| Welcome to the Cisco Networking Academy Program
Cisco Systems has a vision for networking that will affect the ways we work, live, and learn. This vision is realized through the Cisco Networking Academy Program and, as an Academy, your organization will play an important role in that vision. The Networking Academy Program enables people with e-learning environments to learn anytime, anywhere, at their own pace, and with more accountability than traditional classroom settings.
Eligible Organizations
The Academy program is for educational organizations such as high schools, community colleges, and universities. Some housing developments in enterprise zones have become academies to provide training to their constituents. Only organizations with non-profit status (501(c)3 in the United States or the equivalent in other countries) are eligible to become Academies.
Are you a potential Local Academy or Regional Academy?
Local Academies prepare students for industry-recognized certification exams such as the CCNA, CCNP, and NetPlus+. Students are supported and trained by a Regional Academy in their geographic area.
A Cisco area academy manager chooses Regional Academy sites based on regional needs. They are responsible for training and supporting 10 Local Academies. To be considered as a potential Regional Academy site, organizations should complete the online lead form and indicate their level of interest.
Step 1: Let us know about your interest in the Academy Program
There are two ways to contact Cisco about your interest in the program:
 Contact the Regional Academy in your area and request information about becoming a Local Academy. Use the Academy Locator.
Complete the Application Form:
Step 2: We will contact you for more information
When you contact a Regional Academy the coordinator from the Regional Academy contacts you to describe the services, support, and commitment needed to become a Local Academy. All Regional Academies offer the same training, curriculum, and Academy support. Additional requirements and services may vary between sites.
The online Academy application [Getting Started Form] is forwarded to the appropriate Academy coordinator for your geographic region. [Regional Academy or local Cisco representative.] You will receive an email [call back] within one week for an informational interview. We will review the information submitted in the application, discuss [determine] your educational organization’s ability to offer the program, your level of interest, and answer your questions.
To consider offering the Academy program, Academies must have in place or plan to set up the following:
A dedicated classroom
At least a 3:1 student per computer ratio (1:1 is preferred)
A sufficient Internet connection to support all computers
An instructor available for training, and a backup instructor
Budget or grant funds to purchase the Academy Lab bundle (if required for the curriculum to be taught)
Server to download and offer curriculum
Step 3: Determine training, technology, and lab setup needs
Potential Local Academies and their Regional Academy will discuss training schedules, cost recovery charges, and support services to work out an acceptable arrangement for services. The Regional Academy will facilitate communication between the Local Academy and a Cisco education sales representative to determine technology needs and order lab equipment needed for the curriculum.
Step 4: Register online and schedule training
When the Regional Academy has approved a new Local Academy, they send an email to the Local Academy main contact person with information for logging on to the community server. The main contact person registers themselves and their organization online and schedules training.
Step 5: Become certified instructors
Instructors must complete training and become certified to be qualified to teach in the Academy program. They must pass the online final exam with a score of 80 percent or better, and pass a practical exam at the end of each semester. Local academy instructors are trained by Regional Academies.
Step 6: Launch your program!
During training, instructors learn how to set up the lab for training and have all the materials they need to launch a successful Cisco Networking Academy.
Eligible organizations
The Academy program is for educational organizations such as high schools, community colleges, and universities. Some housing developments in enterprise zones have become academies to provide training to their constituents. Only organizations with non-profit status (501(c)3 in the United States or the equivalent in other countries) are eligible to become academies.
Still have questions?
Check these Web pages for more information about the program:
Program overview
Q&A
News about the program
Networking Academy Curriculum |
