Let’s just be real: ENCOR was easy—just a lot of information to go over and stuff to get down. The topics weren’t hard, just broad. I already knew Python, APIs, and working with JSON, so the automation side was no problem. That gave me more room to focus on the things I didn’t know.

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What I Used (and What Was Worth It)

• ✅ CBT Nuggets – Solid intro, helped build a foundation
• ✅ Official Cert Guide (OCG) – Filled in technical gaps
• ✅ White Papers – Key for deep understanding, especially multicast and QoS
• ✅ NetworkLessons.com – Super clear explanations, used to build my own labs
• ✅ Boson Practice Exams – Excellent, realistic questions
• ❌ Boson Labs – Not worth it; I regret buying the full ENCOR kit
• ✅ GNS3 – Did all labs here
• ✅ GNS3Vault – Grabbed a few solid advanced labs
• ✅ ChatGPT – Helped fill in explanations I couldn’t find elsewhere
• ✅ Flashcards (Anki) – Reviewed daily, made hundreds

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How I Got It Done

I studied about 3–6 hours a day, doing a little of each resource daily. It seems like a lot, but if you chip away at each one slowly, you’ll make steady progress. I took it slow at first because I didn’t want to waste money on stuff I wasn’t sure about. That saved me from a few bad buys—though I still made a mistake getting the Boson ENCOR kit. The practice test was great, but the labs weren’t worth it.

Toward the end, I really focused on white papers, Boson practice exams, and flashcards to lock it all in. If you stay consistent and study smart, you can knock this out faster than you think.