Start here
Start here
Every student’s journey is unique, so rather than view this page as a step by step instruction manual, use it as a general guide to get started and then work with your local academy to complete your education. It may even be helpful to show this page to your counselor along with the courses which interest you.
To get started, we recommend these three "no experience required" courses for all students, regardless of your career goal. You'll learn how connecting billions of people, systems, and objects to the internet is changing the world, how to keep your data secure, and get an overview of the operating system powering today's most innovative companies. All of these courses can be taken today - online and for free. Not sure which one to take first? Let our virtual counselor guide you
What you learn: Explore the explosive growth of connected devices and possible careers emerging in this new digital landscape.
Why it’s important: New IoT technologies are shaping our future and fueling expansive growth for new career opportunities -- some not yet imagined.
What you learn: Explore the explosive growth of connected devices and possible careers emerging in this new digital landscape.
Why it’s important: New IoT technologies are shaping our future and fueling expansive growth for new career opportunities -- some not yet imagined.
What you learn: Understand the dangers of cyber-threats and the importance of staying safe in cyberspace.
Why it’s important: The explosive growth of connected devices fuels the ever-constant threat of cyber-attacks -- and the necessity for skilled cybersecurity professionals.
What you learn: Understand the dangers of cyber-threats and the importance of staying safe in cyberspace.
Why it’s important: The explosive growth of connected devices fuels the ever-constant threat of cyber-attacks -- and the necessity for skilled cybersecurity professionals.
What you learn: Acquire basic installation and configuration knowledge of Linux software as well as early concepts for the Linux command line.
Why it’s important: The Linux operating system is used everywhere, from rocket ships to wrist watches -- nearly every IT job requires Linux knowledge.
What you learn: Acquire basic installation and configuration knowledge of Linux software as well as early concepts for the Linux command line.
Why it’s important: The Linux operating system is used everywhere, from rocket ships to wrist watches -- nearly every IT job requires Linux knowledge.
Next, get foundational skills. The more the better.
Next, get foundational skills
While not all of these courses are required curriculum, they will give you the foundational breadth of skills employers look for in order to build effective and diverse teams within their business. Courses in this stage can also help you decide on a specialization once you're ready for more advanced training. That’s why we say – the more the better! Employers tell us soft skills are just as valuable as technical skills, so make sure you have both. Many of these courses can be taken either online or in person.
What you learn: Gain insight for what is involved in owning a business, from developing a business plan based on customer needs to delivering exceptional customer service, and everything in between.
Why it’s important: It takes more than a great idea to launch a business. Entrepreneurship boosts the business acumen and savvy needed for launching and managing a successful business.
What you learn: Deepen multidisciplinary skills by identifying, designing, prototyping, and presenting an IoT solution to a panel of industry experts and peers.
Why it’s important: The Hackathon Playbook comprehensive framework builds creative and technical skills to solve today’s real-world issues.
What you learn: Gain insight for what is involved in owning a business, from developing a business plan based on customer needs to delivering exceptional customer service, and everything in between.
Why it’s important: It takes more than a great idea to launch a business. Entrepreneurship boosts the business acumen and savvy needed for launching and managing a successful business.
What you learn: Deepen multidisciplinary skills by identifying, designing, prototyping, and presenting an IoT solution to a panel of industry experts and peers.
Why it’s important: The Hackathon Playbook comprehensive framework builds creative and technical skills to solve today’s real-world issues.
What you learn: Design and build a Small-Office or Home-Office (SoHo), developing skills required for entry-level networking jobs.
Why it’s important: Understanding the principles of networking and establishing basic networking skills is the key to all IT careers.
What you learn: Gain essential knowledge for all cybersecurity domains including information systems, network security, ethics & laws, and defense & mitigation techniques used in protecting business.
Why it’s important: As more devices connect to the Internet, the demand for skilled cybersecurity professionals continues to grow.
What you learn: Develop Linux OS understanding, open source programming, and IoT skills, expanding IT knowledge beyond networking.
Why it’s important: Whether just starting out in an IT career or looking for advancement, learning Linux and validating skills with the Professional Development Certificate helps you stand apart from other candidates.
Course aligns with LPI Linux Essentials Professional Development Certificate.
What you learn: Design, write, debug, and run programs encoded in Python, the programming language used by start-ups and tech giants alike.
Why it’s important: Python is the preferred programming language for developers pursuing a career in Security, Networking, and the Internet-of-Things (IoT).
Course aligns with PCAP – Certified Associate in Python Programming Certification
What you learn: Collect data securely and connect sensors to cloud services with engaging hands-on activities.
