Should you be aspiring to become Cisco accredited, and you're new to working with switches and routers, we'd recommend taking the CCNA training. This teaches you the knowledge you need to understand routers. The world wide web is built up of many routers, and large companies with various different locations also rely on them to allow their networks of computers to communicate.
It's vital that you already know a good deal about how computer networks operate and function, because computer networks are joined to routers. If not, the chances are you'll fall behind. Better to look for a course covering the basics in networking (maybe the CompTIA Network+, possibly with A+ as well) and then do a CCNA course. Look for a training provider that can offer this as a career package.
Should this be your first introduction to routers, then working up to and including the CCNA is definitely sufficient - at this stage avoid being tempted to do the CCNP. With a few years experience behind you, you can decide if it's appropriate for you to go to the level of CCNP.
How the program is actually delivered to you can often be overlooked. How is the courseware broken down? What is the specific order and at what speed is it delivered?
Students often think it makes sense (with most training taking 1-3 years to gain full certified status,) that a training provider will issue a single section at a time, as you pass each element. However:
What could you expect if you didn't actually complete everything within the time limits imposed? And maybe you'll find their order of completion doesn't come as naturally as another different route may.
For maximum flexibility and safety, it's normal for most trainees to make sure that every element of their training is couriered out in one package, all at the beginning. That means it's down to you in which order and at what speed you want to work.
Exam 'guarantees' are sometimes offered as part of a training package - they always involve paying for the exam fees up-front, before you've even made a start on the course. Before you jump at this so-called guarantee, look at the following:
They've allowed costings for it ultimately. One thing's for sure - it isn't free - it's just been rolled into the price of the whole package.
If you want to qualify first 'go', then you should avoid exam guarantees and pay when entering exams, give it the priority it deserves and be ready for the task.
Sit the exam as locally as possible and hold on to your money and pay for the exam when you take it.
Why borrow the money or pay in advance (plus interest of course) on exams when you didn't need to? A great deal of money is netted by organisations charging all their exam fees up-front - and banking on the fact that many won't be taken.
In addition to this, you should consider what an 'exam guarantee' really means. Many training companies won't pay for re-takes until you can prove to them you're ready to pass.
Exam fees averaged approximately 112 pounds last year through local VUE or Pro-metric centres throughout the country. So why pay hundreds or thousands of pounds extra to get 'Exam Guarantees', when it's obvious that the most successful method is a commitment to studying and the use of authorised exam preparation tools.
Be on the lookout that any exams that you're considering are recognised by industry and are current. The 'in-house' certifications provided by many companies are often meaningless.
From an employer's viewpoint, only the major heavyweights such as Microsoft, CompTIA, Cisco or Adobe (to give some examples) provide enough commercial weight. Nothing else will cut the mustard.
Being a part of the information technology industry is amongst the most stimulating and innovative industries you could be involved with. Being a member of a team working on breakthroughs in technology puts you at the fore-front of developments affecting everyone who lives in the 21st century.
We are really only just starting to understand how this will truly impact our way of life. How we communicate and interact with everyone around us will be significantly affected by computers and the web.
The regular IT technician in the UK has been shown to earn a lot more than fellow workers in other market sectors. Mean average salaries are amongst the highest in the country.
The search for properly certified IT professionals is assured for many years to come, due to the continuous increase in the technology industry and the vast shortage that remains.
It's vital that you already know a good deal about how computer networks operate and function, because computer networks are joined to routers. If not, the chances are you'll fall behind. Better to look for a course covering the basics in networking (maybe the CompTIA Network+, possibly with A+ as well) and then do a CCNA course. Look for a training provider that can offer this as a career package.
Should this be your first introduction to routers, then working up to and including the CCNA is definitely sufficient - at this stage avoid being tempted to do the CCNP. With a few years experience behind you, you can decide if it's appropriate for you to go to the level of CCNP.
How the program is actually delivered to you can often be overlooked. How is the courseware broken down? What is the specific order and at what speed is it delivered?
Students often think it makes sense (with most training taking 1-3 years to gain full certified status,) that a training provider will issue a single section at a time, as you pass each element. However:
What could you expect if you didn't actually complete everything within the time limits imposed? And maybe you'll find their order of completion doesn't come as naturally as another different route may.
For maximum flexibility and safety, it's normal for most trainees to make sure that every element of their training is couriered out in one package, all at the beginning. That means it's down to you in which order and at what speed you want to work.
Exam 'guarantees' are sometimes offered as part of a training package - they always involve paying for the exam fees up-front, before you've even made a start on the course. Before you jump at this so-called guarantee, look at the following:
They've allowed costings for it ultimately. One thing's for sure - it isn't free - it's just been rolled into the price of the whole package.
If you want to qualify first 'go', then you should avoid exam guarantees and pay when entering exams, give it the priority it deserves and be ready for the task.
Sit the exam as locally as possible and hold on to your money and pay for the exam when you take it.
Why borrow the money or pay in advance (plus interest of course) on exams when you didn't need to? A great deal of money is netted by organisations charging all their exam fees up-front - and banking on the fact that many won't be taken.
In addition to this, you should consider what an 'exam guarantee' really means. Many training companies won't pay for re-takes until you can prove to them you're ready to pass.
Exam fees averaged approximately 112 pounds last year through local VUE or Pro-metric centres throughout the country. So why pay hundreds or thousands of pounds extra to get 'Exam Guarantees', when it's obvious that the most successful method is a commitment to studying and the use of authorised exam preparation tools.
Be on the lookout that any exams that you're considering are recognised by industry and are current. The 'in-house' certifications provided by many companies are often meaningless.
From an employer's viewpoint, only the major heavyweights such as Microsoft, CompTIA, Cisco or Adobe (to give some examples) provide enough commercial weight. Nothing else will cut the mustard.
Being a part of the information technology industry is amongst the most stimulating and innovative industries you could be involved with. Being a member of a team working on breakthroughs in technology puts you at the fore-front of developments affecting everyone who lives in the 21st century.
We are really only just starting to understand how this will truly impact our way of life. How we communicate and interact with everyone around us will be significantly affected by computers and the web.
The regular IT technician in the UK has been shown to earn a lot more than fellow workers in other market sectors. Mean average salaries are amongst the highest in the country.
The search for properly certified IT professionals is assured for many years to come, due to the continuous increase in the technology industry and the vast shortage that remains.
About the Author:
(C) Jason Kendall. Browse LearningLolly.com for clear information on Cisco Certification and Cisco Training Course.