Is the CWNA Exam difficult for beginners in networking?

[DanielleLee]

Hi everyone.

I am planning to give the CWNA exam, but I am totally new to networking. I do not have much experience with wireless either. I have read online that it can be a bit tough for beginners, so I wanted to ask for some help from those who have already passed it.

Can someone please guide me on where to start? Like, which topics are most important, and how should I study them? I am a little confused about how deep I need to go into RF stuff and 802.11 protocols. Some of the terms are really technical for me. Also, I found CWNA exam practice questions while searching for practice material. Has anyone here tried such type of CWNA Practice material? Are those questions close to the real exam? I just want to make sure I am studying from the right place. Any tips or advice would really help. If you followed a plan or used some good resources, please share.

[GIdenJoe]

CWNA is a Certitrek certification that is for beginning wireless engineers.  This is vendor neutral and only covers the 802.11 standard, site surveys, basic security wireless architectures.

You are in a switching forum specifically for Cisco Meraki here.

The easiest way to start is by going to their website cwnp.org

[DanielleLee]

The issue is that cwnp.org does not provide enough resources for exam preparation

[GIdenJoe]

They point to courses and books you can purchase to get through that exam.
I personally did the CWNA-107 and the best book for that was not the one on their website but the one with the lighthouse on it.  "Study guide".

[Robthesoundguy]

As others have pointed out, CWNA is not a Meraki certification. The study materials are provided by CWNP and the certification by Certitrek. 

I have my CWNA and the advice I would give you is purchase the study material. Better yet, if you're able to attend an in-person or virtual training with a CWNT certified trainer such as Tom Carpenter or Ferney Munoz; Or Phil Morgan with NC-Expert; Do it. Those guys are Wi-Fi gurus and you will get more from their class than you ever will by just reading the book. 

Be advised however, the exam is a beast. Unless you have an insane level of data retention by just reading a book, you need to prepare and taking a class is the best way to do it. When I took the class, the study material was included with the course fee. 

Best of luck!

[GIdenJoe]

Why thank you.. I passed by reading that book 😜