Many IT professionals choose to start their career by gaining a Network Engineer training certification as it is instils the foundational knowledge needed for a networking career, or to branch out into a plethora of other IT careers.
Not only will you be adding a trusted, sought after and internationally recognised certification to your CV, but, by studying one of the networking courses highlighted in this blog, you will have proven that you have what it takes to become a valuable contributing member of your organisation upon passing your Network Engineer course exam.
CompTIA A+ Course
The first of the networking courses discussed in this blog is the CompTIA A+ course. This certification is the perfect starting point for a career in IT. Although it does not focus solely on networking as it also covers security, working with mobile devices and operating systems, it will quickly diversify your skill set and ready you for multiple roles within your organisation, including networking.
As far as networking is concerned, the CompTIA A+ course covers core networking skills such as network devices, internet connectivity, wireless networks, cables and connectors and TCP/IP basics. You will also be taught fundamental cloud computing, virtualisation concepts and how to troubleshoot a network. You do not need any previous experience to start studying the CompTIA A+ course.
CompTIA A+ Exam Details
In order to complete the CompTIA A+ course, you will need to pass two exams, namely CompTIA A+ 220-901 and 220-902. You will need to answer 90 questions in multiple choice and performance-based format and achieve a passing mark of 675 on a scale of 900 for the 220-901 exam and 700 on a scale of 900 for the 220-902 exam.
CompTIA Network+ Course
For a more focused approach to networking, the CompTIA Network+ certification is the perfect follow-up to the CompTIA A+ course. Adding this certification to your CV will prove that you have the right skills to start working as a network professional and that you are dedicated to the field of networking.
CompTIA Network+ Exam Details
You will only need to pass one exam to gain your CompTIA Network+ certification. Exam N10-006 consists of a maximum of 90 questions in a drag-and-drop, multiple choice and performance-based questions. You will need to score a passing mark of 720 on a scale of 100-900 and you will have 90 minutes to complete your exam.
Cisco CCENT Course
Cisco is one of the leading names in the world of networking and is trusted by thousands of organisations worldwide. The Cisco CCENT (Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician) certification is aimed at entry-level networking professionals who would like to gain an understanding of the installation, configuration and management of small enterprise networks.
During the course you will gain an understanding of working with Cisco routers, Ipv4 design and services as well as Ethernet LAN (Local Area Network) implementation and design. The Cisco CCENT course also focuses on Ipv4 troubleshooting and the implementation of Ipv6.
Cisco CCENT Exam Details
There is only one exam associated with the Cisco CCENT course, namely exam 100-105 ICND1. You will have a total of 90 minutes to answer between 45 and 55 questions in multiple choice, drag-and-drop, simulation, simlet and testlet formats. In order to pass the exam you will need to achieve a pass mark of between 800 and 850 out of a possible 1000 marks.
Cisco CCNA Course
Working with routed and switched networks is a fundamental skill that is very necessary when starting a career in networking. The Cisco CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) certification has a strong focus on these topics and will teach you how to install, configure and manage a medium-sized network.
The topics covered during the Cisco CCNA course include the topics covered in the CCENT curriculum as well as the configuration of Ethernet LAN, WAN, Ipv4 services, Ipv4 routing and troubleshooting, Ipv6 routing and working with cloud-based networks.
Cisco CCNA Exam Details
In order to gain the CCNA certification, you will need to pass two exams (100-105 ICND1 and 200-105 ICND2). The exam details for 100-105 ICND1 remain the same as in the CCENT exam and the 200-105 ICND2 exam consists of between 45 and 55 questions presented in multiple choice, drag-and-drop, simulation, simlet and testlet formats. The pass mark will be between 800 and 850 out of a possible 1000 marks. You will have a total of 90 minutes to complete the exam.