The 'CCNA' examination (640/802) can be split into it's 2 component parts: The 'CCENT' (Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician) exam - also called the ICND1 (Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices Part 1 - 640-822) examination, and the 'ICND2' (640/816) examination. This might seem very confusing, yet in essence the certification is better when tackled as a combined examination - the 'CCNA' 640/802. An outstanding career training-track for 'Cisco' entrants would be a combined package beginning with CompTIA A+ , followed by 'Comptia' Network and then the more advanced 'Cisco' CCNA. It's best to allow about 400 - 500 hrs of study for a combined course like this. 'Technical' IT training programs should always offer good qualified support. Be sure to choose one with round-the-clock, instant reply provision. Look also for the most up-to-date multimedia study solutions, & the right exam practice software.

We'd all like to believe that our jobs are safe and the future is protected, but the growing likelihood for most jobs around the United Kingdom right now appears to be that security may be a thing of the past. In actuality, security now only emerges in a quickly rising market, fuelled by a lack of trained workers. It's this shortage that creates just the right conditions for market-security - a far better situation.

Taking the computing business as an example, a key e-Skills study demonstrated a skills deficit in the UK of around 26 percent. Therefore, out of each 4 positions that are available around computing, businesses are only able to locate certified professionals for three of them. Properly trained and commercially grounded new staff are as a result at an absolute premium, and it seems it will continue to be so for much longer. It would be hard to imagine if a better time or market circumstances could exist for gaining qualification for this swiftly increasing and blossoming industry.

Sometimes people think that the state educational system is the way they should go. Why then are qualifications from the commercial sector becoming more in demand? Key company training (in industry terminology) is far more specialised and product-specific. The IT sector is aware that specialisation is necessary to meet the requirements of an acceleratingly technical workplace. Microsoft, CISCO, Adobe and CompTIA are the dominant players. Vendor training works by focusing on the skills that are really needed (alongside an appropriate level of related knowledge,) instead of spending months and years on the background non-specific minutiae that degrees in computing often do (to fill up a syllabus or course).

When it comes down to the nitty-gritty: Authorised IT qualifications give employers exactly what they're looking for - the title says it all: as an example - I am a 'Microsoft Certified Professional' in 'Windows XP Administration and Configuration'. Consequently employers can identify exactly what they need and what certifications will be suitable to deal with those needs.

There are a number of qualification paths to progress on to after finishing the 'CCNA'. Specialised sectors like security, or Wireless Technology may very well be looked into, or perhaps the CCNP ('Cisco Certified Networking Professional' ) which is more advanced. The step up from CCNA to 'CCNP' is fairly significant, so it's a good idea to concentrate on completing the CCNA initially. You'll want to have a couple of years of industry experience along with the 'CCNA' before progressing on to the 'CCNP' accreditation. However if you have already been in IT for a while, and have previously acquired a accreditation of equivalent standing to the CCNA (for instance whilst in the armed forces) you might be able to move straight to 'CCNP'. To be honest, if you are starting off in it, no company will expect you to be at such a high level of accreditation, and might quite rightly query your true understanding, if you've not even worked in a 'CCNA' job first.

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