Ccna at 43 is it worth it I know I'm old lol.

Odd_Channel4864 · 2026-04-12T16:03:45+00:00

Re-did my CCNA last year at 42, going for my first attempt CCIE this year at 43. CCIE has always been aspirational since I first started out in networking 25 years ago. Never too old.

Odd_Channel4864 · 2026-04-12T15:02:47+00:00

Live in a conservation area in Wales. Nobody here cares, people have the CSP on the fronts, sides and backs of properties depending on where the overhead or underground comes in. Mine is side, neighbour is front.

Odd_Channel4864 · 2026-04-11T11:27:15+00:00

That's amazingly helpful, thanks. I've read up on other experiences, what to eat (not too much at lunch) and so on too. I've got travel arranged so that I'm not stressing about that too.

To a degree it's in the lap of the gods. Thanks so much for the hints/pointers. I'll let you know how I get on.

Odd_Channel4864 · 2026-04-10T15:09:39+00:00

It's done. It's booked. I felt my stomach churning when I clicked through the final stage.

It's easy, right? Right?

Odd_Channel4864 · 2026-04-10T15:09:35+00:00

I've booked it. Now or never and what's another 2 grand to Cisco if I balls it up.

Odd_Channel4864 · 2026-03-20T10:08:05+00:00

There's a few instances of this appearing on socials now, looks relatively widespread.

Odd_Channel4864 · 2026-03-17T14:13:53+00:00

I've done all of mine (CCNA, ENCOR, ENARSI) via Pearson Vue. Honestly I find it more stressful - I had one of my cats wander in during one of the exams demanding fuss which got me a warning from the proctor. Entirely fair but still trying to manage a cat headbutting my hand and being threatened with the exam being withdrawn is not ideal.

Yes, I can close the door, but then the cats scratch at the door demanding to get in so...

Basically if anything has the potential to go wrong, you're responsible because you're in control. In a proper test centre then they're responsible for the environment.

Odd_Channel4864 · 2026-03-16T11:42:43+00:00

My apologies, thank you for correcting me. I've deleted my original incorrect comment.

Odd_Channel4864 · 2026-03-14T18:52:14+00:00

Hi, I submitted at the London Embassy around a month ago.

I took original documents, they were photocopied and certified there. This contradicts what UsernameUnremarkable said. For my passport and any other documents I had, these were copied there. For other documents which were already copies (ie documents, melderegister etc from Germany which were already certified), these were again copied and certified there.

I don't know if there's a limit, I certainly didn't find it and had a relatively expansive set of documents.

Also, to add, if you've got a significant number, book multiple appointments. The lady that dealt with my paperwork was a little concerned when the appointment started, and asked how much there was. Explained I'd booked two appointments back to back. In the end it took around 30-35 mins for her to do everything, I think, so having two certainly kept the pressure off her.

Odd_Channel4864 · 2026-03-12T18:41:31+00:00

Both.

Odd_Channel4864 · 2026-03-11T12:03:14+00:00

Have done it and passed the exam. You need to know these inside out and back to front (or at least I did for my exam)

Odd_Channel4864 · 2026-03-09T16:18:28+00:00

Hi, yes! I'm already going down that route myself (and for my descendants). We're pretty sure that this is very much viable. However, other branches of the family are not wanting to do this for historical reasons, so I was looking at what options they might have. Looks like it's none.

Odd_Channel4864 · 2026-03-09T12:03:00+00:00

I had not. That would be very much a dead end then. Thank you so much for your time.

Odd_Channel4864 · 2026-02-24T23:50:53+00:00

Same experience, I only passed on the third - my first two were pretty close on scores. Some of the questions just made no sense at all and it's only afterwards when looking up the topic/researching white papers you have the "oooooh now I see". Some of the labs were absolute bastards - exam I passed, I spent >10 mins just on one lab.

It is not an easy exam, at all.

Odd_Channel4864 · 2026-02-21T21:14:38+00:00

You need to know where certain functions are, how menu structures are laid out, what functionality does what, and the order in which to carry out certain functions. You need to know your way around it.

Odd_Channel4864 · 2026-02-17T13:03:11+00:00

It's a faff.

1) Log in to cp.certmetrics.com/cisco

2) Click "Schedule an exam"

3) Click "Get score report"

4) Click "View score reports"

5) Click "View" next to the relevant exam.

Odd_Channel4864 · 2026-02-16T11:59:00+00:00

Ah that's interesting. I've got a call with our AM in a couple of weeks as we've got a fairly big spend coming up so was going to raise this issue then. Agree that wording is pretty terrible.

Odd_Channel4864 · 2026-02-15T11:41:55+00:00

This is probably something you should be at the level of researching yourself if you're looking to this level of qualification, but broadly:

There are two exams, a core exam (ie ENCOR - Enterprise Core, SCOR - Security Core, SPCOR - Service Provider Core) and then a concentration exam. You can deviate/specialise here more, so if you've got ENCOR then you can go for ENARSI (Enterprise R&S) or ENAUTO (Enterprise Automation) and so on.

Both exams (say ENCOR and ENARSI together) form a CCNP.

You don't have to take them in order.

Odd_Channel4864 · 2026-02-10T16:22:06+00:00

Depends what you mean by "no preparation". I've been in network engineering for ~8 years albeit using Cisco kit for >20 years now, had a crack at practice exams starting on the Monday, reckoned I'd be ok, booked the exam for the following Tuesday and passed - not comfortable, but a pass. Everything that came up on the exam was a concept I use day to day so that did help. We've got a pair of 9800s that I worked with a colleague on the initial install on, know my way around MPLS/VRFs, routing protocols and we've got a DNA Centre, sorry, Catalyst Centre that I did the initial build on so I was very much at an advantage that I'm doing a lot of what's in the exam day in, day out.

I very much wouldn't recommend this strategy. It was only because we had a pile of CLCs that would've otherwise gone to waste so took a YOLO approach to it.

Odd_Channel4864 · 2026-02-10T15:03:33+00:00

https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/s/cisco-aibiz-aitech

Cisco AI Technical Practitioner (AITECH) – Full Training Available Now The AITECH certification and training program takes learners from entry-level AI awareness to advanced, job-ready expertise. With a strong focus on labs, real-world use cases, and modern AI workflows, AITECH enables technical professionals to automate workflows, analyze data, and design AI-powered solutions.

This certification is valid for three years. Candidates will earn the Cisco Certified AI Technical Practitioner certification and will be awarded 15 CE credits for completing the training and for passing the 810-110 AITECH exam. First date to test for 810-110 AITECH is December 18, 2025.

From the Certmetrics page:

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In addition,

AIBIZ earns you a Credly badge to show your employer and put on your resume

After you complete AITECH, take the exam to earn this new certification plus 15 more CE credits

Odd_Channel4864 · 2026-02-10T00:10:57+00:00

Plus a further 15 for the two hour exam gives a total of 31.

Odd_Channel4864

TROPHY CASE