1. What is the Cisco Networking Academy Community?
When your institution becomes an academy, you join a global network of diverse educational institutions dedicated to the values and mission of Networking Academy and student success. The global ecosystem of partners provides support, training, and value-added products and services.
2. What is an academy?
An academy is an institution that teaches students IT skills and career building using the Cisco Networking Academy curriculum and tools. Learning institutions may be secondary schools, community colleges, universities as well as organizations such as community centers, correctional facilities, orphanages, and rehabilitation centers.
3. How does a learning institution become an academy?
A contact who is authorized to make decisions for the institution completes the online form: Become an Academy. The form is reviewed by Cisco Networking Academy staff. Additional information may be required, depending on regional requirements and processes. Applicants are notified by email of the outcome. If the application is accepted, the contact will receive an email to log in to the learning platform and sign the membership agreement to set up their account.
4. What kinds of institutions are eligible for the Cisco Networking Academy program?
An eligible institution is a secondary school, university, college, career or technical school, or similar learning organization that operates as a not-for-profit or is a Cisco-approved organization. A not-for-profit offers Cisco Networking Academy courses on a cost-recovery basis for the social benefit of its students and community. Cisco-approved organizations are for-profit entities that Cisco determines, in its absolute discretion, are eligible to participate in the Networking Academy Program.
5. What is a not-for-profit institution?
The Cisco Networking Academy, a Cisco Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program, was created to benefit students and communities around the world. A not-for-profit is defined as such under local law. If no definition exists in local law, the institution can provide evidence to Cisco that it will offer Cisco Networking Academy courses on a cost-recovery basis for the social benefit of students and the community.
6. How does a for-profit entity become Cisco approved?
The Cisco Networking Academy, a Cisco Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program, was created to benefit students and communities around the world. For-profit universities, accredited career colleges, government departments or agencies that otherwise meet quality and legal requirements for participation may provide evidence that Cisco, in its absolute discretion, requires to document that the program benefits the students and communities they impact. In some instances these organizations may be required to pay a fee to participate.
7. What are the requirements for becoming an academy?
Once an institution’s application is accepted, the academy contact will receive an email to log in to netacad.com, sign the membership agreement, and set up accounts for instructors. Any courses that do not require instructor training or equipment bundles become immediately available for instructors to create.
To offer these courses as face-to-face, an academy will need:
A classroom
Student computers for access to the curriculum
Persistent Internet access of at least 512Kbps
To offer IT Essentials, CCNA, CCNA Security, and CCNP courses, an academy must have:Funds to purchase lab equipment bundles (varies by curriculum)
A dedicated classroom of at least 550 square feet or 50 square meters for hands-on practice
Student computers for access to curriculum
Persistent Internet access of at least 512Kbps
An instructor available for training and qualification through an Instructor Training Center (ITC)
An affiliation with an Academy Service Center (ASC)
8. Who is a qualified instructor?
Instructors must work for a learning institution with a Networking Academy program to teach a Networking Academy course. The academy contact at the school will provide the instructor with a login to the learning platform and access to an optional orientation course. Instructors may create a course by choosing from a drop-down menu of available courses. More training may be needed to qualify to teach more courses.
IT Essentials, CCNA, CCNA Security, and CCNP courses require an instructor to complete training and certification through an Instructor Training Center (ITC). Once you are accredited to teach a course by an ITC, you will be able to set up the course and add your students in the Learning Platform.
9. What are lab equipment requirements?
Cisco Networking Academy courses, including Cisco CCNA, CCNA Security, and CCNP, have a hands-on component where students set up and configure equipment. Academies that plan to offer these courses are required to have dedicated classroom space, a trained instructor, and purchase an appropriate lab equipment bundle. The bundles include Cisco networking equipment at a significant discount.
10. What does Cisco provide to academies?
Since 1997, Cisco CSR has invested in the development and promotion of the Cisco Networking Academy, a Cisco Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program.
Our courses provide in-depth technology training to prepare for certification, and encourage students to solve problems and work together, just as they will in the workplace.
Our curriculum is translated into multiple languages and delivered via an online learning platform to make the experience both personally relevant and globally recognized.
Our community of support and training centers prepares local instructors to coach and mentor students in hands-on labs and supports consistent implementation of the program.
Our career building resources created with employers and community agencies help students transition from classroom to career path.
Academies receive discounts on Cisco equipment and on certification exams for students.
Cisco sponsors events and competitions to bring academies together and recognize successful programs.
11. What is Cisco NetSpace?
NetSpace is the learning platform created by Cisco to deliver the Networking Academy program to institutions and individuals worldwide. We put everything you need to deliver a top quality IT skills and career building program into a single learning platform. As new technologies change the way we learn, Networking Academy evolves the learning platform to provide a consistent and engaging experience.
12. What is an Academy Support Center (ASC)?
An ASC is an institution that is recognized by Cisco to provide academies with day-to-day operational support and services to promote quality and sustainability. Academies may choose an ASC based on the services and support they require. This selection occurs during the enrollment process and academies may change their affiliation at any time.
Academies that plan to teach IT Essentials, CCNA, CCNA Security, or CCNP courses are required to affiliate with an ASC. ASCs may provide a wide variety of services, including help setting up the lab, preparing instructors, and ongoing support. ASCs can help any academy improve instruction, provide support, and promote the program to students, instructors, government leaders, and employers. ASCs may charge a fee for their services.
13. How do I choose an ASC?
If you intend to offer IT Essentials, CCNA, CCNA Security, or CCNP courses, the system will require you to have an ASC affiliation. You may be working with an ASC when you start the application process and choose to associate with that ASC. If you do not have a relationship with an ASC, go to the Academy Support Center Locator. Select an ASC near you that best fits your needs. You may want to contact the ASC to learn more about the services they offer and pricing.
14. What is an Instructor Training Center (ITC)?
An ITC is an institution that trains and accredits new instructors and provides technical support for one year after initial training. The ITC may provide ongoing instructor professional development. To choose an ITC, go the Instructor Training Center Locator. They may charge a fee for their services. Not all courses require instructor training. Instructors can see which courses they are qualified to teach by choosing ‘create course’ in the learning platform. More training may be needed to qualify to teach more courses.
15. How are courses delivered?
Some courses are hands-on and require students and instructors to have in-person access to equipment as well as virtual access to the curriculum. Other courses are designed for online delivery and can be offered as self-paced, online courses for students or as part of a blended learning experience. For the most current list of offerings, go to courses and click the type filter to view instructor-led or self-paced.