The Cisco training is fundamentally for those who need to know all about routers and switches. Routers join up computer networks over the internet or lines dedicated for that purpose. It's likely that you should first attempt the CCNA. Steer clear of going immediately onto the CCNP because it is very complex - and you'll need the CCNA and experience first to take on this level.

As routers are connected to networks, it is vital to have an understanding of how networks work, or you will be out of your depth with the course and be unable to understand the work. Seek out a program that teaches the basics (CompTIA is ideal) prior to starting your CCNA.

It's a good idea to find a tailored course that will take you through a specific training path in advance of starting your Cisco CCNA course skills.

A lot of trainers only give support available from 9-6 (office hours) and sometimes later on specific days; not many go late into the evening (after 8-9pm) or cover weekends properly. Avoid those companies who use 'out-of-hours' messaging systems - where an advisor will call back during normal office hours. This is no use if you're stuck and could do with an answer during your scheduled study period.

Top training companies incorporate three or four individual support centres around the globe in several time-zones. They use an online interactive interface to provide a seamless experience, any time of the day or night, help is at hand, avoiding all the delays and problems. If you opt for less than direct-access 24x7 support, you'll quickly find yourself regretting it. You might not want to use the service during late nights, but you're bound to use weekends, early mornings or late evenings.

A subtle way that colleges make extra profits is through up-front charges for exams and offering an exam guarantee. It looks impressive, but is it really:

In this day and age, we tend to be a tad more knowledgeable about sales gimmicks - and the majority of us ought to grasp that we're actually paying for it (it's not a freebie because they like us so much!) The fact is that if a student pays for each examination, one by one, they'll be in a better position to pass first time - as they'll be conscious of their investment in themselves and so will prepare more thoroughly.

Don't you think it's more sensible to not pay up-front, but at the time, rather than coughing up months or even a year or two in advance to a training college, and to take it closer to home - rather than possibly hours away from your area? A lot of extra profit is secured by many companies that get money for exam fees in advance. For various reasons, many students don't take their exams but the company keeps the money. Believe it or not, there are providers that actually bank on it - as that's how they make a lot of their profit. It's also worth noting that 'Exam Guarantees' often aren't worth the paper they're written on. Many training companies won't pay again for an exam until you have demonstrated conclusively that you won't fail again.

Exams taken at VUE and Prometric centres are around 112 pounds in this country. Students should be very wary of forking out hundreds of pounds extra in fees for 'exam guarantees' (often hidden in the cost) - when good quality study materials, the proper support and commitment, effort and practice with quality exam preparation systems are the factors that really get you through.

An area that's often missed by potential students considering a training program is the concept of 'training segmentation'. Essentially, this is the method used to break up the program for timed release to you, which completely controls where you end up. Training companies will normally offer a program spread over 1-3 years, and courier the materials in pieces as you finish each section. On the surface this seems reasonable - until you consider the following: What would their reaction be if you find it difficult to do everything at the required speed? Often the prescribed exam order won't fit you as well as some other order of studying might.

For the perfect solution, you'd get ALL the training materials right at the beginning - enabling you to have them all to come back to at any time in the future - as and when you want. Variations can then be made to the order that you attack each section where a more intuitive path can be found.

Adobe Design Interactive Self-Paced Courses >>