CCNA, Network+ , Security+ , Telecomms Qualifications

rooban

Hello People,

I'm quite Interested in hearing some forummers opinions on CCNA, Network+ , Security+ , Telecomms Qualifications. At the moment I work in a IT/Telecomm Technical support Environment and I am quite interested in enhancing my skills via some vocational qualifications. I am highly interested in CCNA after reading some posts here and doing some researching but i have some queries.

I hear that CCNA Expires after 3 years. What should i do? Should I retake the exams, renew my memberships?. Also Network+ seems an easier version and doesn't seem to expire. Is it worth an alternative? I think it costs about £175 as opposed to CCNA's £80 + VAT price for exam. Any Forummers here has Network+ qualification and is it worth it?

Security+ - I have done network security modules during my degree course and the components of Security+ course offered by CompTIA seem quite interesting. I do like to get in to the network security market if possible but will a certification would be sufficient? Any forummers have this certification or opinions?

Finally are there any vocational Telecomms qualifications out there? Many thanks in advance for your time and comments.

John7619

Hi Rooban

What about Cisco Security?

http://www.cramsession.com/certifications/cisco/ccsp.asp

The CCNA does expire after three years, has all do all Cisco certs.

COMPTIA exams are for life.

Seeing you already work in IT, don't bother with Network +

Security+. I am scheduled to take this cert on Oct 2nd (£205 gulp!!). It is good in the fact it is vendor neutral, and again is a good stepping stone towards SSCP, CISSP. And it isn't a pure technical exam.

Telecomms Qualifications. Check out https://www.hotcourses.com ; you may find what you are looking for.

ineztamara

HBC Academy

HBC Academy are a Cisco Regional Networking Academy, a non-profit organisation who are dedicated to educating people of all ages and from all walks of life in various IT areas. They are also partnered with OCR and several other training organisations and IT companies throughout the UK. And are currently operating in the UK and parts of Africa.
They also have a prometric test centre, so you won't have to go elsewhere to take any exams after having done some training.

They'll be starting a popular Microsoft course in Feb, MCDST.
They also do webhosting, webbuilding (+ courses for it), security cameras & remote control, etc. etc.

They also have several projects where they get government funding, to train single parents, to empower SME (up to 249 staff), etc.

Just give them a call to get some info.
They're worth checking out!

Little_John

I have found that the qualifications are only of any use if you intend finding a new job and they look fantastic on your CV if they are in the correct field. The company I worked for put me through a few mcp courses but never actually gave me the opertunity to but them to use as the more senoir engineers were given the servers to install and configure I was always left to run cables and install the workstations.

I was sent on phone system courses Alchemy, Alcatel and Panasonic, but as we were primarily an IT company we never got to use our new skills again the senior engineer got to do the config on the few systems we installed I just went along to put phones on the desk and terminate the points. I only really got to play witht he systems when customers wanted changes or additions. The best bit was the pay rise I got as I had a new skills.

It is great to learn new skills but you need to use them regularly to benefit from them, if your place of work isnt interested in butting your skills to good use then you may aswell not have them. Read books play with the systems and teach yourself see how ffar you get if it is somthing the company is interested in then let them know they may actually pay for you to sit a course or 2 and the exams. The downside is that some companies have terms in contracts that should you leave within a period after qualifying you must reimburse the company all their costs of the courses/exams.