Why it’s important: Connecting things and finding ways to make use of the captured data is transforming organizations in every industry and opening doors for new careers.
What you learn: Use the latest technologies to perform vulnerability and risk assessments, then research and recommend risk mitigation strategies.
Why it’s important: IoT security skills are relevant across IoT and other network architectures -- a skillset sought after by employers.
What you learn: Design and build a Small-Office or Home-Office (SoHo), developing skills required for entry-level networking jobs.
Why it’s important: Understanding the principles of networking and establishing basic networking skills is the key to all IT careers.
What you learn: Gain essential knowledge for all cybersecurity domains including information systems, network security, ethics & laws, and defense & mitigation techniques used in protecting business.
Why it’s important: As more devices connect to the Internet, the demand for skilled cybersecurity professionals continues to grow.
What you learn: Develop Linux OS understanding, open source programming, and IoT skills, expanding IT knowledge beyond networking.
Why it’s important: Whether just starting out in an IT career or looking for advancement, learning Linux and validating skills with the Professional Development Certificate helps you stand apart from other candidates.
Course aligns with LPI Linux Essentials Professional Development Certificate.
What you learn: Design, write, debug, and run programs encoded in Python, the programming language used by start-ups and tech giants alike.
Why it’s important: Python is the preferred programming language for developers pursuing a career in Security, Networking, and the Internet-of-Things (IoT).
Course aligns with PCAP – Certified Associate in Python Programming Certification
What you learn: Collect data securely and connect sensors to cloud services with engaging hands-on activities.
Why it’s important: Connecting things and finding ways to make use of the captured data is transforming organizations in every industry and opening doors for new careers.
What you learn: Use the latest technologies to perform vulnerability and risk assessments, then research and recommend risk mitigation strategies.
Why it’s important: IoT security skills are relevant across IoT and other network architectures -- a skillset sought after by employers.
Having a strong foundation of skills is of the utmost importance in the IT marketplace. These include technical skills that are validated through certifications like Cisco’s CCNA, as well as soft skills like written and verbal communication. Without these, individuals are at a serious disadvantage in the IT marketplace.
Jeremy Niedzwiecki - Director of Client Support at ABS Technology
Then choose a specialized career track
Congratulations on making it this far! It’s now time to add depth to your resume. Specialize in one of these three career-ready tracks in the field of networking or security. Each track is aligned to industry-leading certifications, which employers look for as validation of your exceptional skill. Browse the tracks below to see course descriptions, job trends, and links to certification exam details. Then, find one of our 10,500+ academies near you to enroll. Your future is here - what are you waiting for?
What you learn: Explore core security concepts and develop skills to monitor, detect, analyze, and respond to cybercrime -- issues facing organizations. Then prepare for certification.
Why it’s important: Prepares you for a career in the rapidly growing field of cybersecurity operations working in or with a Security Operations Center (SOC).
Course aligns with CCNA Cyber Ops Certification.
Roles you can step into:
Security or Network Operations Center Helpdesk, Incident Analyst Responder, Cybersecurity Specialist Technician, Sales Engineer/Virtual Account Manager
What you learn: Explore core security concepts and develop skills to monitor, detect, analyze, and respond to cybercrime -- issues facing organizations. Then prepare for certification.
Why it’s important: Prepares you for a career in the rapidly growing field of cybersecurity operations working in or with a Security Operations Center (SOC).
Course aligns with CCNA Cyber Ops Certification.
Roles you can step into:
Security or Network Operations Center Helpdesk, Incident Analyst Responder, Cybersecurity Specialist Technician, Sales Engineer/Virtual Account Manager
What you learn: The first course in the Cisco CCNA Routing and Switching series introduces architecture, functions, and components of the Internet and computer networks.
Why’s it’s important: Gain basic knowledge for how networks operate which is integral to building future networking and IT skills.
Together with CCNA R&S: Routing and Switching Essential, this course aligns with the CCENT Certification
What you learn: The second course in the Cisco CCNA Routing and Switching series extends knowledge in Internet architecture, functions, and components while preparing for the CCENT Certification.
Why’s it’s important: Essential networking knowledge coupled with a certification, validates valuable skills to future employers.
Together with CCNA R&S: Introduction to Networks, this course aligns with the CCENT Certification
What you learn: Gain security skills needed to design, implement and support network devices, while preparing for certification.
Why it’s important: Possessing security and data protection expertise coupled with certification validates your skills to future employers.
Course aligns with CCNA Security Certification.
Roles you can step into:
Network or Network Security Engineer, Information Security, Analyst/Technician, Security Operation Center Engineer
What you learn: The first course in the Cisco CCNA Routing and Switching series introduces architecture, functions, and components of the Internet and computer networks.
