Certified Wireless Network Expert (CWNE)
The purpose of the blog post is to discuss my journey towards becoming a CWNE and the common questions I get asked.
CWNE certification is the finale step in the CWNP certification track. For more information about what CWNP offered and the CWNE certification requirements I have added the link below.
https://www.cwnp.com/certifications/cwne
I have done up some pervious blog posts on my journey with the CWNA and CWNP certifications, links are posted below.
https://wordpress.com/post/wifiburns.wordpress.com/281
https://wordpress.com/post/wifiburns.wordpress.com/686
In April 2018 after a gruelling 4months of waiting since submitting my CWNE application, I received the email congratulating me that I have successfully become CWNE#269, once I read the email I jumped out of my chair and repeatedly fist pump the air.
Why did I decided to embark on this journey?
- It made perfect sense given my passion for wireless, experience, current job role and responsibilities.
How long did the process take?
- Having achieved certain requirements already, such as vendor certifications, experience etc. It took around 12 months to complete the exams and application. Normal process is around 3 years minimum.
What order did I complete my exams in?
- CWNA, CWDP, CWAP, & CWSP. There is a lot of talk about doing it in the following order CWNA, CWAP, CWSP & CWDP, and there is logic to this, but I did it in the order of topics I found the most interesting.
What exam did I find the hardest?
- CWSP, I didn’t find the exam hard, just trying to stay motivated to study for it was difficult.
When did I start working on my CWNE application?
- When I started studying for my last exam (CWSP).
What did I write my essays on?
- Analysis, design and security, this seems to be the normal approach
How many words where my essay’s?
- Keeping your essay in the minimum and maximum word count is difficult. I included pictures which added more pages to each essay. But overall I think they were around 1500 words, there is talk that it should be less.
What vendor certifications did I use as part of my application?
- CCNP R & S
- CCDA
How did I submit my application?
- I submitted my application via email, by attaching the individual sections of the application. Note there is a lot of people on the CWNE board so your formatting or structure of your application may not be preferred by some members.
Would I recommend CWNE certification?
- It depends, on you own personal circumstances, such as experience, career goals, current job etc. For me it made perfect sense and has greatly benefited my career.
- I do strongly believe anyone working with 802.11 networks should hold a CWNA certification.
Any misc. tips?
- Get a CWNE mentor, I was extremely lucky to have the opportunity to work with a 2xCCIE and CWNE over the period of 2017. In Australia CWNE’s are rare as hens teeth.
- Get fellow peers to review your application.
- Don’t rush it.
- Prepared to wait a few months to get the final response on your application. The CWNE board is volunteer based.
- If you don’t get an email saying your application has been received email until you do.
- Get solid referrers:
- I think it should be mandatory that one is a CWNE, that can validate your work ethic and knowledge.
- Remember your application needs to sell you as a wireless expert.
- Be active in the Wireless community, The wireless community in Australia is tiny and its even smaller when you exclude the wireless people that have no idea what they are doing 🙂 so reach out, get involved in
- Slack
- Wireless LAN association
- Forums
- Blogs
- youtube
Hope this post has been able to provide some answers to the common questions I get about the CWNE certification.
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