Why are the CCI IT training programs shorter than other schools?
Persons attracted to CCI Training Center have families, bills and responsibilities. They cannot put everything on hold and school for the next year. They are willing to work hard, study and complete a training course in less time. CCI offers job skills training. You learn only those items required on the job. This is typically called an accelerated program.
Do I need to have a complete understanding of computers to be begin the program?
Almost everyone is somewhat familiar with personal computers. The training program begins with a networking introduction class which is used to orient the student to elementary and more complex basic concepts.
What kind of jobs are available for graduates of CCI's IT programs?
Students are prepared for a variety of IT, computer repair, network administration, IT security and network design occupations. Career changing individuals can expect to work in an apprentice or entry-level position for a period of time to learn their new trade. Depending upon the training program, the individual will earn several industry certifications and a variety of occupational skills.
How many students are usually in a class?
CCI IT classes are small. Usually there are 8-10 students in a class. Some classes may be slightly larger.
Are there tests while in school?
Yes, instructors are always monitoring the progress of students. There may be quizzes and labs during class and there will be a final exam at the end of each class module.
How much does Certification matter?
Have you ever heard someone say, “How can I get experience if I can’t get a job”? An IT Certification typically proves to an employer that an entry-level candidate has the necessary prerequisite skills required to do the Job. In other words, that’s how you get “The Job”. The next step is to invest a few years in that job to gain experience. For positions that require the job candidate to have experience, the IT Certification will allow that candidate to “stand out”, as well as, negotiate a higher salary.
How do I avoid being called “Paper Certified”?
Most employers avoid hiring “Paper Certified” technicians. At CCI our Instructors have years of experience in the field, present topics by sharing their “Real World” experiences, and will require every student to get maximum “Hands On” exposure to the technology. Each student will receive instructor led, as well as, hands on training while attending class. "Paper Certified" may refer to bootcamp test cram techniques where the test-taker really does not learn the material. These individuals are easily identified in the work-place.
What if I fail?
People come to CCI Training Center to succeed. You will find yourself pushing harder because your future matters. Should you have a difficult time in a particular class, you are welcome to repeat the class or seek tutoring. Computer labs are also available outside of class time.
What happens if I miss a day of school?
CCI offers free tutoring. Instructors will be pleased to review class assignments and topics covered. Special reading assignments may be offered to the student.
I'm afraid I might not be able to keep up.
This is a common fear. You will find that other students will assist you, as well as the instructors and program manager. If you make sufficient effort, you will succeed. Planning your study time with sufficient reading time will make the difference.
Must I take all of the classes?
The program has been carefully designed by professional IT educators and reviewed by numerous IT employers and experts. The programs have been submitted to the Proprietary Schools section of the Texas Workforce Commission in Austin and have been review by several Texas Workforce county and regional boards. Many of the modules follow vendor training guidelines. All of the material in the program is required for success in the IT job market. You will need this knowledge to perform your job in your new career.
I have had training before. Can I advance place out of classes?
You may request advance placement consideration to place out of some non-core class modules. Obtain an Advance Placement Request form from any CCI Training Counselor. We advise that, if possible, plan to take all of the course modules.
Can I work while in school?
Yes, CCI offers both day and evening class schedules. Class hours are 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM, five days a week or 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM three evenings per week.. Some students work days, evenings or weekends while in school. Please keep in mind your homework and reading schedule. In an effort of offer an accelerated program, you will be required to read quite a bit.
What happens if I must miss an extended number of days of class?
You may request a leave-of-absence for a limited period of time from the school administration office. You may continue school when you return. You may request or be required to retake one or more missed modules. Retakes are at no charge. (Leaves are subject to government agency regulations).
Do I get just one instructor like other schools?
No, you will be in-class with a number of different instructors. CCI Training Center has a full-time IT faculty with individuals with many years of IT training and industry experience.
Can I get a PELL grant to come to CCI?
CCI offers accelerated programs of 1-4 months in duration. Typically, programs at Title IV schools offering PELL grants are at least 9 to 12 months in length and cost between $14 and $20 thousand dollars. The Pell grant is designed for entry-level training with proof required of poverty or low-income. A Pell grant only covers about $3,000 worth of schooling per year. CCI saves you that much more because the programs cost so much less.
Are there scholarships available for training?
Absolutely. See: Scholarships
I have some books, can I use them?
