CCNA Classes

[scott916]

Anyone here take CCNA courses recently? I'm signed up for the Spring 2008 semester at a local community college to take the first two of four courses. Should I go this route or would the online classes work out just as well and allow me to obtain my cert more quickly?

Mods: If this is the wrong forum, please move.

 

[tranceport]

I read a couple of books and passed.

 

[scott916]

Did you have any previous networking experience? Which books?

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

I took CCNA 1 & 2 at my high school and the equipment we used wasn't very expensive (less than $50-$100) on eBay and so I would consider just buying the equipment and working on it yourself. It comes down to what kind of environment you learn better and if you need/like a teacher to help you.

 

[tranceport]

Originally posted by: scott916
Did you have any previous networking experience? Which books?

8 years. I like cisco press certification study guides.

 

[James Bond]

If you don't have much experience, take the classes. You *will* have questions. Also, they will provide equipment, which is nice. Hands-on is a must.

Tip: When you have a question, ask it.

 

[puffff]

I heard the the CCNA test got harder since I took it in 2003. But back then it was incredibly easy. It took me about a month of self studying to pass.

I really do hope they made the test harder though, because back then the cert was practically worthless. Having it didn't land me a single interview.

 

[Marinski]

I thought you had to pass the first course before you take the second. Thats how they do it at my community college. I took the first course last year but didn't continue with it.

 

[Leros]

Originally posted by: AgaBoogaBoo
I took CCNA 1 & 2 at my high school and the equipment we used wasn't very expensive (less than $50-$100) on eBay and so I would consider just buying the equipment and working on it yourself. It comes down to what kind of environment you learn better and if you need/like a teacher to help you.

I took CCNA 1, 2, and 3 in high school and some of the equipment we had was very expensive. We were working on $5000 routers and stuff all the time.

 

[scott916]

I can knock out the whole 4 course package in two semesters (each course is only 8 weeks or 1/2 a semester), but if I could pass with a book, I'd love to do it that way so I could be on the track to CCNP or CCVP. Thanks for all the input guys, you were a big help.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: puffff
I heard the the CCNA test got harder since I took it in 2003. But back then it was incredibly easy. It took me about a month of self studying to pass.

I really do hope they made the test harder though, because back then the cert was practically worthless. Having it didn't land me a single interview.

Cert is still relatively worthless by itself. CCNP or better is really where it's at.

They even have a pre-CCNA cert now, CCNTP or something...it's taking the first half of the reading.

However; Cisco's own new material is pretty bad right now. My dad is going to do his CCNA (my brother has about every CCIE specialty + CISSP) and discovered quite a few errata that's not listed yet...some not so obvious.

I really don't see the bootcamps helping at this level. Taking it as a college course over a 17 week period would give a lot of depth though.

 

[scott916]

Originally posted by: alkemyst
...

I'm really just trying to get on the fast track to CCNP or CCVP, depending on which I like when I complete CCNA. I've only got about two more semesters part time to finish my AS also, so I figure I can get a decent entry level position with those while I work on my CC*P. Do you think I'd be able to get a decent position anywhere with my CCNA and AS? Pay scale isn't necessarily as important as relevant experience.

 

[alkemyst]

The market is wierd...really depends on what they are hiring in your area.

Here with just a CCNA, I'd still be expected to be able to go out to sites solo and fix minor details. There is a lot of need out there for good net techs.

CCVP is a great one...thing is CCVP/CCNP or not if you can go in and set up a call manager/VoiP system start to finish they would have more than enough to keep you busy in many places. There is a guy that works for my brother. Knows how to do this stuff really well, but still has not passed CCNA

 

[scott916]

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Yeah, I'm really leaning towards CCVP and getting in as soon as possible, because I have a feeling that there will be a LOT of older businesses that will start moving towards VoIP when it becomes a more mainstream and common option, as many are afraid of making such a large investment in what they believe to be an untested and non-trustworthy system.

That's good to hear that its true even now, hopefully I can get in before the next big thing and get a good job.

What part of the country are you in? Do you think it's becoming sufficiently widespread enough that I could safely focus on it as an eventual career option? I'd really like to stay in CA, but I'll go where the money is.

 

[spidey07]

Companies of all size are RAPIDLY moving to ip telephony. It isn't a gimmick anymore. Large companies are actually where it is most advantageous.

If you want to be set then focus on the call manager and messaging systems/unified communications. Good unity guys are very difficult to find. Heck, good networking guys are hard to find.

 

[alkemyst]

I am in FL, many businesses are moving to VoIP already.

There are jobs in all the major business cities.

 

[scott916]

Originally posted by: spidey07
Companies of all size are RAPIDLY moving to ip telephony. It isn't a gimmick anymore. Large companies are actually where it is most advantageous.

If you want to be set then focus on the call manager and messaging systems/unified communications. Good unity guys are very difficult to find. Heck, good networking guys are hard to find.

I just looked around at the UC wiki on wikipedia, and it seems that MS is a large player in the UC field, and that they've partnered with Novell and Dell. Should I work towards any MS certs as well?

 

[alkemyst]

MCSE is always good to have.

 

[scott916]

I'm assuming I should be looking to get the Windows 2003 MSCE, right?

 

[m1ldslide1]

FWIW, the CCNA has dramatically increased in difficulty over the last few years. You can read the exam topics at cisco.com.

Seventeen weeks of classes sounds about right for somebody with no networking experience. I would do it, and I would DEFINITELY take the classes in person so that you get to ask questions and practice using the gear. Otherwise you may end up studying your ass off and passing the exam, but you'll be nearly worthless when somebody hires you.

The CCNP exams are not passable by book reading alone, unless you are some kind of world-class studier and memorizer. They have also gotten much more difficult over the last couple of revisions, and the amount of stuff they want you to know, configure, and troubleshoot over 4 exams is staggering. I would worry about getting your CCNA and a steady job before you even start thinking about the CCNP.

As far as finding employment, it sounds like it depends on what part of the country you're looking for work in. I think that in most places you would get good entry-level consideration with a CCNA and an AS. We're probably talking cities here though - small and medium size towns just don't have a ton of demand for enterprise networkers typically. Those types of small businesses will hire a jack-of-all-trades type who will do microsoft, networking, etc and basically run the show. That said, if you wanted to be one of those guys, getting your MCSE in addition to a CCNA would be a great start.

It's true that you won't be doing design work or any super technical networking with a CCNA + no experience, but you wouldn't want to anyway - you're just plain not qualified when you have no practical experience in the field. There is no magic way around putting in your time and paying your dues in this field.

 

[ranmaniac]

I took the CCNA courses, both as a requirement for my AS degree, and to get hands-on experience with the routers/switches etc. It did help with some of the practical questions on the exam. I got my CCNA in 2000, just right before the dot-com crash, so it was pretty much worthless after I got it at the time.