The CCNA certification is the way to go for Cisco training. This will enable you to handle maintaining and installing routers. The internet is made up of many routers, and many large organisations that have several locations utilise them to keep their networks in touch.

You must have a good understanding of how computer networks operate and function, because computer networks are joined to routers. If not, the chances are you'll fall behind. You might find training that also includes basic networking skills (CompTIA Network+ as an example - maybe with the A+ as well) before getting going with CCNA. Some providers offer this as a career track.

Find a tailored route that will take you through a specific training path to make sure you have the correct skill set and knowledge prior to embarking on the Cisco skills.

People attracted to this sort of work often have a very practical outlook on work, and aren't really suited to the classroom environment, and slogging through piles of books. If you identify with this, try the newer style of interactive study, with on-screen demonstrations and labs. If we can utilise all of our senses into our learning, then we often see hugely increased memory retention as a result.

You can now study via interactive discs. Through instructor-led video classes you'll take everything in through the expert demonstrations. You can then test yourself by using practice-lab's. It would be silly not to view examples of the courseware provided before you hand over your cheque. What you want are instructor-led video demonstrations and a variety of audio-visual and interactive sections.

Some companies only have access to just online versions of their training packages; and while this is acceptable much of the time, think what will happen if internet access is lost or you get slow speeds and down-time etc. It is usually safer to have physical CD or DVD discs which will not have these problems.

A number of students assume that the school and FE college track is still the most effective. So why then are qualifications from the commercial sector beginning to overtake it? Industry is now aware that for mastery of skill sets for commercial use, proper accreditation supplied for example by Microsoft, CISCO, Adobe and CompTIA often is more effective in the commercial field - for much less time and money. Clearly, a reasonable degree of associated detail has to be taught, but core specialisation in the areas needed gives a commercially trained student a real head start.

When it comes down to the nitty-gritty: Commercial IT certifications tell an employer precisely what skills you have - everything they need to know is in the title: i.e. I am a 'Microsoft Certified Professional' in 'Managing and Maintaining Windows Server 2003'. Consequently an employer can identify just what their needs are and what certifications are required to fulfil that.

How the program is actually delivered to you is often missed by many students. How is the courseware broken down? What is the order and at what speed is it delivered? A release of your materials stage by stage, according to your exam schedule is the typical way that your program will arrive. While seeming sensible, you should take these factors into account: What would happen if you didn't finish everything at the speed they required? Sometimes their preference of study order doesn't come as naturally as an alternative path could be.

In all honesty, the best option is to have their ideal 'order' of training laid out, but make sure you have all of your learning modules right from the beginning. Meaning you've got it all in the event you don't complete everything quite as quick as they'd want.

A subtle way that colleges make a big mark-up is by adding exam fees upfront to the cost of a course then giving it 'Exam Guarantee' status. It looks like a good deal, but is it really:

They've allowed costings for it one way or another. You can be assured it's not a freebie - they've just worked it into the package price. Should you seriously need to pass in one, evidence suggests you must avoid exam guarantees and pay when entering exams, prioritise it appropriately and give the task sufficient application.

Sit the exam as locally as possible and go for the best offer you can find when you're ready. A surprising number of unscrupulous training colleges make big margins through getting paid for all the exam fees up-front and banking on the fact that many won't be taken. Also, many exam guarantees are worthless. Many training companies won't be prepared to pay for re-takes until you've completely satisfied them that you're ready this time.

Average exam fees were 112 pounds or thereabouts in the last 12 months through local VUE or Pro-metric centres throughout the country. So what's the point of paying maybe a thousand pounds extra to have 'Exam Guarantees', when any student knows that what's really needed is study, commitment and preparing with good quality mock and practice exams.

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