Cisco CCNA candidates need to be aware that the current CCNA, Intro, and ICND exams are being retired as of November 6, 2007.
This is actually great news for future CCNAs, since there is more than enough time to study for the 640-801 version of the CCNA exam, even if you haven’t started studying yet!
The current version of the exam, 640-801, is challenging enough as it is – but the new version of the exam, 640-802, is going to be even more challenging! Among the new topics covered on the 640-802 exam are Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP), IP Version 6 (IPv6), router security, switch security, VPNs, and wireless routing.
Why is Cisco making these changes? Cisco no longer wants the CCNA to be seen as an “entry level” certification, and I personally think that’s a welcome change. I’ve been writing CCNA ebooks and teaching in-person and internet-based CCNA courses for years, and I’ve always refused to refer to the CCNA as “entry level”. Cisco’s new entry-level certification is the CCENT, Cisco Certified Entry Level Technician, and we’ll talk about that certification in a future article.
For now, it’s important to realize that you have plenty of time to prepare for the current 640-801 exam. By doing so, you’ll earn one of the most valuable certifications avaiable today. Cisco does a tremendous job in protecting the value of its certifications, and any time spend on earning the CCNA is time well-spent.
The CCNA 640-802 exam will be available on August 1, but again, the current 640-802 exam will be available through November 5. If you want to get CCNA certified, now is definitely the time to get the job done – so get started, book your exam date today, and get CCNA certified!


