Should you be interested in Cisco training, then a CCNA is most probably what you’re looking for. Cisco training is the way to go for those who wish to get to grips with network switches and routers. Routers are what connect networks of computers to different computer networks over dedicated lines or the internet.

It’s vital that you already know a good deal about computer networks and how they operate and function, because computer networks are joined to routers. If not, it’s likely you’ll run into difficulties. Better to find training that also includes the basics (CompTIA Network+ as an example – maybe with the A+ as well) and then do a CCNA course. Some companies will design a bespoke package for you.

Achieving CCNA is where you should be aiming; don’t let some salesperson talk you into starting with the CCNP. Once you’ve worked for a few years, you can decide whether you need to train up to this level. Should that be the case, your experience will serve as the background you need for the CCNP – which is quite a hard qualification to acquire – and shouldn’t be looked upon as otherwise.

A knowledgeable and specialised consultant (in direct contrast to a salesman) will cover in some detail your current level of ability and experience. This is useful for working out your starting level of study. If you’ve got a strong background, or sometimes a little commercial experience (maybe some existing accreditation?) then it could be that your starting level will be very different from someone who is just starting out. For those students starting IT studies and exams for the first time, you might like to avoid jumping in at the deep-end, starting with some basic Microsoft package and Windows skills first. Usually this is packaged with most types of training.

Please understand this most important point: You absolutely must have proper 24×7 instructor and mentor support. Later, you’ll kick yourself if you don’t follow this rule rigidly. Beware of institutions that use ‘out-of-hours’ messaging systems – where you’ll get called back during office hours. It’s not a lot of help when you’ve got study issues and want support there and then.

We recommend looking for training schools that have multiple support offices from around the world. Every one of them needs to be seamlessly combined to give a single entry point as well as access round-the-clock, when you need it, with the minimum of hassle. If you opt for less than direct-access round-the-clock support, you’ll very quickly realise that you’ve made a mistake. You might not want to use the service late in the night, but you’re bound to use weekends, evenings and early mornings at some point.

Many people don’t really get what information technology means. It’s stimulating, innovative, and means you’re a part of the huge progress of technology that will impact the whole world for generations to come. Society largely thinks that the increase in technology that’s been a familiar part of our recent lives is slowing down. There is no truth in this at all. We have yet to experience incredible advances, and the internet in particular will be the biggest thing to affect the way we live.

Let’s not forget that income in IT throughout this country is considerably more than the national average salary, therefore you will probably receive significantly more as a trained IT professional, than you’d get in most other industries. It’s no secret that there is a significant nationwide demand for trained and qualified IT technicians. And with the marketplace continuing to expand, it looks like this will be the case for a good while yet.

It’s usual for students to get confused with one aspect of their training which is often not even considered: The breakdown of the course materials before being couriered to your address. Individual deliveries for each training module one piece at a time, according to your own speed is the typical way that your program will arrive. While seeming sensible, you should take these factors into account: What would their reaction be if you find it difficult to do each element at the required speed? And maybe you’ll find their order of completion won’t fit you as well as some other order of studying might.

Truth be told, the perfect answer is to have their ideal ‘order’ of training laid out, but get all the study materials at the start. Everything is then in your possession in case you don’t finish within their ideal time-table.

Make sure that all your exams are current and commercially required – forget programs which lead to some in-house certificate (which is as useless as if you’d printed it yourself). From a commercial standpoint, only the major heavyweights like Microsoft, Cisco, CompTIA or Adobe (for example) really carry any commercial clout. Anything less just won’t hit the right spot.