Yes, providing they are identical to the ones currently in use in the program. You may also purchase your books elsewhere and bring them to class. See the school catalog for a list of program books.
There are some schools that offer “self-paced” training over a period of two years. How does CCI differ?
Self-paced is exactly like going to the library everyday and reading the book. These schools allow you to “check-out” a CD and use their library PC’s to study. In fact, these CD’s are regularly sold on the Internet. You can purchase them cheaper than attending that school.
Several colleges teach IT computer classes. How does CCI differ from a local college?
There are several significant differences. A college works on a semester bases. This means starting in January or September at the beginning of a standard semester and progressing through classes, sometimes over a matter of years. Of course, the class ends at the end of the semester whether you understand the material or not. Normally the college does not offer free retakes like CCI does. Most college courses are not targeted at earning an industry recognized certification for the course. Another major disadvantage is that colleges do not have specifically training and dedicated placement counselors to assist you once you complete a program.
Will I use test prep materials to prepare for my certification exams?
Yes, CD’s with practice test materials will be available for your use.
Will I take all of my certification exams prior to finishing the classroom work?
Not normally. You will be very busy with your classroom work. CCI advises that you study for your exams and take than as soon as possible. You may be able to complete three or more exams while you are in class. The remaining exams you may study for and complete shortly after the conclusion of classes.
Am I "Certified" when I graduate?
Upon graduation you will receive a Certificate of Completion from CCI Training Center. Industry certifications are obtained by taking standard examinations offered by a recognized association or vendor. This will indicate to a potential employer that you have achieved a level of mastery of the information. A degree of competence. In some CCI IT programs you will be prepared to take the exams for eight or more certifications.
Can I obtain a grant to come to CCI Training Center?
Yes if you qualify. See: Government Grant Programs
I live in a rural area, can I find a IT job?
While many traditional IT employers tend to be in commercial areas, manufacturing, distribution and other employers may easily be located in more rural settings.
I have been out of school for a long time, I don't know if I can get back into gear.
CCI specializes in "adult training techniques". Most of the individuals entering CCI for career training have been out of school for years. We assist the student and progress from easy to more complex subjects and concepts in the program.
I have never done anything remotely like IT or computers, can I really expect to be successful?
If you apply yourself and are dedicated to the success of your new career the answer is yes for entry level job placement. Career training is designed for those individuals that are "career changing". It is mostly expected that a person not have industry experience prior to beginning some of the programs.
Can I audit a class before I decide upon the school?
Absolutely. We always welcome you to join a class for an hour or a day to listen to and meet the instructors and to talk with some of the current students. Find out for yourself why they chose CCI as their career training school. Get first hand information from the people who are actually doing it. Just contact a CCI Training Coordinator and they will arrange for a seat in the classroom. Usually you can see more than one class during a visit.
How much do people get paid right out of school?
This varies with the skills and experience you bring to the interview. It may also vary with the location and size of the firm to which you are applying. Several industry web sites offer the results of surveys concerning employment compensation.
I am pursuing my MCDST certification today, and I am also interested in pursuing MCSA certification in the future. Will Microsoft recognize the MCDST credential as alternatives to the MCSA elective?
The MCDST credential is accepted as an alternative to the elective exams for the MCSA credential. See MCSA on Microsoft Windows Server 2000 certification requirements or MCSA on Microsoft Windows Server 2003 certification requirements for updates on additional elective alternatives.
How is the MCDST certification different from the MCSA certification?
The MCDST credential is for professionals who use excellent customer service skills to educate users, as well as solve hardware or software operation and application problems on the desktop or client side based on the Microsoft Windows® desktop operating system. The MCSA credential is for professionals who implement, manage, and troubleshoot existing network and system environments based on the Microsoft Windows 2000 and Microsoft Windows Server 2003 operating systems. These individuals typically do not directly support end users or troubleshoot desktop or client-side issues as part of their job function. Unlike MCSAs, MCDSTs are not expected to have network administration skills.
Does the MCDST credential cover other areas of expertise needed by a support technician such as customer service skills certified by the Help Desk Insitute (HDI)?
Microsoft certifications such as the MCDST are designed to enhance technical application of software. Complementary certifications offered by HDI are focused on professional skills.
Most of the help desk certifications in the marketplace complement the MCDST certification because it is a technical credential focused on supporting key technologies on the Windows Desktop Operating System, specifically Microsoft Windows XP and Microsoft Office. This exam is targeted at resolving 80 percent of the incident requests from end users running Windows XP Home Edition or Windows XP Professional.
