CISCO qualfication

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confuciousnz

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Topic # 17354 22-Nov-2007 18:59

My school offers some sort of a Cisco course in computer networking, and I have no idea what it's about. I'm still trying to get a framework of what my future years of college will be like, as in what subjects I'm taking, and it seems like I'll be bored in the year I can choose this Cisco course.

Snippet pulled off some website, courtesy of teh Googlez:

" Avondale College is also able to reduce ICT maintenance costs through a spin-off benefit from the Cisco Networking Academy Programme it runs for year 12 and year 13 students. Students can leave school with a CCNA qualification and some are invited back to further their experience by helping as technicians for the school network – usually for three or four years. "
(Sorry, can't find a quote coding thingy)

It's a two year course, and either the previous years' students have been real geniuses, or the teacher in charge is really good, because I think, off the top of my head, my school's pwned ( owned/beaten/whooped/shamed/embarassed ) at this prestigious annual contest run by Cisco, winning for the last two years in a row, and embarrassing scores of University students taking the same course, in the process.

Anyone know much about this qualification and what I can do with it? And is there any "small-print" I should be aware of? Also, since this takes a slot in my timetable, it offers 20+ credits "by inclusion", whatever that means. Please enlighten me, o ye wise people.

JAMMAN2110

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Reply # 96450 22-Nov-2007 19:38

Is it free?

maninimepo

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Reply # 96468 22-Nov-2007 20:51

I did my CCNA at college in the UK, and IT Essentials at school.

They were both pretty good courses, but some aspects could do with updating (studying legacy protocols is a complete waste of time and saps enthusiasm out of you).

There are quite a few different ways of teaching it, but I enjoyed the balance of practical and theory work in both courses.

To do them privately costs a lot of money, so I'm really glad to have had the chance to do them for free.

The Cisco courses are pretty well respected in the industry, and are frankly expected in most networking roles.

I'm hoping to get the next qualification (I think it's the CCNP) at uni.

One thing to note is that quite often (in the UK at least) the Cisco courses are sold as being quite practical, which attracts a certain kind of person who thinks it's going to be easy. There is a lot of theory work involved, and a fair bit of number crunching in some chapters so don't think of it as a 'soft subject' at all. It isn't.

If you need any more questions on the course - subjects covered etc don't hesitate to PM or email me.

maninimepo

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Reply # 96469 22-Nov-2007 20:54

confuciousnz: It's a two year course, and either the previous years' students have been real geniuses, or the teacher in charge is really good, because I think, off the top of my head, my school's pwned ( owned/beaten/whooped/shamed/embarassed ) at this prestigious annual contest run by Cisco, winning for the last two years in a row, and embarrassing scores of University students taking the same course, in the process.

I would take that with a pinch of salt if I were you.

Yes it could be that the school is well run, and has good students, but it's a sad fact that it's very easy to cheat on the Cisco courses.

Fraktul

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Reply # 96472 22-Nov-2007 21:36

maninimepo: I did my CCNA at college in the UK, and IT Essentials at school.

They were both pretty good courses, but some aspects could do with updating (studying legacy protocols is a complete waste of time and saps enthusiasm out of you).

Cisco have recently updated many of their qualifications including CCNA.

maninimepo:

To do them privately costs a lot of money, so I'm really glad to have had the chance to do them for free.

Actually no it does not. Buy the books, study, use the test exams, study some more, take exams. Total cost sub $500.

If you want tuition thats a different story.

maninimepo

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Reply # 96476 22-Nov-2007 22:03

Fraktul:
maninimepo: I did my CCNA at college in the UK, and IT Essentials at school.

They were both pretty good courses, but some aspects could do with updating (studying legacy protocols is a complete waste of time and saps enthusiasm out of you).

Cisco have recently updated many of their qualifications including CCNA.

I assume you are talking about the recent introduction of the CCENT?

That was more of a juggling of the order subjects are taught in though wasn't it? Bringing some of the CCNP subjects into the CCNA so that people who have done the CCNA but choose not to go onto the CCNP still have the knowledge they need in the workplace.

