The CCENT certification is an interim step to Associate level or directly with CCNA and CCDA certifications.

While the CCENT covers basic networking knowledge; it does not get involved with the more intricate technical aspects of the Cisco routing and switching and network design.

As of 2016, you have 90 minutes to answer 50 questions in the real CCNA exam but if your native language is not English, Cisco allows you an extra 30 minutes, Please get informed before appearing at the test site.

CCNA certification is valid for three years. To recertify you will have pass the ICND2
exam, or pass the current CCNA exam, or pass a CCNA Concentration exam (wireless, security, voice etc.)

You should not spend more than 12 minutes for each sim. Note that you only have 90 minutes so if you spend 12 minutes for each sim x 4 sims = 48 minutes (now the sims have been reduced to 3 but we calculate 4 sims for safe). After the 4 sim you only have 42 minutes left for solving 45 multiple choice questions.

Each sim will cost you from 80 to 100 points. In the real exam you will have to solve 4 sims that give from 320 to 400 points. Suppose you answer all other questions perfectly then you will get 600 to 680 points but the passing score is 800. The Answer is no,  you surely fail if ignore them.

The following groups should consider obtaining a CCNA Collaboration certification:
• Network Video administrator and operator
• Collaboration Sales / Systems Engineer
• IP Telephony “VoIP” Engineers
• IP Network Engineers

On 29 July 2014, Cisco announced changes to the Cisco CCNP® certification for network professionals.
The name of the certification has changed from “CCNP” to “CCNP Routing and Switching,” and the three exams, ROUTE, SWITCH, and TSHOOT, have been revised. The new exams include more emphasis on IPv6 and additional focus on Cisco StackWise®, virtual switching services, and Dynamic Multipoint VPN (DMVPN).
Please visit the Cisco Learning Network for more details.