What is CCNA certification?

The Cisco Certified Network Associate or CCNA certification is an IT certification offered by CISCO. It is designed to test your knowledge and skills surrounding network administration and security, demonstrating to employers and colleagues that you have a solid understanding of how these important systems function.

How difficult is CCNA certification?

For those who are studying network administration and security, the CCNA examination will not be too challenging. It will take a month or two of study, but for those who are studying for a degree program in network administration, your coursework should help you be well-prepared. It is not recommended to take this test unless you have a firm grasp of network administration, IP connectivity, IP security, etc.

Can I get a job with CCNA certification?

The CCNA certification is an extremely valuable credential that IT professionals can add to their résumé. While you may get hired with just a CCNA certification, combining your certification with other important credentials and skills, such as a degree or other certifications, will make you stand out from the competition. It's ideal to find a degree program that can give you a bachelor's degree as well as industry certifications, like the IT programs offered at WGU.

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ITIL® 4 Certification

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What is ITIL®?

ITIL® stands for Information Technology Infrastructure Library. This framework is the industry standard for IT professionals in the IT service management (ITSM), project, and portfolio management spaces. Its custudian, PeopleCert, is a globally recognized certification body.

ITSM and ITIL® aren't mutually exclusive—IT service management is a larger practice across the information technology field, and ITIL® is a set process that can be used to deliver ITSM.

This systemic approach to IT service management can help organizations in many ways as they manage risk, strengthen relationships with customers, operate in a cost-effective way, and build a more stable environment. Growth, scale, and change are all core elements of the ITIL frameworks. Service design is a crucial part of professional IT organizations, and these ITIL® training courses help set standards for best practices in service design and management.

ITIL® has a direct focus on service management, which is critical in helping an organization deliver to customers in the best possible way. ITIL certification demonstrates to your employer that you are well-versed when it comes to IT services and understand best practices.

Degrees That Offer the ITIL Foundation Certification

B.S. Computer Science

B.S. Information Technology

B.S. Cybersecurity and Information Assurance

B.S. Cloud and Network Engineering

B.S. Software Engineering

Accelerated Information Technology Bachelor's and Master's Degree

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ITIL® 4 Qualification Paths

There are multiple ITIL® certification levels you can pursue as part of your IT career. WGU currently allows students to take the ITIL® 4 Foundation examination as part of their degree. The four levels that are part of the ITIL® framework include:

ITIL® 4 Practice manager
ITIL® 4 Managing professional
ITIL® 4 Strategic leader
ITIL® 4 Extension modules

ITIL® 4 Foundation

The ITIL® Foundation certification is a fantastic place to start your understanding of service management, and demonstrates that you have a working knowledge of the ITIL® framework. Whether or not your organization uses ITIL® service management, this Foundation certification can ensure you're prepared for service management tasks.

With the ITIL® Foundation certification you will demonstrate your knowledge of:

Guiding ITIL® principles
A holistic approach to the facilitation of co-creation of value with customers and other stakeholders in the form of products and services
The four dimensions of service management
Key concepts from Lean, Agile, DevOps, and why these are important to deliver business value

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ITIL® Foundation Exam

The Foundation exam is held in the following format:

Multiple choice examination questions
40 questions
26 marks are required to pass (out of 40 available) - 65%
60 minutes in length
Closed book

WGU students earning one of the connected degrees will gain knowledge and skills that will prepare them for the Foundation exam. They will receive a voucher that enables them to take the Foundation certification test as part of the cost of their degree program.

What does the ITIL® Foundation exam cost? Typically the exam ranges from $150-$500, not including training and practice. For WGU students, training materials and exam costs are included as part of their WGU program.

ITIL® Certification

After passing the ITIL® Foundation exam, you have earned your Foundation certificate! Congratulations! This means you can add the Foundation certificate to your résumé and utilize it to boost your career. Your proficiency in this training course will demonstrate to your employer you are prepared for ITSM work moving forward.

ITIL® Foundation and other certifications do not expire and are good for the rest of your career, however it is good to keep up with continuing education. so you're aware of any updates to the ITIL framework or process.

Many people study for up to six months to prepare for the ITIL® certification, and WGU helps you prepare for the exam as part of your coursework, but you may need additional study time on your own as well.

There are additional ITIL® certifications you can earn beyond the Foundations level, but WGU doesn't offer any additional ITIL® certification at this time.

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Frequently Asked Questions about ITIL® Certification

What is ITIL®?
How much does the ITIL® Foundation exam cost?
How long does the ITIL® certification take?
Can I prepare for the ITIL® Foundation certification online?
How long does ITIL® certification last?
Why is the ITIL® Foundation certification valuable?

ITIL stands for IT Infrastructure Library. ITIL contains a framework of best practices when it comes to delivering IT services. This systemic approach to IT service management can help organizations in many ways as they manage risk, strengthen relationships with customers, operate in a cost-effective way, and build a more stable environment. Growth, scale, and change are all core elements of the ITIL frameworks.

ITIL has a direct focus on service management, which is critical in helping an organization deliver to customers in the best possible way. ITIL certification demonstrates to your employer that you are well-versed when it comes to IT services and understand best practices.

The ITIL Foundation certification exam alone can cost anywhere from $150 to $500. But often there are additional charges for training materials that can cost up to $1,000. At WGU, study materials and your exam costs are part of your tuition, making this certification free for students.

Some students study for the Foundation exam for up to six months, but some students will study for more or less time. The Foundation test itself is a 60-minute examination.

Yes! The ITIL Foundation certification study materials and practices can be accessed online. WGU students will get information about accessing their study materials as part of their coursework.

ITIL certifications never expire, so you can utilize this credential throughout your career. However, as new versions of ITIL come out, it may be wise to update your certification to the most recent version. You can also move upward in ITIL and gain more certifications as your career requires it.

The Foundation certificate from ITIL is a valuable certification to demonstrate to employers that you understand ITSM basics, and have background in best practices when it comes to providing services to customers. It's a great way to add a credential to your résumé that can help you show your ability to provide insights and develop better systems in your organization. If your organization utilizes ITIL, they may require you to have this certification to show you are ready to join the team.

WGU IT Certifications
Each WGU IT degree comes with top industry certifications at no extra cost.

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ITIL® 4 Certification

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