The CCNA courses at FTCC were some of the hardest and challenging courses I have taken to this date. The first chapter of that first course seemed like another course I took the prior semester but after that I was in high gear the rest of the way through. Now I'm at East Carolina University working on my four year degree and taking CCNP courses which require a current CCNA certification. It will take me a year to complete all four CCNP courses.

A lot of the skills learned from the CCNA curriculum I use every day. I think the most beneficial thing about that course that is helping me now is that you don't just memorize the answers to questions. You learn and understand the concepts behind the different networking topics so you can apply that understanding to solve problems. That groundwork is really helping me with the CCNP classes.

The CCNA certification test is like no other test I've ever taken. I was nervous, excited, curious and just pumped up. When I saw my results and it said "Passed", I walked away grinning ear to ear and telling everybody I knew that I just received my CCNA certification. Some people have asked...since the certifications are so challenging, are they worth all that hard work? I see it this way, I wouldn't be in this four-year degree program without it. The personnel achievement itself is worth the effort. Holding an industry certification, no matter what the certification is, places you in a different category. It sets you apart from the crowd. I have an interview with Google this Friday. I have to think the CCNA certification helped secure that interview in some way.