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The Cisco training is fundamentally for those who wish to work with routers. Routers connect computer networks via dedicated lines or the internet. We’d recommend that your first course should be the CCNA. Steer clear of going immediately onto your CCNP because it is very complex – and you really need experience to take on this level.

Gaining this type of qualification will mean it’s likely you’ll end up working for national or international companies that have several different sites, but who still want secure internal data communication. On the other hand, you might end up joining internet service providers. This specialised skill set is highly paid.

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.

Typically, a new trainee will not know to ask about something that can make a profound difference to their results – how their company divides up the training materials, and into what particular chunks.

Drop-shipping your training elements piece by piece, as you complete each module is the normal way of receiving your courseware. This sounds sensible, but you must understand the following:

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.

Qualifying on the first ‘go’ is what everyone wants to do. Going for exams one at a time and funding them as you go puts you in a much stronger position to qualify at the first attempt – you put the effort in and are mindful of the investment you’ve made.

Shouldn’t you be looking to not pay up-front, but when you’re ready, instead of paying a premium to the training college, and to do it locally – instead of the remote centre that’s convenient only to the trainer?

A lot of unscrupulous training companies secure big margins because they’re getting paid for examinations upfront then banking on the fact that many won’t be taken.

The majority of companies will insist on pre-tests and prohibit you from re-taking an exam until you’ve completely proven that you’re likely to pass – so an ‘Exam Guarantee’ comes with many clauses in reality.

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.

All programs you’re considering should always lead to a properly recognised certification at the end – and not a worthless ‘in-house’ plaque for your wall.

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.

Computer technology and connections via the internet will spectacularly affect the direction of our lives over future years; overwhelmingly so.

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.

Due to the technological sector increasing nationally and internationally, one can predict that the requirement for professionally qualified and skilled IT workers will remain buoyant for quite some time to come.

(C) Jason Kendall. Check out LearningLolly.com for quality information on Cisco Certification Course and Cisco Courses.