If you're looking for Cisco training and you haven't worked with routers before, what you need is the CCNA. This program has been designed to teach students looking to have a commercial knowledge of routers. Big organisations that have different locations utilise them to connect their networks in different buildings to allow their networks to keep in touch. The Internet also is made up of hundreds of thousands of routers.

As routers are connected to networks, it is vital to have prior knowledge of how networks operate, or you will be out of your depth with the course and be unable to understand the work. Look for a course that covers networking fundamentals (for example CompTIA) before you start the CCNA.

The CCNA qualification is what you should be aiming for - at this stage avoid being tempted to do the CCNP for now. Once you've got a few years experience behind you, you can decide if you need to train up to this level. If so, you'll have a much better chance of succeeding - because you'll know so much more by then.

Look at the facts below very carefully if you've been persuaded that the marketing blurb about 'guaranteeing' exams sounds like a benefit to the student:

Obviously it isn't free - you're still footing the bill for it - it's just been wrapped up in the price of the package. Should you seriously need to pass in one, evidence suggests you must pay for one exam at a time, give it the necessary attention and give the task sufficient application.

Shouldn't you be looking to go for the best offer when you're ready, rather than coughing up months or even a year or two in advance to the training company, and to do it in a local testing office - instead of the remote centre that's convenient only to the trainer? Considerable numbers of so-called credible training providers make a great deal of profit through getting in the money for exams at the start of the course and banking on the fact that many won't be taken. Don't forget, with the majority of Exam Guarantees - the company controls how often and when you can do your re-takes. They'll only allow a re-take once completely satisfied.

Average exam fees were approximately 112 pounds last year through Prometric or VUE centres around the United Kingdom. Therefore, why splash out often many hundreds of pounds extra for 'Exam Guarantees', when it's no secret that the most successful method is consistent and systematic learning, coupled with quality exam simulation software.

Talk to almost any professional consultant and they'll entertain you with many awful tales of students who've been sold completely the wrong course for them. Stick to an experienced advisor that asks some in-depth questions to uncover the best thing for you - not for their wallet! Dig until you find an ideal starting-point that fits you. With a bit of commercial experience or qualifications, you may find that your starting point is very different to someone completely new. If you're a new trainee embarking on IT studies from scratch, it's often a good idea to break yourself in gently, beginning with user-skills and software training first. This is often offered with most training programs.

Authorised exam preparation and simulation materials are a must - and must be obtained from your training supplier. Because most examining boards for IT tend to be American, you must be prepared for the way exams are phrased. You can't practice properly by simply understanding random questions - they must be in an exam format that exactly replicates the real thing. Be sure to ask for testing modules so you'll be able to test your knowledge at all times. Mock exams help to build your confidence - then the real thing isn't quite as scary.

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