The CISCO program is designed to equip students with the skills to become technical professionals in a desired technological field. The training program equips students with the knowledge to pass the certificate exam.

Founded in 1984 by a group of computer scientists from Stanford University, CISCO’s primary mission is for people to connect to one another through technology, thus creating a close-knit bond and promoting culture.

There are three levels of certificates: Associate, Professional and Expert. Once a student has taken the exam and passed, he or she is required to sign a Cisco Career Certification and Confidentiality agreement. Once signed, a Career Certifications Certificate will be sent to the student by mail or electronically.

For SPC students interested in CISCO certificates, Cisco instructor Michael Gordon is a great source. He has been employed by SPC since 2001 and has been working as a network engineer, installer and support technician since 1998.

Gordon mentioned that there are three primary reasons students enroll in this program: Some students who already have a four-year degree, switch gears for a career change. Then there are students who are already in the industry seeking a new direction. Others take the exam as part of another degree.

Stressing the importance of taking such an exam, Gordon emphasized that “CISCO sets a high standard.” With a predominant number of certificates in Computer Networking, he further stated that this is “a rigorous field of study,” so students must approach it seriously.

In sum, he said the most fulfilling part of his career has been “giving students the opportunity to gain viable skills.”