MCSE or CNNA?

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Hi all,

I'm A+ certified and about to take on the N+.

I am trying to learn what I can about what is involved in a career in networking and it is interesting me, so I feel a cert is in order.

Am I right in thinking the MCSE field mainly orientates around setting up, administering and maintaining networks through windows and the CNNA field is more network hardware orientated?

My problem is that I have folk telling me that Cisco training is the way forward now and the industry is in desperate need of Cisco engineers more than MCSE's, yet I see how popular the MCSE is.

So I'm a bit confused and need some guidence.

1. I don't know which one to go for

2. This is probably due to not knowing enough about each cert and what the job roles would involve. Could someone please explain the best they can?

3. Do you recommend self study for each of these or are they only to be approached in that way with good networking experience behind you?

Thanks in advance

 

It's not the CNNA, it's the CCNA.

I don't recommend either until you've got a little bit of experience with one or the other of them. Certifications don't automagically make you qualified to perform the job... certifications are supposed to indicate that you can *already* perform the job. And only experience can get you that.

That said, continue getting certifications, such as the N+ and the MCDST, working your way up to the MCSA/MCSE and/or CCNA certifications.

The MCDST is for system engineers/desktop support techs that administer Windows-based workstations.

MCSAs perform basic Windows-based network and server administration. MCSEs perform more advanced Windows-based network and server administration. CCNAs have a basic level of experience with networking and Cisco devices. CCNPs have a more advanced level of knowledge with networking and Cisco devices.

Yes, I encourage people to use self-study methods whenever possible. I have yet to take a training course, and I've got a ton of certs.

Best of luck!

 

Sure Shot, you might want to ask yourself what you want to do with a career in IT. Regardless of how popular or unpopular a certification seems to be, if it involves a job you'd hate or one you aren't particularly suited for, it won't do you any good.

Try to do a little research on all of the certification programs available. Microsoft and Cisco aren't the only technologies available. Also, if you were drawn towards programming (for example), getting an MCSE or CCNA would do you no good.

Look at the different career paths in IT and see which ones seem most interesting. Look at the certification/education paths for those careers. Then you'll have a better idea of what you need to shoot for.

 

Invaluable information, just what I needed.

Thanks Guys