Because soft skills such as call management and customer service skills are an important component of a successful help desk or support professional job role, Microsoft is co-marketing with HDI, a leader in help desk credentials for customer service and call management. HDI is a global industry leader in help desk credentials for customer service and call management and has an excellent reputation working with Fortune 500 companies. Both Microsoft and HDI want to ensure that customers have access to a complete help desk certification solution.
As a hiring manager, why would I hire an MCDST over an MCSA or MCSE? Will MCDSTs have difficulty finding jobs in competition with MCSAs or MCSEs?
MCDST, MCSA, and MCSE job roles are distinct. These certifications—for desktop support technicians, systems administrators, and systems engineers, respectively—provide hiring managers with an accurate means to identify qualified individuals for specific job roles within an organization’s IT structure.
Recent research indicates that a demand gap exists in organizations between the number of support technicians this is needed on Microsoft Windows Desktop Operating systems and the number of skilled individuals available to do the job. The MCDST credential will help employers readily identify qualified individuals to close this gap.
How is the MCDST credential different from the Office Specialist exams?
Microsoft Office Specialist (Office Specialist) certification is a globally recognized standard for demonstrating desktop skills. The Office Specialist credential measures competence and productivity with Microsoft Office programs. The MCDST credential is focused on the troubleshooting and maintenance of applications—not the usage of features.
How does the MCDST credential differ from the CompTIA exams?
The A+ Core Hardware and the A+ Operating Systems Technologies exams measure essential competencies for a desktop computer hardware service technician. These exams provide excellent hardware and foundational knowledge of a PC. The MCDST credential is focused specifically on the desktop support technician working in a service desk environment. The MCDST exams go beyond the basics and focus on diagnosis and assessment of end-user incident requests on the Microsoft Windows operating system and the applications that run on it. The MCDST exams include troubleshooting procedures consistent with the Microsoft Operations Framework.
What are the benefits of earning the MCDST credential?
Earning a Microsoft certification acknowledges your expertise in working with Microsoft products and technologies. The IT industry, your employer, clients, and peers will recognize your MCDST credential as a symbol of the skills and knowledge you have gained. Microsoft certification demonstrates that you have the ability to successfully support Microsoft business solutions for your organization or client.
I already Have an A+ certification, how will the MCDST help me?
If you're just beginning your IT career, the MCDST makes a great addition to an A+ certification, giving you the skills to provide phone support and troubleshoot the Windows XP desktop OS, Outlook, Internet Explorer and Microsoft Office applications. These basic support and troubleshooting skills are the foundations of knowledge you need in order to move into Network or Systems Administration tasks.
In the past, you've had to increase your knowledge from the basic desktop hardware and software "break/fix" skills of an A+, all the way to a full MCSE as you climbed the IT career ladder. Now, with the advent of the MCSA and the new MCDST certifications, there is a clearly defined path that builds upon your skills every step of the way.
The MCDST was designed to address the top issues that help-desk technicians face every day and to help users solve the problems they are most likely to encounter. The training focuses on troubleshooting and resolution rather than product features. For companies, adopting the MCDST as a standardized knowledge-base for your help-desk and technical support staff provides an expected level of service that decreases time spent troubleshooting issues, and increases the productivity of your support staff as well as the end-users.
How can I determine whether I am an appropriate candidate to earn the MCDST certification?
The MCDST certification covers the skills of help desk technician, customer support representative, PC support specialist, technical support representative, and technical support specialists as defined by the National Workforce Center for Emerging Technologies Skill Standards for Information Technology and other research worldwide.
The MCDST credential is for IT professionals working in the typically complex computing environment of small, medium, or large organizations. An MCDST candidate should have 1–12 months of experience supporting end users of a desktop operating system.
The hands on training and labs that you receive at CCI will more than prepare you not only for the exams but also for an entry level position in the IT industry.
In comparison to the candidates for an MCSA or MCSE certification, how many people does Microsoft expect will be interested in this certification.
We expect this one to be as popular (or even more popular) that the MCSA and MCSE certifications. In the US alone, there are over 500,000 positions, with 100,000 of those positions open.
Is it better for somebody new at certification process to go for MCSA first, then MCSE?
It depends on your current job role and experience level. If you're entry to the IT field, the MCDST is a good starting point.
For any other questions please call the school and ask for a Training Coordinator.
