The CWNA (Certified Wireless Network Administrator) certification from Certified Wireless Network Professionals (CWNP) is a foundational-level certification focusing on wireless local area network technologies. All CWNP certifications are vendor-neutral, which means that any vendor can use the concepts and abilities they cover.
CWNA is considered the most fundamental of CWNP’s professional track of certifications and covers the rudiments of RF Theory, applications, architectures, and protocols. It will not validate the skills needed to administer networks, yet it will teach you how protocols work.
The CWNA should be considered the initial step into being a wireless professional after your essential networking knowledge.
You’ll need to comprehend how TCP/IP, the most well-known wired networks, and networking in general operate. Keep in mind that wireless is just one component of your network. Let’s decide if pursuing the CNWA is the right course for you.
What it takes to become a CWNA:
The fundamental level of wireless LAN certification for the CWNP Program is the CWNA certification.
You must pass the CWNA exam at a Pearson Vue Testing Center with a 70% or above score to receive a CWNA certification. Instructors should leave with a grade of at least 80%.
Whatever method you use to study for the CWNA exam, you should start by familiarizing yourself with the exam objectives, which list all the skills that will be assessed.
The three (3) year validity period for the CWNA certification. Before your CWNA expires, you must pass one of the professional-level certification tests (CWSP, CWDP, or CWAP) to recertify. The CWNA will remain in effect for a further three years. Alternatively, you could retake the most recent CWNA test.
While the Certified Wireless Specialist (CWS) and Certified Wireless Technician (CWT) certifications are not prerequisites to the CWNA certification, it is enthusiastically recommended.
It will provide an intense learning establishment before proceeding to pursue the CWNA.
What is prior knowledge required to take the CNWA?
You should have some prior experience before taking the CWNA, according to CWNP. The certification will be helpful to IT professionals in entry-level positions.
Many persons are taking the CWNA focus on securing their first break in the networking industry.
Mentoring programs frequently recommend this as a way to demonstrate skills; increasingly, companies want to know that you are familiar with your work before they recruit you for it, even for entry-level roles.
How Much Does the CWNA Cost?
The simple answer is: The CWNA exam costs $224.99.
The honest answer is that it depends entirely on your learning style. CWNP offers an accompanying E-learning course in a bundle for #849.99 and a Review Guide practice test voucher bundle for $349.99. These may sound like a lot, but the most expensive option is an in-person course, costing up to $3,000 per student or more.
On the off chance that you’re not under a time crunch, my suggestion would be to self-concentrate on this course with the review guide ($30 to 80). CWNP likewise has a month-to-month newsletter that sometimes contains limited-time codes for bundles.
Who Ought to Take the CWNA?
Coming up next is certainly not an exhaustive rundown but a significant overview of who could benefit the most from earning their CWNA certification.
CWNA for Network Administrators
Network admins have one of the most expansive job descriptions out there. You’ll find them working in basically every association that has IT operations. The CWNA will be best at broadening your range of abilities.
As a network admin, you must deal with wireless technology daily. This cert allows you to realize what’s supposed to happen and, more critically, how to troubleshoot issues.
CWNA for Security Analysts
The CWNA is an excellent method for mitigating possible vulnerabilities that could come up, assuming your environment has a moderate surface exposed using wireless.
The CWNA covers establishing significant policies for your firm and reducing security risks. A sizeable wireless use case allows you to take Certified Wireless Security Professional (CWSP), purposely designed for security and wireless professionals.
CWNA for Wireless Engineers
For your purposes, the CWNA is a stepping stone. The CWNA will give you a genuinely in-depth and expansive pragmatic understanding of how 802.11 functions in most creation situations at the convention level.
It opens up the wireless universe to you such that few tests and review material will, leading ideally into Professional-level tests (CWSP, CWAP, CWDP). Paired with some lab work, it’s the perfect method for propelling your already developing career or beginning one with credibility.
Is the CWNA Worth the effort?
Earning the CWNA is worth the effort on the off chance you need to fire your career or advance up the ladder.
The CWNE Track is exceptional for people seeking a career in wireless, and it is given considerable weight in interviews and computer-based talent management systems.
The upcoming CWINE track, which will focus on the critically neglected and developing IoT industry, is noteworthy. For CWISE, the CWNA is necessary, whereas, for CWNE, the CWISA is. The process of IoT and IT combining has already started, and time is running out.
Only for the learning factor alone can the CWNA deliver dividends. It discusses WiFi’s internal workings rather than exactly which button to hit. When you know both where the buttons are and what they do, working with a vendor requires much less in-depth expertise.
A “seal of approval” for less seasoned engineers is the CWNA. It demonstrates your dedication to developing yourself and learning more about your expertise.
Employers prefer employees who can get things done without assistance, particularly in the IT industry. From the employer’s perspective, it’s a much better wager than using interview questions. As a result, you gain a crucial advantage over the other candidates in an interview by changing the topic of conversation from “What do you know” to “Where are the gaps in your knowledge?”