I hope they have taken out all the old stuff though, it would make the course much better.

Fraktul:

maninimepo:

To do them privately costs a lot of money, so I'm really glad to have had the chance to do them for free.

Actually no it does not. Buy the books, study, use the test exams, study some more, take exams. Total cost sub $500.

If you want tuition thats a different story.

Not sure if you read the OP (or mine) properly, but if you had you would see we are talking about tuition - which is very expensive.

confuciousnz

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Reply # 96478 22-Nov-2007 22:08

Yeah, it's a practical, hands-on course from what I've seen and heard. And all entirely free, with maybe a tiny sub-$10 printing/material fee associated with most courses.

Fraktul

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Reply # 96495 23-Nov-2007 02:41

maninimepo:
Fraktul:
maninimepo:
To do them privately costs a lot of money, so I'm really glad to have had the chance to do them for free.

Actually no it does not. Buy the books, study, use the test exams, study some more, take exams. Total cost sub $500.

If you want tuition thats a different story.

Not sure if you read the OP (or mine) properly, but if you had you would see we are talking about tuition - which is very expensive.

Indeed - probably why I qualified my statement

geekiegeek

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Reply # 96526 23-Nov-2007 09:15

I passed CCNA 2 years ago using self study materials. It is a fairly hard exam - especially compared to the MCSE (Microsoft) exams. If you can do this free with tuition you should take the opertunity. As said earliar in the thread, Cisco is a fairly highly respected qualification in the industry - although with no practical experince, dont expect to go straight into a high paid networking role at the get go.

Just started my CCNP a few weeks a go, sitting the first of 4 exams on the 19/12 - wish me luck!

Also have -
MCSE (2000/2003), MCSA (2000/2003), CCNA, Security+, Network+, CCA. (yes I have done many many IT exams - I have no life!)

When you live your life on Twitter and Facebook, and are only friends with like minded people on Twitter and Facebook, you are not living in the real world. You are living in a narcissistic echo chamber.

My thoughts are my own and are in no way representative of my employer.

confuciousnz

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Reply # 96529 23-Nov-2007 09:45

Woah, Anthonie Dixon? XD

How long does the qualification last for? I heard it isn't like a degree, but more of a 2-year thing.

geekiegeek

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Reply # 96533 23-Nov-2007 10:07

CCNA is 3 years after which you either re-sit one of the exams (cant remember which one) or sit a CCNP exam.

CCNP is the same basically except you need to pass the CCIE written exam or re-sit, I think 2 CCNP exams.

My thoughts are my own and are in no way representative of my employer.

Wob

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Reply # 96534 23-Nov-2007 10:17

confuciousnz: How long does the qualification last for? I heard it isn't like a degree, but more of a 2-year thing.

Check out http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/le3/learning_certification_overview.html

I went through quite a few Cisco courses in the UK, and was all geared up to do CCNA WAN Switching (heavily into ATM at the time), but never finished it off - D-oh!!

geekiegeek: Cisco is a fairly highly respected qualification in the industry - although with no practical experince, dont expect to go straight into a high paid networking role at the get go.

I agree, I've employed quite a few engineers and project managers, some with CCNA and CCNP, but it was the guys with the on-the-job experience that usually got the contracts.

Be aware of this being a very Cisco focused course of study. While it shares much with other vendors protocol wise (Juniper for instance), it can get alittle bogged down in the "Cisco view of the world" approach.

I hope they've updated things and ditched the appletalk, Novell and token ring stuff - there we go, showing my age again

Now based in Perth WA.

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Any comments or posts are not necessarily the opinion of my employer - who are bloody marvelous by the way.

Fraktul

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Reply # 96541 23-Nov-2007 10:59

I agree about the on the job experience - we have had staff with CCNPs who have obviously brain dumped the exam as they have been useless when actually on the job.

maninimepo

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Reply # 96548 23-Nov-2007 12:29

Wob: I hope they've updated things and ditched the appletalk, Novell and token ring stuff - there we go, showing my age again

I finished mine a few months ago. It is till in the online course materials, but not in the exams - we were told by our lecturer to just skip the old stuff in the materials.