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.

Online MCSE Training Courses

Because of the prevalence of the Microsoft Windows operating system, a Microsoft certification has become a prerequisite to employment or career advancement in many fields. Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) is the most widely recognized professional certification in the Information Technology field. It enables IT professionals to analyze business requirements, and design, build, and implement the infrastructure for business solutions based on the Microsoft Windows platform and server software.

Acquiring an MCSE certification requires candidates to pass a handful of tests dealing with server operating systems, network security, and computer network infrastructure engineering. MCSE is available for two different products ? Windows 2000 and Windows Server 2003, each having a different set of exams. For Windows 2000, the requirements are one core exam and two elective exams, while for Windows 2003, one of each. Each test costs around $125, takes two or three hours to complete, and consists of fifty to ninety questions.

In order to fine tune your job skills and prepare you for the MCSE exams, you may take online MCSE training courses that are easy and convenient to use. These courses include Exchange 2000 Administration, Microsoft Applications and Architectures, MS Exchange Server, SQL Server, Visual Web Applications, Windows 2000 and NT Server, and many more. These courses will educate you on planning, installation, configuration, and implementation of the Windows Server, managing and monitoring the system, and troubleshooting techniques.

There are proven-effective methods of training available over the Internet twenty-four hours a day, everyday. They include multimedia CD-ROM, expert video instructions, hands-on lab simulations, online instructor support, and testing modules. These methods will guide you with a step-by-step procedure presented in full motion video and audio to allow you to see the steps, hear the instructions, and perform the tasks. There is also an MCSE training package worth approximately $250 that includes more than 260 courses for over 1,000 hours of training, and a twelve-month access to the online MCSE library.

With these MCSE training courses online, you?ll be able to tailor and schedule your education to suit your needs and bring advancement to your career. Make sure to enroll in reputable training providers to give you top-quality training and real-world applicability.

Online Training provides detailed information on Online Training, Online Computer Training, Online MCSE Training Courses, Online Fitness Training and more. Online Training is affiliated with Free Online Courses

MCSE v/s MCSA

Certifications, offered by various vendors are a good way for IT professionals to seek validation for their skills. In today's arena, there are lots of vendors offering specialization in particular domains. Professionals often get confused about which certification to go for as some of them have as little as hair thin difference between them. It is best to first identify your job role, the knowledge and skills required and accordingly select to take a particular certification to ensure career success.

Let us in this article try and get some clarity between two major certifications of Microsoft i.e. MCSE and MCSA which are often confused upon.

Why MCSE?

For a MCSE (http://www.whizlabs.com/mcse-exam/mcse-exam.html) candidate, it is preferable that he should have at least two years of experience in implementing and administering desktop and network operating systems, and designing a network infrastructure in the typically complex computing environment of medium-to-large organizations. The candidate should also have at least one year of experience administering Exchange Server environments involving multiple physical locations, mixed connection protocols, and Internet messaging.

MCSE has two tracks Microsoft Windows 2000 and Microsoft Windows 2003. The 2003 track requires 6 Core Exams, 1 Elective Exam and 2 Upgrade Exams to be cleared.

Core Exam include:

Group I: 70-290, 70-291, 70-293;

Group II: 70-270, 70-210; Group III: 70-297, 70-298.

Elective Exams include:

70-086, 70-227, 70-228, 70-229, 70-232, 70-281, 70-282, 70-284, 70-285, 70-297, 70-298, 70-299, and 70-301.

Upgrade Exams include

70-292 or 70-296.

Either CompTIA Security+ or Unisys UNO-101 can be substituted in place of the elective exams.

Why MCSA?

The need for qualified system administrators is very real in today's business market and the excitement for MCSA (http://www.whizlabs.com/mcsa/mcsa.html) is growing daily. A candidate for MCSA should have at least one year of experience working with a desktop operating system, a network operating system, and an existing network infrastructure. As soon as candidates pass their first qualifying exam for the MCSA program, they achieve a Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) certification.

MCSA also has two tracks Microsoft Windows 2000 track and Microsoft Windows 2003 track. MCSA 2003 requires 3 Core Exams, 1 Elective exam and 1 Upgrade exam to be cleared.

Core Exams include:

Group I: 70-290, 70-291

Group II: 70-270, 70-210

Elective Exams include

70-086, 70-227, 70-228, 70-284, and 70-299

Upgrade Exams include

70-292

What's the difference between MCSE & MCSA?

