How to become a Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)

As a professional certifications add value to your CV from the point of view of potential employers. Not only do they demonstrate that you have a certain level of knowledge in a given area but they also demonstrate that you can apply yourself to a project or task and are able to see it through to a successful completion. This article explains how to go about becoming a Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA).

To become a CCNA you will need to pass either:

Exam - 640-821 INTRO and Exam - 640-811 ICND or Exam - 640-801 CCNA (a composite of the above two exams).

In order to sit the exams you will need to register with an authorised test centre and a fee is involved (currently around ?84 plus VAT). You can do this at Pearson VUE or Thomson Prometric. You should be able to find a location and date that suits you. (If you are attending the below courses your training provider should help you with this.)

In order to gain the necessary knowledge to pass these exams Cisco recommends the following courses:

INTRO - Introduction to Cisco Networking Technologies (http://www.inventioconsulting.co.uk/intro.htm) ICND - Interconnecting Cisco Network Devices (http://www.inventioconsulting.co.uk/icnd.htm)

Self study is also an option and is cheaper than sitting the courses. Self study guides can be bought at online bookstores such as Amazon.co.uk

Either way whether you are attending courses or doing the self study it is advisable to spend time reading up from your course notes or books and doing some of the practice exams which can be found at various websites to build your knowledge and gain confidence before sitting the exams.

About the Author: David Carrier founded Inventio Consulting (http://www.inventioconsulting.co.uk) in 2003 and has over 10 years experience in the IT training and education industry.

MCSE Certification Preparation

MCSE certification is considered as one of the most prestigious certificates in the IT sector. The MCSE exam is tough. The person who is taking this test is already an IT professional because it is mandatory for a candidate to have at least one year of experience prior to enrollment.

The study material for MCSE on Microsoft Windows 2000 and MCSE on Windows Server 2003 is different. The former has papers that include 70-210 Windows 2000 Professional Exam, 70-215-Windows 2000 Server Exam, 70-216 Network Administration Exam, 70-219-Active Directory Design and Elective Exams containing Security Design, 70-220, Exchange 2000 Server, 70-224.

The latter includes exam 70-290, which contains questions about managing and maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003. Environment Exam 70-291 is implementing, managing, and maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure. Exam 70-294 tests planning, implementing, and maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 active directory infrastructure.

A total of 32 course units are to be passed in order to complete the course. Preparation kits and mock exams are available on-line. Classes and tutorials are available. The price for these courses range from $ 2000 to $4000, depending on the institute.

The subjects for MCSE exams are managing and maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment implementing, managing, and maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure, planning, implementing, and maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 active directory infrastructure. Creating and managing user, group, and computer accounts, managing file and sharing permissions controlling web server access and manage sites with internet information Services, managing hardware devices, disk storage, software, and print services and implementing backup procedures and perform system recovery, installing and configuring TCP/IP, using DHCP to manage IP addressing, configuring and managing DNS clients, servers and zones, managing routing and remote access, including VPNs, implementing and administering security procedures monitoring traffic.

MCSE Certification provides detailed information on MCSE Certification, MCSE Certification Training, Online MCSE Certification, MCSE Certification Exam and more. MCSE Certification is affiliated with MCSE Term Papers.

MCSA Certifications And What You Should Know About It

Are you looking for a professional course that can turn around your lifestyle, a course that can increase your salary and give you an industrial recognition? Have you heard of anything by the name of MCSA certification? If yes, then you are on the right track folks. Yes MCSA certification course offers an individual all this and much more.

Being a part of MCP (Microsoft Certified Professional) program, MCSA is one of those prestigious professional certifications that are recognized in the IT world and are constantly in demand. The value that MCSA certification holds is because of the company with which it is linked (that is Microsoft) and the overwhelming market presence of the technologies of this company. MCSA certification certifies that the individual is capable to handle the system administration part of Microsofts Windows operating system and its networking environment. One can say that MCSA is a simpler version of MCSE course. MCSE certifies that the holder knows how to plan, design, manage, implement and troubleshoot windows operating system while MCSA certifies an individuals capability only in implementing, managing and troubleshooting Windows operating system.

Like MCSE, MCSA certification is also available on both 2000 and 2003 versions of Microsofts Windows operating system. Both require some exams to be cleared for the certification. For example to get certified in MCSA 2003, one has to clear three core exams (two based on network concepts and one on client operating system) and one elective exam.

Since these exams are quite tough to clear, a candidate must take a step-by-step approach towards these examinations. The aspirant can go for training courses. Firstly, before a candidate enrolls in a MCSA training course, he/she should have some practical knowledge in these technologies so that he/she gains already has some experience in dealing with them. Also, this ensures that he/she is making the right choice of the course. Secondly, after he/she becomes quite sure off his/her choice, he/she can start searching for a good training course in MCSA certification.

There are a number of ways by which the candidate can receive training in MCSA certification course. The candidate can make use of on line MCSA training course or traditional classroom style training. These training institutes of online courses, makes an effort to clear both theoretical as well as practical concepts related to these technologies. They also conduct practice exams that are similar to actual exams and which are designed to familiarize the candidate with the actual exam paper setup. These exams gives the candidate a chance to evaluate whether he/she is fully prepared for the actual exam or not. Once the candidate is fully assured of all whatever he/she has learned and also that he/he will be able to reproduce it in the examination, he/she can go for the actual MCSA certification examination.

Sandra Stammberger owns and operates http://www.mcsastudyguide.com