CCNA Qualification

27061986a

Hi I wanted to know what are the differences between doing a CCNA certification course and doing just say a 3 or 4 year degree course in Networking or IT?

For example Griffith College do a 1 year part time course that leads to CCNA certification while DIT do a full time 3 year degree course in Networking but still leads to CCNA status. What are thee differences?
Also would somebody get a job alone with just CCNA certification having studies it on a part time basis with no formal qualifications?

L1011

The DIT one covers multiple other topics and gives you a degree. The CCNA is not complicated enough to require that long - prep courses are FETAC level 6 or even 5.

Cert and no experience is almost worthless

Musicman2000

27061986a wrote: »

Hi I wanted to know what are the differences between doing a CCNA certification course and doing just say a 3 or 4 year degree course in Networking or IT?

For example Griffith College do a 1 year part time course that leads to CCNA certification while DIT do a full time 3 year degree course in Networking but still leads to CCNA status. What are thee differences?
Also would somebody get a job alone with just CCNA certification having studies it on a part time basis with no formal qualifications?

I would personally stay away from the degrees , especially for the admin and maintenance side of things. Go for the industry certs and get as many as you can but as mentioned above these are no good without experience .

You should try and get into a level 1 Helpdesk position and go form there .

Cuddlesworth

Musicman2000 wrote: »

I would personally stay away from the degrees , especially for the admin and maintenance side of things. Go for the industry certs and get as many as you can but as mentioned above these are no good without experience .

You should try and get into a level 1 Helpdesk position and go form there .

Until you hit the glass ceiling.

Is this the course?

Year One
Applied Data Networking
Computer Hardware & Security
Digital Age Technology
Electronics
Information Literacy Project
Network Fundamentals (CCNA-1)
Physical Computing
Routing & Switching Essentials (CCNA-2)
Web Development

Year Two
Business Management
Fund. Wireless Tech. (CCNA-W)
Scaling Networks (CCNA-3)
Microcontrollers & Electronics
Operating Systems
Problem Solving with C
Server-side Web Development
Connecting Networks (CCNA-4)

Year Three
Financial Management
Fund. of Network Security (CCNA-S)
Network Management
Networked Embedded Systems
Programming for Networked Systems
Team Assignment Project
Project Management
Work Placement

Looks decent, covers some aspects of networking that others in jobs tend to leave by the wayside(security, wireless, financials, programming).

The Cisco or other vendor programs focus on networking theory and practical commands(vendor specific). In reality a networking job involves a little bit of networking and a lot of project management/paperwork. So a degree would serve you better long term I think. Otherwise you end up like me, having to juggle vendor certs/ self learning programming and considering a degree course at the same time in the evenings and weekends.

27061986a

Thanks for the information. Some people maintain that certification is better than degree and vice versa. Also would a general computer science degree be better than specialising just say in networking or what is the difference between the two?

L1011

Computer science degrees are maths and programming over all other topics

PeterTheNinth

Why not just do the first one, the ICND1. Get the book and study it for a couple of months. Dont give yourself the chance to talk yourself out of it. The CCNA is the most worthwhile of the exams that I've sat, from a knowledge point of view, so it's not something that will be wasted money.

And you get a lovely little piece of cardboard in the post with a big CISCO written on it, that was the best thing for me. :pac:

line console zero

L1011 wrote: »

Computer science degrees are maths and programming over all other topics

All you need is a solid understanding of basic maths and strong logical and troubleshooting skills.

L1011

line console zero wrote: »

All you need is a solid understanding of basic maths and strong logical and troubleshooting skills.

The maths, and proof of knowing it via a degree, are sod all use if what you want to do is a sysops / IT management style job.

This degree is designed for that; computer science degrees absolutely aren't.

horgan_p

PeterTheNinth wrote: »

And you get a lovely little piece of cardboard in the post with a big CISCO written on it, that was the best thing for me. :pac:

I find the plastic wallet card the absolute best for picking up chicks :pac::pac: