Cisco FAQs

How many courses are in the CCNA program? 

The Cisco Network Academy program at VCC consists of 4 courses that prepare you to take the CCNA exam. These four courses are also part of a 2-year AS Degree in Computer Engineering Technology. 

Can I take all 4 courses at the same time? 

NO. Courses must be taken sequentially starting with  Cisco Networking Fundamentals. 

Cisco Networking Fundamentals

 Cisco Router Technology

 Cisco Advanced Routing and Switching

 Cisco Projects in Routing Design and Admin 

I have networking experience or I am an MCSE or CNE. Do I have to take the intro course? 

Only people with a background in networking and a firm grasp of the OSI model, TCP/IP basics and subnetting should attempt Credit by Exam. 

When are the courses offered? 

Courses are offered day and night year round. 

What books are required? 

TBA

I understand the curriculum is online, do I still have to come to class? 

Our goal is to give you a comprehensive, hands - on training program that will prepare you for the CCNA. Although the material is web-based and accessed online, we do required that you attend class for lectures, labs, and exams.  

Do you receive your certification after passing the courses? 

No. The CCNA test is given at Sylvan Testing Centers.  To schedule your test please login  to http://2test.com

Are there any jobs available after completion? 

Employer estimates indicates that there are currently over 6500 unfilled Information Technology jobs in the I-4 Corridor Region and project a need for over 11,000 more IT employees by 2003. With such high demand, there is an incredible shortage of trained individuals in router and switch technology who can create, support, and manage the Internet technologies for companies of all sizes.  

What is the average starting salary for a CCNA technician?  

Graduates are ready to begin work in the IT field and can earn as much as $35,000-$60,000 annually or continue their education in the Network, Electronics, or Computer Engineering Technology A.S. degree programs. Once they have received their CCNA and CCNP, individuals can go on to obtain the industry's most respected networking certification, the Cisco Certified Internetworking Expert (CCIE) earning as much as $100,000. 

How many questions are on the CCNA exam? 

Exam Number 640-507

Passing Score 755

# Of Questions 80 Questions In Total

Time Allotted  90 Minutes

Certifications CCNA 

What other Cisco courses do you offer?  

Currently we will be offering  the CCNA prep courses. We will offer the CCNP prep courses fall of 2002.  

I have seen ads from companies that claim they provide Cisco-accredited training that lasts a fraction of the time this program does. How can schools offering the Networking Academy program compete with that? 

Cisco provides leader-led customer training through for-profit companies called Training Partners. Some of the material in these training classes overlaps with material provided in the Networking Academy curriculum. Classes taught by Cisco Training Partners are typically much shorter than those offered by Networking Academies. However, Training Partner classes are also substantially more expensive to students than Networking Academy classes. The trade-off is cost versus time. The shorter the class, the more expensive it is to take. Further, the audiences are different. Training Partners target people working for companies rather than full-time matriculating students. Schools may also target employees, but typically to a lesser degree. Commercial training classes are also more product oriented than the Networking Academy curriculum, which is very technology oriented. Finally, the Networking Academy training model uses facilitated learning rather than lecture to impart the principles of networking.

Cisco-certified computer-based training is also available in the commercial marketplace. This training is also more expensive and contains no hands-on lab activities.

In short, schools offering the Networking Academy program have a definite market niche for their classes that is not compromised by unfair competition. 

What is the CCNP and CCIE? 

The CCNP, or Cisco Certified Networking Professional certificate program, is a follow-on program to CCNA. Cisco will articulate the progression from CCNA to CCNP, but generally, CCNP will provide a more advanced curriculum covering additional topics such as security, dial access, ATM, and network management.  

The CCIE, or Cisco Certified Internetworking Expert program has no required curriculum, although many of Cisco's commercial classes (taught by Cisco's Training Partners) are suggested prerequisites to the CCIE test, which consists of both written and practical exams. The CCNP program will be articulated to the CCIE program, so the progression will be CCNA to CCNP to CCIE. CCIEs have world-renowned internetworking expertise and are widely thought to be the most knowledgeable networking personnel available.