CCNA Certification Cost: Worthwhile for a Small IT Company?
CCNA certification cost varies 
hugely depending on how you choose to study for the qualification.
A quick Web search reveals example training courses costing between $600 US and $2,000 US (or your local currency equivalent), and exam fees are often an additional expense.
Self-study is an option, but still requires investment in books, training-lab equipment, and exam fees.
With all this in mind, is the CCNA certification cost a worthwhile investment when you own a small IT company?
This short post considers the basic advantages and disadvantages:
CCNA Certification Advantages
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Technical Knowledge – The knowledge that CCNA training provides, both of Cisco equipment and of general networking theory, is likely to be useful throughout any IT career.
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Credibility – CCNA certification is seen as desirable in the industry and will help to demonstrate expertise to potential clients.
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Relevance – A small IT company working with small business clients may be unlikely to come across much Cisco equipment, so opportunities to work with the new knowledge may be limited.
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CCNA Certification Cost – The money invested in the CCNA training could be directed at alternative training and development that is more relevant to the small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
CCNA Certification Disadvantages
Whether or not the CCNA certification cost is worthwhile in your individual case depends a lot on the type of clients you work with.
If your clients are high-end businesses using Cisco equipment, then it could well be a good investment. If, however, your typical small business clients are using ISP-supplied consumer routers, then your CCNA knowledge could be wasted and soon forgotten.
Do you think the CCNA certification cost is worth it? Share your opinions in the comments box below.
And to learn about IT certifications that are especially relevant to small business VARs and MSPs, download the free quick reference guide now to the Top 21 IT Certifications for Small Business VARs, SPs, and Computer Consulting Businesses.
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