Question about Cisco Cert from an MCSE

I am MCSE certified and have been working in the industry for 9 years and want to take my career to the next level. Is getting Cisco Certified the next level and if so which certification or specialty should I get into, I thought Data or Network Security? Whats the benefit in the other certifications if any such as A+ or Citrix etc. I have a B.S. in Information Systems and when I took the MCSE I didn't need any additional schooling (read the books and passed). I understand that the Cisco certifications are very different and I would need to attend classes to pass the exams, if thats true then where do I goto school for this since the local universities don't offer classes for that? Thanks in advance everybody.

Reply to
conan65
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Dunno about going to "the next level" Cisco is not an OS so there can be no comparison. It is a foregone conclusion that CCNA is De Facto when entering into the world of internetworking (with Cisco Routers and switches anyway). Think of it as a sideways step eg A+ MCP MCSE comparable alongside N+ CCNA CCNP (then any specialistion that you may care to follow) You may even want to specialise after CCNA. Up to you. You don't need to attend a class to pass the CCNA...what you DO need is hands on experience so you can see how the commands at the CLI (no GUI here) work. The exam can be passed without experience but as a famous quote goes, when face with a real life situation, will you know the correct answer, rather than a mulit choice "the answer is C)

Reply to
Smudge Smith

Reply to
conan65

It is subjective really. It's like saying is BSc harder than BA, or is Physics harder than Maths.

There is no way to gauge whether the CCNA is "harder" than the MCSE... with the exception that MCSE consists of multiple exams whereas CCNA is only one (or two depending on which route you follow).

If you "know" the subject material that is being tested then it is not hard at all.

If you take a driving test without having ever driven a car then you will surely fail (and the test will be deemed "hard". If, however, you have some experience by way of lessons or other (off road driving) then the test suddenly becomes less hard.

Hope this helps

Reply to
Smudge Smith

I have a slightly different question, especially geared to those who have MCSEs and CCNA. A little re-assurance or reality check would help, especially being in the "Show-Me" state of Missouri.

I enrolled in the local Cisco Academy for this fall. I have 2 rather under utilized NT4.0 and Win2k MCSEs, an A+ and 3 MOS certifications. Currently, I work at a call center. I am hoping as I approach 40 this February, that the CCNA and possible CCNP will help me break out of my mold, and actually aid in making more money, especially to legitimate the vast amounts I have spent already. Yes, I was one of those folks who got involved in computer work in 1999 for the cash, until the bottom fell out. Now, I figure it's time to fully succeed with the Cisco stuff and subsequent job prospects, or come up with a new career plan. I don't feel great about this path, but my friends who have taken some of the classes urge me on, saying it should help vastly.

Has anyone out there had under-utilized skills or certifications, but found that Cisco certifications improved their lot? Is it possible to actually find a job, preferably day-shift because Cisco really helped to increase skillset and marketability? Any feedback in this news group would be helpful and most appreciated.

Thanks , David

Reply to
none

you haven't googled at all. You don't need to attend classes for Cisco courses any more than that Microsoft one. It's not as hard as you seem to dream that it is. You read books. It's all on google's archive of usenet. These things have been asked enough times

Reply to
q_q_anonymous

Response to None.

I certainly would encourage you to pursuit your CCNA if the networking aspect of IT appeals to you. It provides the real fundamentals of networking (more so, I believe, than any other IT course) plus, of course, a good introduction to the Cisco world. In this day and age I think you need to be cross skilled to remain competitive on the job market and being solely an MCSE doesn't seem to cut it anymore. Why? Because a vast amount of people coming into the industry start with the 'MCSE career path' and we fall back to the rule of supply and demand. I think the Cisco job market is less swamped. My theory on this (excluding the popularity and market share of MS) is it is not as accessible. Most people have or have access to a PC with an MS OS. How many people have access to a router? Also I think its because the whole essence of MS is GUI and people are more likely to give it go even though they are not quite sure what they are doing. With Cisco, you need a solid understanding tnetworking, addressing, and the CLI before even attempting to configure a router or switch for commercial purposes. Because of your experience, you should feel at ease at a technical level with the CCNA and with your ambitions for bigger $$, you should focus on the CCIE as your long term goal. The way the Internet is today and with Cisco equipment running 60+% of it, it's a demanding yet exciting field to be in. Whatever you decide to do, you'll never regret learning.

Good Luck

Reply to
tylerb

Thank you and your advice is greatly appreciated. You've hit the nail on the head, I new everything you wrote was true but for some reason you explained it in a way that I couldn't doubt. Some people have already told me that I don't need to take a class to pass the CCNA and that I could just buy the books and study on my own and pass like I did with the MCSE? What is your take on that?

Reply to
conan65

Hi, I think going to a class would suit a person new to IT, who doesn't have any experience and has no technical contacts to bounce queries off etc. My advice to you would be save your money and instead buy a decent study guide and a plethora of test questions, simulation suites etc. Actually, I found that the best study material was found in the biggest library of all - the net! But most importantly, get your hands a couple of second hand routers and a switch. Hacking away at a test lab at home is invaluable. A couple of 1700s and a 2950 should suffice. You'll find lots of used equipment on eBay sold for the purpose of studying the CCNA. You can always sell it back when you have finished. If you are currently working, see if it's possible to get involved with any Cisco work. Speak to whoever is responsible for it and find out how the routers and switches are used in your work environment. Seeing Cisco equipment is a production environment will really gel things for you when you start to learn all the theory in the study guides.

All the best

Reply to
tylerb

Hi, I think going to a class would suit a person new to IT, who doesn't have any experience and has no technical contacts to bounce queries off etc. My advice to you would be save your money and instead buy a decent study guide and a plethora of test questions, simulation suites etc. Actually, I found that the best study material was found in the biggest library of all - the net! But most importantly, get your hands a couple of second hand routers and a switch. Hacking away at a test lab at home is invaluable. A couple of 1700s and a 2950 should suffice. You'll find lots of used equipment on eBay sold for the purpose of studying the CCNA. You can always sell it back when you have finished. If you are currently working, see if it's possible to get involved with any Cisco work. Speak to whoever is responsible for it and find out how the routers and switches are used in your work environment. Seeing Cisco equipment is a production environment will really gel things for you when you start to learn all the theory in the study guides.

All the best

Reply to
tylerb

Tyler,

Any suggestions regarding a PIX and certification? I was thinking about a 515 or a 520.

Thanks in advance, Bart

Reply to
Bart

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