Please Help-Career change 2

[charlooch]

I work for a small(and getting smaller) brokerage firm and was given the title C.O.O. years ago(big deal!). I basically wear many hats here. One of which is "network guy". I want to jump this sinking ship, but have no formal training in networking and want to pursue a career. I have an aptitude towards technology and want to know how long would it take a novice to get CCNA certified or MCSA. I still need to work (wife , 2 kids, mortgage, etc.) so is home study an option ?
I would appreciate any feedback.
Thanks in advance !

 

[Jsteve]

It depends on how much time and money your willing to put into it. It took me this long to get the following via self study.

CCNA - 1 month
CCNP - 6 months
MCSA - 4 months

I'm working on my CCIE right now, but I am in no rush this time. you could go the Boot camp route and get the hands on for about a week, this study a lot of simulated practice test and brain dumps to get the certs quicker, but this is not my recomendation. I say take your time and do it right.

 

[lgarner]

I did my certs via self-study. I think I took about 6 months for a CNE, 3 for the CCNA, and around 4 for the Pix. The more motivated you are, the faster you can do it. A month per exam is work, but not unattainable.

(Also coming from a disappearing brokerage, but worked solely in IT

 

[charlooch]

What self-study package did you use? Are they all about the same ?

 

[lgarner]

The Sybex books/cd guides are good. I used one for CCNA and have another for CCNP. The Cisco Pix guide with the CD was terrible; get the larger book without the CD.

 

[Jsteve]

I use nothing but the cisco press books. I also brought a lot of used routers (2500) off of Ebay and set up my own lab.

As for the MCSA I set up a 5PC network lab and used the New Riders books.

 

[charlooch]

Can a novice pass using these self study guides ?

 

[Jsteve]

yes, it all depends how much effort you put into it. It's not an easy hill to climb, but one you reach the top of one and you feel the satisfaction, it will drive you even more.

 

[Mr20]

I was also, debating on if I should obtain a CCNA and MCSA cert via self study or at a contiuning education institute like ECPI.

Did anyone go the classroom intructor lead route? If so was it more beneficial.

 

[blutekhnd]

I went the school route. I attended one of ECPI's competitors. For me, it was probably the right choice because I was a complete novice. However, as with any school, you run into great instructors all the way down to instructors that are horrible. You will still need to do a lot of self-study. The nice thing is you can work on their equipment, and if you have good instructors and you have no experience, you can get a nice start.

 

[CiscoGuy33]

I teach in a Cisco CCNA Network Academy at a Community College.

For lots of people this is a GREAT option because they get hands on practice with Cisco routers and switches as well as an instructor to ask questions. At our college we have about $100,000 worth of routers, switches and hubs.

The structured classes and study are also good for people who find it hard to just sit down and study.

Classes at most community colleges are priced GREAT.

I have had novices up to a network admin who handled a data center for 25 hospitals world wide - I also get alot from the military - Cental Command is just down the street.

Most like the structured classes and access to the equipment that they can not afford or have room for.

Sybex are some of the best books/study guides, Cisco Press are good but cover way more then you will ever find on a test.

I have had several novice students who did the "Boot Camps" passed the CCNA exam but got killed at the job interview because they learned just enough to pass the exam.

Just some thoughts - hope they help !!!!

 

[dogbert2]

I tend to agree, I went through the cisco network academy at our local community college (CCNA/NP/SP/CQS-Wireless) and it is a great place to learn, classes are quite inexpensive, and lotsa gear to use in labs, simulations, etc.

I would highly recommend this route if it's available, due to the fact that you will have to work to pass all of the courses, and if you do the reading and the lab work, and really study hard, you'll be able to pass the actual cisco certification exams w/out any problems at all.