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The CCNA certification is the way to go for training in Cisco. This allows you to work on the maintenance and installation of routers and network switches. Basically, the internet comprises of vast numbers of routers, and many large organisations that have various regional departments rely on them to keep their networks in touch.

You may find yourself employed by an internet service provider or a big organisation which is spread out over several locations but needs computer networks that talk to each other. This specialised skill set is highly paid.

If routers are a new thing for you, then working up to and including the CCNA is definitely sufficient – avoid being talked into doing a CCNP. After gaining experience in the working environment, you will know if it’s appropriate for you to go to the level of CCNP.

A key training course package should also offer accredited exam simulation and preparation packages.

Make sure that your practice exams are not only asking questions on the right subjects, but are also posing them in the way that the actual final exam will formulate them. This can really throw some people if they’re faced with unrecognisable phrases and formats.

‘Mock’ or practice exams can be very useful in helping you build your confidence – so when it comes to taking the real deal, you don’t get uptight.

Traditional teaching in classrooms, using textbooks and whiteboards, can be pretty hard going sometimes. If you’re nodding as you read this, find training programs which have a majority of interactive, multimedia parts.

Years of research and study has constantly shown that getting into our studies physically, will more likely produce memories that are deeper and longer-lasting.

Start a study-program in which you’ll get a host of CD and DVD based materials – you’ll begin by watching videos of instructors demonstrating the skills, and then have the opportunity to use virtual lab’s to practice your new skills.

It would be silly not to view a small selection of training examples before you hand over your cheque. The minimum you should expect would be instructor demonstrations, video tutorials and interactive audio-visual sections with practice modules.

You’ll find that many companies will only provide training that is purely available online; and while this is acceptable much of the time, consider how you’ll deal with it when you don’t have access to the internet or you get a slow connection speed. It’s much safer to rely on actual CD or DVD ROMs that will not have these problems.

Speak with a knowledgeable advisor and you’ll be surprised by their many horror stories of students who’ve been conned by dodgy salespeople. Only deal with a skilled professional that asks some in-depth questions to uncover the best thing for you – not for their pay-packet! Dig until you find the right starting point of study for you.

If you’ve got a strong background, or sometimes a little commercial experience (maybe some existing accreditation?) then it’s likely your starting point will be quite dissimilar from someone who is just starting out.

If this is going to be your initial effort at studying for an IT examination then you should consider whether to practice with some basic Microsoft package and Windows skills first.

At the top of your shopping list for a training program should be full 24×7 support through expert mentors and instructors. It’s an all too common story to find providers that only provide office hours (or extended office hours) support.

Don’t buy training courses that only support trainees with an out-sourced call-centre message system when it’s outside of usual working hours. Companies will try to talk you round from this line of reasoning. But, no matter how they put it – you want support at the appropriate time – not as-and-when it’s suitable for their staff.

It’s possible to find professional training packages who give students online support all the time – including evenings, nights and weekends.

If you fail to get yourself 24×7 support, you’ll regret it very quickly. It may be that you don’t use it during late nights, but you may need weekends, early mornings or late evenings.

Copyright 2009 Scott Edwards. Hop over to CCNA Certification or www.ciscoccna4.co.uk.

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