What qualification?

[sn3rd]

Hence at the end you not recognised a cisco engineer.
Your exams you can go back after answering a question/your pass mark is not as high and simulations u not timed.
Your questions are also not taken from the updated cisco exam pool.

It boils down to a person who leaves uni is a jack of all trades but a master of none.

The term "Engineer" is regulated in most countries. Cisco "engineers" are not Engineers.

It may be a petty observation, but surely to be a master of some or other trade, it would be necessary to have a VERY LOW LEVEL understanding of the technology? Surely only then are you a "master"... ? Can Cisco "engineers" determine the propogation characteristics of a signal along an optical link from first principles? I doubt it.

 

[sn3rd]

No, I am actually busy with my CCIE. CCNP is at the end of 3rd year, whilst CCNA is end1st, begining3rd.

And the CCNP is only the first semester.

 

[Gnome]

No, I am actually busy with my CCIE.

As part of a University of Pretoria course?

Anyway I did CCNA in high school (our high school offered it as a course), wrote the official test and everything, wasn't hard, doesn't compare to a degree, not by a long shot. Lots of the work covered in that test we've covered at University also.

 

[.Froot.]

The term "Engineer" is regulated in most countries. Cisco "engineers" are not Engineers.

It may be a petty observation, but surely to be a master of some or other trade, it would be necessary to have a VERY LOW LEVEL understanding of the technology? Surely only then are you a "master"... ? Can Cisco "engineers" determine the propogation characteristics of a signal along an optical link from first principles? I doubt it.

There are two types of engineers, as you should know. You get the type which is registered to a council, ie ECSA (computer, electronic, mechanical, etc) and then you get a diploma/qualification engineer to a type of protocol or operating system, ie a Certified RedHat Engineer or a CCIE.

 

[SuPaStA]

No, I am actually busy with my CCIE. CCNP is at the end of 3rd year, whilst CCNA is end1st, begining3rd.

You aware there are more doctors than ccie's and that you have to do a lab exams that costs roughly around 10k+? ( it think there is one place you can do it in the whole of southern africa)

So u not doing ccie...., if u doing it as a uni module.

 

[.Froot.]

Yes, I am fully aware of that. Do you have any idea what it costs to get you CCNA and CCNP qualifications?

I do not only do university modules. I also do external courses.

 

[sn3rd]

There are two types of engineers, as you should know. You get the type which is registered to a council, ie ECSA (computer, electronic, mechanical, etc) and then you get a diploma/qualification engineer to a type of protocol or operating system, ie a Certified RedHat Engineer or a CCIE.

Of course I know that. Why are you arguing with me? At the end of the day, you're not an engineer in South Africa unless you meet the criteria set by ECSA

 

[.Froot.]

Of course I know that. Why are you arguing with me? At the end of the day, you're not an engineer in South Africa unless you meet the criteria set by ECSA

Sorry, wasn't aimed at you. Just made it clear to the other people.

 

[SuPaStA]

Yes, I am fully aware of that. Do you have any idea what it costs to get you CCNA and CCNP qualifications?
I do not only do university modules. I also do external courses.

The ccna is 2 exams which can be combined into 1 exam which costs roughly about R1500.
The ccnp consists of 4 exams each costing about R1000.You can do it in 3 exams but i would recommend you do it as 4.

I suggest checking the prometric website for updated prices.

 

[sn3rd]

Sorry, wasn't aimed at you. Just made it clear to the other people.

My bad

 

[.Froot.]

The ccna is 2 exams which can be combined into 1 exam which costs roughly about R1500.
The ccnp consists of 4 exams each costing about R1000.You can do it in 3 exams but i would recommend you do it as 4.

I suggest checking the prometric website for updated prices.

I wrote CCNA as one exam. Not all that much work to cover if you know your stuff.

 

[.Froot.]

My bad

No problem

 

[iDenTiTy]

One qualification is not inherently better than the next. At the end of the day it's all about job requirements.

You don't visit a plumber if you have chest pains.

A degree is ALWAYS welcome. An associate degree is AS WELL. A Diploma is a good STARTING POINT.

I started with a Diploma, went onto an International Advanced Diploma, and all the way to an Honours. They are progressive.

In the Star today, they mentioned that 85% of university grads have jobs. Much less so for Diploma grads.

MOST IMPORTANT: Do something you're interested in. If you gonna do it for +- 30 years, then no use you wanna slash your wrists about the work.

This is gonna be a cool debate FWIW.

