Shauk

Where to begin?

my situation.

currently I work for an ISP in seattle. Official Job title "Technical Support I"

I deal with customers of this ISP who need everything from a simple as setting up an email client (pop3) to DSL/Router configurations to Website administration (updating records, nameservers)

some of it is still slightly uncomfortable to me in the essence, I know what symptom requires what procedure. But i'm not always clear on WHY this particular procedure fixes it, or why something got messed up to begin with.

I know the I.T. field can pay well and I am racking up somewhat related experience in that now. I just wonder, what the best way to proceed would be? Self study for certifications? enroll in school and take advantage of financial aide for hands on experience with various O/S's?

I'm mainly looking at doing network administration. What kind of course work would be important to that regard?

anyone here that can speak from experience?

Lasereth

Unless you go to a technical institute you're not gonna learn a whole lot from college. I went to school for 4 years and got my Bachelor's in IS. I took network security, network design, database, etc. and when I got done I still didn't have much of anything to help me in my job field.

I guess my point is if you do get an education, make sure it's at a school that is renowned for teaching you based on real-world expectations. I'm currently a systems administrator for a police department and I've had to learn an incredible amount about PCs and networks over the past year because you just don't learn that much about networking in college.

Cynthetiq

The simplest and fastest is to talk to one of the network administrators where you are now. Find out what certifications they have, what experience they have. Some may have no certifications, it isn't as common but does happen.

From there, find out what you need to get those certifications.

The problem with chasing certifications is that they change, meaning that when someone asks for a Bachelors Degree, they don't care if it is in English or in History. With technology, some certification requirements are broad and general such as A+ or CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate.) A CCNA will only matter to companies that use Cisco equipment, the same would go for being HP printer certified. If they don't use the equipment you are certified within, it's wasted.

A more practical solution aside from certifications is to find a mentor. Find someone either inside the company or outside that you know and trust who will sit down with you and explain answers to your questions and help you on your career path.

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yotta

Speaking to the CCNA specifically, the Cisco Networking Academy training program that trains you to get that cert has a LOT of generically applicable, content. I learned a lot of what I know about networking from those classes. I've seen companies say CCNA is a plus even if they don't use Cisco gear.

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