The City College of San Francisco Cisco Networking Academy

Cisco Certification and the Networking Academies

Cisco, a leading internetworking company, has long offered trainings through third parties on its hardware and software. A few years ago it recognized the need for technical training programs in high schools and colleges more closely tied to the current needs of the networking industry. Working together with schools, Cisco developed the Cisco Networking Academy Program (Thurgood Marshall High School in San Francisco was one of the pilot schools). It has grown rapidly, and there are currently over 8,000 Networking Academies around the world.

The Cisco Networking Academy program prepares you for entry level networking technician positions. After completing the courses, you may take the Cisco Certified Networking Associate (CCNA) exam. This is Cisco's entry level certification. Typical tasks might include the setup and maintenance of network wiring and internetworking equipment like hubs, switches, and routers.
After taking the CCNA, students may go on to the Networking Professional (CCNP) or Internetworking Expert (CCIE) levels. CCNP is equivalent to a network administrator, CCIE is equivalent to a network engineer.

City College of San Francisco (CCSF) is a Cisco Local Networking Academy. We currently offer the CCNA program and we have started offering the CCNP program.

Cisco Networking Academy Courses offered at CCSF:

The CCNA curriculum is a four course program that is offered at many high schools and community colleges. We offer the classes in two formats: "Regular" courses meet 3 hrs/wk for a full semester; "Accelerated" courses meet 6 hrs/wk for 1/2 semester. The four courses are a sequence and may not be taken concurrently. They are: Students are expected to work through web-based lessons outside of class (either from our on-campus computer labs or from home or work). Classes meet face-to-face in our router lab. In class activities include lectures, group work, hands-on practice, and online exams. Students keep a journal of their progress and participate in a Threaded Case Study during the 3rd and 4th classes. Class size is usually between 25 and 35, depending on facilities.

The CCNP Curriculum is also a four course program. Each course leads to one of the four Certification Exams needed for the CCNP Certification. In Spring 2003, we will be offering all four CCNP courses

Alternative Paths to Certification:

You can take the CCNA certification exam without taking the four courses in the Networking Academy program. There are shorter, more expensive paths to prepare for Cisco certificate exams (typically, one or more courses, each one week long and costing about $2,500). There is also self-study. You can get a good book and prepare for the exam on your own (one such book is: CCNA Study Guide, 5thd edition, by Todd Lammle, Sybex Press).

To compare the various paths to Cisco certification please visit their website at:
CCNA Certification
CCNP Certification

Also, you need to look carefully at your career path. Cisco certification can help you get an entry level job, but four classes is not a complete preparation for a career in the computing industry. It is a great beginning and complement to other knowledge. You might also consider working towards a BA degree in Computer Science.

Who Can Take the Classes:

The Networking Academy program is open to any student at CCSF. We want you to have basic computer literacy and know how to use e-mail and the web. We recommend that you have taken CNIT 135A or have the equivalent background. Please see our catalog for the exact pre-requisites and advisories for the classes. However, no prior knowledge of networking is required.

Enrollment Process:

There is no special enrollment process besides signing up for the courses. The currently available courses are numbered CNIT 201 (Internetwork Design), CNIT 202 (Router Technologies), CNIT 203 (Routing and Switching), CNIT 204 (WANs and Project based Learning). You must take the courses in sequence and pass a written and hands on final for a course before you can take the next course. Please note that priority for admission to courses is based on seniority at CCSF, so you may not get into the classes on your first try. It is still important to go to the first day of class to see if there are any new openings. And you may want to take other CNIT classes as well.

Some related beginning level courses include:

Costs:

Each course is three units at the regular cost ($18/unit).  After you complete the program, the actual CCNA Certification Exam is given by a 3rd party (Prometric or VUE) and normally costs $125. Students who do well in the Networking Academy (by succesfully passing a proficiency exam during the fourth course) get a voucher which provides a discounted price ($60) for the exam.

For more information:

On Cisco certificates and the various paths to them:
  • http://www.cisco.com/en/US/learning/le3/le2/le0/le9/learning_certification_type_home.html

    • On when Cisco classes are being offered this semester:

  • Schedules for CCSF Credit Classes

    • On other CCSF CNIT Department Programs:

  • CNIT Department website

    • On CCSF in General:

  • City College of San Francisco


    • If you have further questions about the Cisco Networking Academy program at CCSF, please contact:

    Pierry Thiry,  Cisco Networking Academy Coordinator
    email: pthiry@ccsf.edu
    voice: 415/239-3594
    web: http://fog.ccsf.edu/~pthiry