CCNA - Network Academy (Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA))

The CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) Course consists of 4 Semesters, each focussing on a different area of networking.

The curriculum is an online learning program, each split into chapters with an exam at the end of each to check your progress. Once you have completed all of the chapters, which have online exams which have an average of about 25 questions each, which are multiple choice, with four answers to choose from. Once completed you see your percentage so you know whether you have passed instantly, you sit another online end of semester exam, The exams are easily passable if you put the effort in.

Semester 1

Semester 1 Introduces the course and starts of by explaining networking basics and introduces things like the OSI layered network design model, explaining each layer of it in some detail.


Semester 2

This Semester focuses mainly on Routers and their components, protocols, configurations and commands etc. And reinforces what you have learned about IP addressing and WANS from Semester 1

Semester 3

Switches are the main topic in this semester, teaching you about LAN switching in a lot greater depth than covered in the previous chapters. Also LAN design, Access control lists and other protocols are covered thoroughly.

Semester 4

Semester 4 covers WAN's mainly, which includes WAN design, point to point, frame-relay and ISDN networks and general network management. Then goes on to give you review chapters of the CCNA to help you revise before the final exam.

As well as all the online learning, there is practical experience available via labs, which are integrated into the curriculum letting you see how things actually work, not just the theory behind them, this also helps you remember commands for the routers and is good practice for the future.

All the way through the course you can keep track of your progress on the academy website which gives
you access to all of the exam results you have achieved to date. Once you have completed a Semester and have passed the final exam you receive a certificate to show you have passed which contains your result.

The final exam costs around £90 (I hope) if I remember correctly but if done at a college or 6th from they either pay some towards it or pay it all for you, I'm not too sure, but it isn't too expensive as it is a widely accepted qualification into the networking industry, and looks good on a C.V. The qualification only lasts about three years once received.

source :http://www.dooyoo.co.uk/