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Question of the week
Follow up to last week's CertAdvisor
Select questions & answers
Share your cert-experience
How CertAdvisor answers questions


Question of the week

Q1) Most of our students ask us about which combination of certifications would give them the best chance to break into the IT field. We typically recommend a core A+, Network+, and MCP or CNA. Many of these candidates need to justify their course selections to funding agencies. What is your opinion on this issue? (From Beane)

ANS) You have certainly geared your students in the right direction.

Getting A+ and Network+ certifications is an excellent way to start for a beginner. While A+ introduces a beginner to computing technologies, Network+ equips him or her with an intermediate level of networking knowledge.

In addition, both of these certifications are from CompTIA, and hence, vendor neutral; by taking this path students acquire a broad exposure to networking rather than getting confined to technologies of particular vendors.

After getting their A+ and Network+ certifications students can choose to proceed further in a popular vendor-specific certification program: For example, they can go for MCP>MCSE or CNA>CNE or CCNA>CCNP>CCIE.

Candidates who take this path would have acquired a good general understanding of the networking field and also specialized in a popular vendor-specific networking product.

After this point candidates would be able to make more informed decisions factoring in their work experience and exposure to the industry, and guide their careers efficiently.

Follow up to last week’s Cert Advisor

Q2) I passed CCNA few years ago and never bothered to re-certify. Now as I am planning to prepare for higher Cisco certifications, is my existing CCNA credential of any use? (From Randy Stewart)

ANS) You have to re-certify your CCNA certificate every three years to keep it valid. If you fail to renew, your CCNA certificate expires and hence, would not be valid when you register for the next-level of Cisco certification program, viz., CCNP. You will have to pass CCNA afresh and then move up to CCNP.

Select questions & answers

Q3) I currently hold MCSE NT 4.0 and CCNP certificates. I am close to completing MCSE 2000 track and taking a security boot camp early this summer.  I am going to graduate college for an Economics degree and was wondering what the best career path might be for me -- Cisco LAN/WAN engineering or Network Security or LAN/WAN admin (Win 4.0/2000)...I will have had roughly 4 years of networking experience while still in school...(From Steve)

ANS) The odd variable here is your economics degree.  We are not sure how it fits with your other qualifications. Besides this, you certainly have done a lot with your education and experience. Given your profile you may consider specializing in Network Security.  There is a growing demand for competent security professionals as there is an increasing pressure on companies to maintain secure networks.

Further, as you hold both Microsoft and Cisco certifications and as both programs have strong security aspects, specializing in Network Security could be a great way to combine your twin qualifications.  Also, various vendor neutral and vendor specific certification programs are available on different aspects of Network Security to help you build strong credentials.

Q4) I am an MCSE (NT4.0). I used to work for an ISP, where I monitored and maintained leased lines thru routers and RAS servers. Should I prepare for Windows 2000 MCSE or Cisco certifications? Secondly, should I go for a network engineering or a system administration job? (From Faiz)

ANS) If you wish to maintain your MCSE status, you will need to upgrade your certification by the end of the year.  If this is not an important issue, and Cisco really appeals to you, you should go ahead and plan for CCNA, CCNP and perhaps, CCIE programs. If you choose Cisco, you should research well and select a path most suited for your background and aptitude. As for your second question, we find job titles very fluid. Rather than focusing on a title, look at the specific tasks involved and
see how they match your skill sets.

Share your cert-experience

Should middle age career changers return to college? Our member Gary Pelline shares his experience.

" I am an MCSE instructor. Many of my students, who are changing careers in their middle age, ask me if they would do well in their new chosen field, without the backing of an IT-related college degree.

Usually I have responded saying if they have a degree already, say in accounting, they could concentrate on their certification programs. Even for those without a college degree I have advised in the past that, instead of studying four years for a college degree, they were better off focusing on their certification training and work. But a recent incident has made me rethink: A former, very competent, student of our company recently joined night school for a bachelor's degree program. He holds CNE and OCP 8i certifications, has about 6-yrs of work experience and is employed as an ORACLE DBA. He took this decision as he felt he was continuously getting less pay and responsibilities than he deserved, due to lack of college degree. He said the absence of college degree meant he struggled more and received less. To get out of this predicament he decided to join the night school. I would like to know if any of your
other members have had similar experience.“

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