its possible to study for it on your own.  while not absolutely necessary, i would consider picking up at least 2 cisco routers (probably 2500s) off ebay so you can actually play with them.  you'll have to pick up a few serial cables to hook them up.  the actual IOS will be better for learning than any sim.

good point about the recert. i know lots of expired CCNA holders.  if you decide to go the CCNP route, your CCNA gets renewed as you pass those exams so that's a bit of help, still a bit of a racket...

on another note, even if you have an expired CCNA you can still put

CCNA (expired)

on your resume, it still shows that you should have the background in networking.

Being a former Cisco Instructor I can agree with what most here have to say. The whole renew it every 2-3 years is a way for Cisco to make money. I would also like to add that the certs of almost all the networking vendors expire (yes I know some of them like M$ & CompTIA don’t). Experience is king when looking for a job but if you do not have the experience then the cert is away of showing them your proficient in that area. As for studying this all depends on how you like to learn. I would like to warn you that the Cisco tests are worded (in my option)  in a special Cisco way so when you answer the question you need to answer it as Cisco states the correct answer to be even if a better answer is available. I feel this is there way to force you to there boot camps and training centers. I recommend anyone thinking about the CCNA to try the CompTIA Network+ first to get a nice networking cert that dose not expire and this will also get you into the exam mind frame prior to facing the Cisco tests. Be prepared to take the test a few times too. I was luck and pass my CCNA the 1st time and I did not study much but I was already networking with Cisco gear for about 4 years before I just decided to try the test. I would recommend anyone try the CCNA to study and make sure to look at the Cisco Press books too as they are from Cisco. Good luck if you decide to try it and please share your experience with all of us.

Brian
(AKA Slimjim100)

From almost the same page; (I actually got to this page by clicking a link in the blue sidebar) is news of the first practice test released to guage your readiness for the CCIE written exam. The practice test is $279.00. eeeYowch!

Then when you're ready for the real thing, you have to shell out $$$ for travel to one of the ten sites to do it at.

Even if I wanted to go for the CCIE, none of the schools in my area could help me. Not even New Horizons. The NH by me doesn't want to shell out the dough it would take to set up a computer lab to go for the CCIE.

Article is here:

Good decision. And AFTER I passed the exam, Cisco decided to re-design the exam to make it tougher. 

It's supposed to be worth it, in the end. I'm still waiting for proof of that to happen.