I’m beginning my 2025 certification studies with the CCNP ENCOR exam. I wish I had started right in January, but life got in the way. I also delayed my studies slightly to strategize my study methods.

Typically, I would start by reading through my primary study resource while taking copious notes. I’d spend roughly three to four hours, or even longer, on a single chapter. Then, I’d reinforce my learning by watching video resources and taking nearly the same amount of notes. Finally, I would take practice exams and focus on lab materials where I felt weak, taking additional notes along the way. By the end, I’d have amassed a mountain of books, notebooks, and flashcards.

The last time I tackled an exam of this difficulty was when I pursued my CCNA back in 2018 and 2019. I earned the CCENT certification by passing ICND1 in 2018, followed by ICND2 in 2019, which completed my CCNA certification.

For the CCNP, I want to approach it differently. We are now in the early years of the AI era, and I figured it’s time to take advantage of this powerful tool.

That said, I’m not completely abandoning my traditional study methods. However, I want to maximize efficiency—reducing study time while improving information retention, all while minimizing excessive note-taking.

Through past experiences with A+, Network+, Security+, and CCNA, I noticed a pattern: I rarely revisited my notes after writing them. I also felt like I wasn’t retaining the information as well as I should have. When it came time for practice exams—and eventually the real test—I often felt like I was making highly educated guesses rather than answering with full confidence.

With this new study approach, my goal is to leverage ChatGPT to develop a personalized study plan that enhances knowledge retention. I want to build exercises that reinforce my understanding in a more effective way.

Over the next several weeks, I’ll chronicle this journey and provide updates on how this new study method is impacting me—whether positively or negatively.

Wish me luck!

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CCNP Studies Resources (for now)
Book: Official Cert Guide CCNP AND CCIE Enterprise Core ENCOR 350-401 2nd Edition

Videos: Kevin Wallace ENCOR v1.1 Video Training Series on Udemy

Other: ChatGPT’s “CCNA, CCNP Mentor” GPT