC

This credential has been accredited by ABSNC. Click for external link to the ABSNC web site.

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NCCA

This credentialing program has been accredited by NCCA. Click for external link to the NCCA web site.

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IAS

This credential has been accredited by IAS. Click for external link to the IAS web site.

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Low

May be difficult to attain: minimum education requirement is a Bachelor's degree, and/or minimum experience is 10 or more years.

Note: In some cases “years of experience” refers to time actively on duty or while holding a certain occupation or prior certification and not always in consecutive calendar years. Additional years required for certain preliminary stages may not be included in this classification. For requirements measured in hours, 1080 hours was considered a year. For days, 365 days was considered a year. Please review all prerequisites and requirements for eligibility, and additional information for details.

Medium

Moderate ease of attainment: minimum education requirement = Associate's and/or prerequisite and/or minimum experience = more than 2 years and less than 10 years of experience.

Note: In some cases “years of experience” refers to time actively on duty or while holding a certain occupation or prior certification and not always in consecutive calendar years. Additional years required for certain preliminary stages may not be included in this classification. For requirements measured in hours, 1080 hours was considered a year. For days, 365 days was considered a year. Please review all prerequisites and requirements for eligibility, and additional information for details.

High

Highly attainable: mimum education requirement = HS or less and/or minimum experience = 2 years or less experience and no additional requirements.

Note: In some cases “years of experience” refers to time actively on duty or while holding a certain occupation or prior certification and not always in consecutive calendar years. Additional years required for certain preliminary stages may not be included in this classification. For requirements measured in hours, 1080 hours was considered a year. For days, 365 days was considered a year. Please review all prerequisites and requirements for eligibility, and additional information for details.

MOS is Military Occupational Specialty
ASI is Additional Skill Identifier
WOMOS is Warrant Officer Military Occupational Specialty

Army e-learning

State-of-the art Computer Based Training available for free to the Army Workforce. Click for more information.

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NKO e-learning

Credential preparation courses are provided at no cost through Navy e-Learning. Click for external link to the Navy Knowledge Online (NKO) web site, then select the “Navy e-Learning” link within the “Learning” tab to proceed to Navy e-Learning.

Bright Outlook – new job opportunities are very likely in the future for this job
Registered Apprenticeship
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Updated: October 16, 2019
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