Here’s How Long You’ll Need to Study for the Cisco DevNet-Certified Automation Professionals 200-901 DEVASC
by Ross Heintzkill | Published on September 12, 2022
Having a fast, highly available network is only the first step for many companies. Plenty of companies also need an advanced level of automation and programmability in their network operations. The Cisco DevNet Associate is an IT certification earned by developers and network engineers who want to prove their knowledge in developing network apps, using APIs to integrate advanced functionality, and automating security and infrastructure. Cisco maintains the DevNet Associate cert and its exam 200-901 DEVASC.
In order to find out how long it takes IT professionals to prepare for the DevNet Associate, CBT Nuggets organized an industry survey. Using a Twitter poll, a LinkedIn survey and an emailed poll, we surveyed over 220 people who'd passed the 200-901 DEVASC and asked them how long it took to prepare for the exam and what could be done to speed that up.
How long did most people need to study for the 200-901 DEVASC?
Most people took more than 3 months to study for the DevNet Associate exam. 57% of all respondents said that it took them more than 3 months. 32% of all IT professionals who responded to our survey reported that it took them longer than 5 months to prepare for the 200-901 DEVASC. Only about 15% of network professionals took less than 6 weeks to prepare for the DevNet Associate.
The CBT Nuggets poll reveals a clear trend: if you study on your own without using high-quality training, it can take more than 5 months to prepare for the 200-901 DEVASC. Realistically, it's only if you have some applicable job experience, familiarity with Python, and use an online course that walks you through the exam's learning objectives that you could be ready to take the DevNet Associate in as little as 6 weeks.
Learning to develop applications and automate workflows with Cisco platforms is a huge task. If you have little or no experience, one of the most important things you could do is develop excellent study habits. According to CBT Nuggets Senior Coach Molly Billow, you can actually hijack your brain's habit-forming process. Intentionally reward yourself every time you study, and "if the same behaviors are repeated," Billow explains, "you create new neural pathways. If it's repeated often enough, a new habit is formed."
How should you prepare ahead of taking 200-901 DEVASC?
Cisco's 200-901 exam will challenge everything a network professional knows about network access, IP connectivity, IP services, security management, and network programmability and automation. You should have at least a year of professional experience with Python and writing network apps before attempting the exam. This DevNet Associate (200-901 DEVASC) course covers all those topics, in the same order you'll encounter them on the exam. It's a custom-built course to help make sure you're adequately prepared ahead of taking 200-901.
According to CBT Nuggets coach Samantha Matta, the key to preparing for the 200-901 DEVASC lies in passionate and knowledgeable trainers. "What I love about our courses is that our trainers are so passionate about what they do. Our trainers explain things in a way where if you are new to IT you can understand what they are trying to teach without feeling overwhelmed."
Speaking specifically about the DevNet Associate course, Matta says it's a good course to understand how networking operations work and how they are glued together. "With a little bit of IT experience and a great trainer leading the way, this is a great course to really hone in your experience with layers and networking functions. "
Tips to make sure you’re test-ready before Cisco DevNet Associate exam day:
The DevNet Associate cert is like a house built on a foundation of networking skills. Knowing how to automate network behavior and write network apps requires a solid understanding of network operations and administration. The best way to make sure you're test-ready before the DevNet exam is to practice the fundamentals of networking and automation.
Follow a study plan
Use a study plan that's been specifically created for the topics you'll need to learn in the DevNet Associate online training. That way, you can follow along with the topics you'll need to study each week to take the 200-901 DEVASC exam.
Use virtual labs
Virtual labs are simulations of real-world networks. They respond and behave completely normally, but they're sandboxes where you can practice automation and write your own apps. And if you break the network, it's fine. You learn a lesson and you don't actually cause a network outage or cost anyone anything.
Test yourself using practice exams
Practice exams are also crucial for speeding up how long it takes to prepare for the DevNet Associate cert. Your first practice test lets you isolate what subjects you're least ready for, and then wrap up studying with a second practice exam so you can rest assured you're ready to tackle the real thing.
Learn from the experts
CBT Nuggets prides itself on having expert trainers who don't just know the course material deeply and thoroughly, but know how to explain it really, really well. The DevNet Associate online course from CBT Nuggets is delivered by three experts: Keith Barker, Ben Finkel, and Knox Hutchinson. Between them, the trio have earned more certifications than most people know exist. Watch the first video in the series for free and learn if their teaching method is the right way for you to prepare for the 200-901.
The majority of IT professionals take longer than 3 months to prepare for the 200-901 DEVASC certifying exam. Without the right tools or online study materials, preparing for the Cisco DevNet Associate can take networking professionals with little experience in app development and automation more than 5 months. Get ready for the 200-901 as fast as possible with our tools and resources in the CBT Nuggets DevNet Associate online training.