 

[Gnome]

I wrote CCNA as one exam. Not all that much work to cover if you know your stuff.

x2, was easy. Never used it though, I got it because I was told it is a good idea and then I realized with a CCNA no one would even let you touch a network, best job I would get is laying cables and such. Never even used it and it's 4 years later and I haven't retaken the exam so, so much for that. What a waste

 

[proximiti99]

Ahem, where's the guy that started this thread
I say, go for MCSE, but only if you interested in software support

 

[sn3rd]

Ahem, where's the guy that started this thread
I say, go for MCSE, but only if you interested in software support

LoL! We kind of got distracted

 

[SuPaStA]

LoL! We kind of got distracted

Look at the end of the day I have given my 2 cents which is get a mcse/ccna/ccnp if you plan on way day coming to the uk/europe they look at those qualifications above everything else.

 

[Mokautu]

Hi All
I'm a 19year male interested in ICT,but I don't know what to study at university or which varsity offers degrees in ICT. The thing is I don't want to waste 3/4 years studying for a Degree and sit without a job afterwards. My question is 1,what career opportunities are available in the ICT sector.
2.You know how the government and businesses are always talkin about skills shortage in the ICT sector,but don't state exactly what those skills are, well If anyone knows plz share.

 

[gripen]

Interesting thread for those "in the know"

I started at Tuks in Chem. Eng (didn't know about Comp. Eng at the time) and it was pretty tough. Anyway I moved over to Comp. Eng in first year. Today I work in the SP space and have my M.Eng (Comp. eng) degree. I work with Cisco Service Provider kit and don't even have my CCNA (well I did the whole CCNA and CCNP at Tuks thing) - I just never wrote the tests. At the end of the day, experience counts for more than passing a test. I know of people who just rote learn the Q and A and ace the lower Cisco exams. Obviously a different story with CCIE, CCDE etc.

My plan is to (when I get the motivation), complete CCNA, CCDA, CCIP, CCDP then move onto CCDE... for when I leave the company Until then it won't make much difference. I work with some serious gurus (internationally known experts on the Cisco 10000/12000 platforms etc) who DONT even have a CCNA...

In the end regarding the Comp. Sci vs. Comp. Eng. debate, my opinion is that you cannot compare them. Comp Sci is much "easier" (true, it's different, but it *is* easier). 90% of the Comp Eng dropouts I know went to Comp. Sci... If I wan a decent programmer, I will hire a Comp. Scientist whereas for everything else, Comp. Eng all the way. And regarding the Tuks Comp. Eng programme, it is very good and in all fairness very diverse (referring to the jack of all trades statement). what this means is you can do a variety of things (including work in a call center LOL). I for example, do not touch circuits OR wrote any code (and glad! on both counts...). The number of doors that this degree opens is very useful whereas I feel with CS you are more specialised and "boxed in" - not necessarily a bad thing though! I will admit that in CS, your programming is more focused whereas in CE the aim is to expose you to a lot of languages and then to develop your programming skills in a DSP/Hardware environment. That in my mind is the key difference. So you can't really compare Oranges and Naartjies

Best bet, stick to CS for hardcore programming. Otherwise go with Comp. Eng. and in BOTH cases start certifying on a Cisco (or even Juniper) path from final year!

Btw, Comp Eng is NOT only about circuits etc. I'd rather say you get a decent exposure to the electronic engineering influence - call it a heavy bias. I mean we even did subjects on economics, environmental management, engineering drawing, professional practice, innovation etc in amongst all that hardcore maths and signal processing.

I'd like to close with saying that I don't regret doing Comp Eng for a second (maybe the Masters, no wait definitely the Masters LOL) as I have managed to get myself a very nice job that I enjoy (and have had a good few opportunities to make some fairly big changes that are noticeable, not gonna say more). I believe the above is the case for about at least 50% of my mates etc who did the degree. So moral of the story, make sure you are in the right degree and try to make the best of it!

 

[gripen]

Hi All
I'm a 19year male interested in ICT,but I don't know what to study at university or which varsity offers degrees in ICT. The thing is I don't want to waste 3/4 years studying for a Degree and sit without a job afterwards. My question is 1,what career opportunities are available in the ICT sector.
2.You know how the government and businesses are always talkin about skills shortage in the ICT sector,but don't state exactly what those skills are, well If anyone knows plz share.

Can't possibly go wrong with ANY 4 year (i.e. must be 4 year degree or 3 + 1 Honours year) I.T. degree. Just choose your area of interest and go for it (e.g. programming, engineering, marketing?, research, sales, support etc). Sadly you have to put in the work and years to get somewhere ( I have studied 8 years in Engineering, 3 degrees....). Perhaps worthwhile also to diversify with some certifications on the side.

And you are guaranteed to get a job. If you don't find one, give me a shout and I can make a plan