Let us look at a few major differences between the two certifications which will help you get a clearer idea about them:

MCSA (http://www.whizlabs.com/mcsa/mcsa.html) when compared to MCSE (http://www.whizlabs.com/mcse-exam/mcse-exam.html) is a basic level certification. As an MCSA you must know every thing about implementing, managing, and troubleshooting the existing network and system environments based on the Microsoft Windows Operating Systems. However, you will not be responsible to set up new networks and systems as a part of your job function. But as a MCSE knowledge about designing and deploying new networks and systems is necessary.

Being an MCSA professional means that you will be able to implement, manage, and maintain the typically complex computing environment of medium-to large-sized companies. On the other hand, being an MCSE professional you will be able to plan, design, and implement Microsoft Windows server solutions and architectures in medium-to large-sized companies.

The experience that is required for both these certifications is also different. MCSA requires 6-12 months of experience of administering client and network operating systems while MCSE requires at least one year of experience in implementing and administering network operating systems and desktop operating systems.

Jobs for an MCSA include systems administrator, network administrator, information systems administrator, network operations analyst, network technician, or technical support specialist. For an MCSE jobs include systems engineer, network engineer, systems analyst, network analyst, or technical consultant.

MCSA provides you with a credential that represents a set of skills which will be advantageous if you plan to pursue MCSE Certification. Therefore, earning an MCSA will qualify you with the option to use these credentials and acquire MCSE through Upgrade path to MCSE.

If you look carefully, both these exams although similar to each other specialize in different domains. A clear understanding of both the certifications is necessary before you decide which one to opt for. So make the right choice and get going!!

Whizlabs (www.whizlabs.com), an ISO Certified company, is a leading provider of IT skill assessment and certification exam preparation tools. Whizlabs' suite of offerings include "IT Certification Exam simulators and Instructor-led, Online Trainings" for various exams by Sun, IBM, Oracle, Microsoft, BEA, Cisco, and other leading IT vendors and "IT skill Assessment Management Solution" for Corporations, Training Institutes

Explore MCSE Boot Camp Options for Microsoft Certification

An exclusive Microsoft certification and a broad professional certification program are usually referred to as Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) programs. Candidates must fulfill any one of the exams within the criteria to be a successful MCP.

The MCP program affords numerous certifications. This is usually based on select areas of technical proficiency. To achieve the certifications, the candidate must pass a series of examinations within the criteria. Popular certifications are the MCP, Microsoft Certified System Engineer or MCSE as well as the Microsoft Certified Database Administrator or MCDBA.

Several employers normally prefer--if not demand--particular MCP certifications for specialized positions. The MCP curriculum orbits around Microsoft's functioning systems. Other sellers have their very own certification programs that are nearly similar to the MCSE certification training.

Each examination usually costs at least $125. Examinations normally take on average two or three hours to complete. They normally consist of anywhere around 50-90 multiple choice and solution-building questions on a computer. Microsoft has recently announced a return to the simulated content within examinations, as students are required to perform certain familiar administrative tasks that are suitable for the topic.

The most popular Microsoft certification is the MCSE certification. The MCSE certification qualifies a candidate of being eligible to analyze the business requirements for solutions and design of a business, as well as implement the infrastructure that is required. Beginning in 2006, the MCSE certification training will prepare test-takers for two different products: Windows 2000 and Windows Server 2003. Each will require a different set of examinations.

The candidate is expected to pass six core examinations and one additional elective examination for the 2003 MCSE certification. With the 2000 MCSE certification, the ideal candidate will pass five core examinations and two electives. The topic of the MCSE certification examinations consist of Network Security, Computer Network Infrastructure, Microsoft Exchange, Active Directory, Microsoft SQL Server as well as other various topics of specific Microsoft products and general networking interest.

MCSE certification boot camps usually manage a residential program that supplies lodging and food. Designed for the busy professional, the MCSE certification boot camp is for the assertive individual who rarely has ample time for training by professional trainers through MCSE certification training or even self-preparation. MCSE certification training experts and former candidates recommend spending a good amount of time practicing the fundamentals on computers in a test environment. After practicing and reading, as well as fulfilling MCSE certification boot camp, it's recommended to take a few sample examinations prior to taking the Microsoft examination. MCSE certification boot camp information be can found on-line at http://www.unitek.com/training/mcse_bootcamp.php.

Shannon Margolis
IT Marketing Coordinator
www.unitek.com