Why’s it’s important: Gain basic knowledge for how networks operate which is integral to building future networking and IT skills.
Together with CCNA R&S: Routing and Switching Essential, this course aligns with the CCENT Certification
What you learn: The second course in the Cisco CCNA Routing and Switching series extends knowledge in Internet architecture, functions, and components while preparing for the CCENT Certification.
Why’s it’s important: Essential networking knowledge coupled with a certification, validates valuable skills to future employers.
Together with CCNA R&S: Introduction to Networks, this course aligns with the CCENT Certification
What you learn: Gain security skills needed to design, implement and support network devices, while preparing for certification.
Why it’s important: Possessing security and data protection expertise coupled with certification validates your skills to future employers.
Course aligns with CCNA Security Certification.
Roles you can step into:
Network or Network Security Engineer, Information Security, Analyst/Technician, Security Operation Center Engineer
What you learn: The first course in the Cisco CCNA Routing and Switching series introduces architecture, functions, and components of the Internet and computer networks.
Why’s it’s important: Gain basic knowledge for how networks operate which is integral to building future networking and IT skills.
Together with CCNA R&S: Routing and Switching Essential, this course aligns with the CCENT Certification
What you learn: The second course in the Cisco CCNA Routing and Switching series extends knowledge in Internet architecture, functions, and components while preparing for the CCENT Certification.
Why’s it’s important: Essential networking knowledge coupled with a certification, validates valuable skills to future employers.
Together with CCNA R&S: Introduction to Networks, this course aligns with the CCENT Certification
What you learn: The third course in the Cisco CCNA Routing and Switching series develops advanced skills for configuring and troubleshooting routers & switches, and knowledge for resolving common issues.
Why it’s important: Networking support professionals are vital to the success of all organizations that depend heavily on the smooth operation of their network infrastructure.
Together with CCNA R&S: Connecting Networks, this course aligns with the CCNA R&S Certification
What you learn: The fourth course in the Cisco CCNA Routing and Switching series extends configuration and troubleshoot knowledge, virtual private network implementation, while preparing for the CCNA R&S Certification.
Why it’s important: Advanced networking knowledge coupled with a certification, validates valuable skills coveted by future employers.
Together with CCNA R&S: Scaling Networks, this course aligns with the CCNA R&S Certification
Roles you can step into:
Network or Network Support Engineer, Network Operations Engineer, Network Administrator, Sales Engineer/Virtual Account Manager
What you learn: The first course in the Cisco CCNA Routing and Switching series introduces architecture, functions, and components of the Internet and computer networks.
Why’s it’s important: Gain basic knowledge for how networks operate which is integral to building future networking and IT skills.
Together with CCNA R&S: Routing and Switching Essential, this course aligns with the CCENT Certification
What you learn: The second course in the Cisco CCNA Routing and Switching series extends knowledge in Internet architecture, functions, and components while preparing for the CCENT Certification.
Why’s it’s important: Essential networking knowledge coupled with a certification, validates valuable skills to future employers.
Together with CCNA R&S: Introduction to Networks, this course aligns with the CCENT Certification
What you learn: The third course in the Cisco CCNA Routing and Switching series develops advanced skills for configuring and troubleshooting routers & switches, and knowledge for resolving common issues.
Why it’s important: Networking support professionals are vital to the success of all organizations that depend heavily on the smooth operation of their network infrastructure.
Together with CCNA R&S: Connecting Networks, this course aligns with the CCNA R&S Certification
What you learn: The fourth course in the Cisco CCNA Routing and Switching series extends configuration and troubleshoot knowledge, virtual private network implementation, while preparing for the CCNA R&S Certification.
Why it’s important: Advanced networking knowledge coupled with a certification, validates valuable skills coveted by future employers.
Together with CCNA R&S: Scaling Networks, this course aligns with the CCNA R&S Certification
Roles you can step into:
Network or Network Support Engineer, Network Operations Engineer, Network Administrator, Sales Engineer/Virtual Account Manager
Watch
Want to watch the stories unfold? Checkout these success stories videos.
Billy Anglin followed his own beat, wasn’t interested in school, but was good with computers. Learning cybersecurity skills at Networking Academy, he now has a new level of super powers.
Raissa Constante didn’t have any technical knowledge but she took Networking Academy classes and ultimately won 1st place in a NetRiders competition in Latin America.
Rayden Chia played a lot of computer games. It started out as play but after attending Networking Academy it turned into a passion for what he wants to do the rest of his life.