A Quick Look At CCNA Certification
A person who is interested in completing a Cisco Certified Network Associate Program (CCNA certification) will want to take the proper steps to be sure they will be in the best position to secure employment after taking the examination and receiving certification. The program is offered by major colleges, universities and accredited education providers which may have specific pre-requisites to entry into a program.
A person who participates in the program will gain the knowledge and skills necessary to install, operate and troubleshoot a small to medium Enterprise network. In addition, the individual will gain skills in configuring several switches and routers, connecting to a WAN and implanting network security.
The program focuses on Cisco router configuration procedures and, upon completion of the program the student will be able to switch LAN emulation networks made up of Cisco equipment. There are many resources available for a person wishing to get more information about the programs available and certification process. It will be important that you take the proper steps to prepare for working after your have completed the program.
The program can take up to six months to complete, but many of the programs are self-paced and completion can be achieved in a shorter period of time. This makes it very convenient for individuals who are employed full-time and completing the program to move to higher levels in their organization.
The pay scale for a person completing the program is $44,000 – $90,000 annually. The salary will be dependent on many variables such as location of the position, experience in the field, and longevity with the company you work for. It is important to have a minimum of three years IT experience before beginning the program. If you are not currently employed in the IT field, it will be important that you gain work experience that is relevant to the industry that you want to work in.
In most cases, an individual who pursues completion of the program is already working for a company that either has a network system or is planning on expanding their system. Completion of the program gives an individual the ability to advance in their career more easily. When a person has the appropriate work experience and completes the program, the opportunities for making more money in their IT career will be greatly enhanced.
Most employers look for individuals who have a thorough background and experience in IT and the industry they are applying with in addition to completion of the program. In many cases, people who are most successful in taking advantages of opportunities that are available through certification are already working for a company when they begin the program.
Talking to individuals who have completed the program and developing a network of other professionals will be very helping when you are ready to use the CCNA certification to advance in your career. By having a strategy in place that includes securing an internship with a company following completion of the program, you will have more opportunities get the hands-on experience required to command the salary that you want.