Twenty-one Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) students recently earned 32 Cisco certifications.
Dr. Dwight Watt, instructor of Computer Information Systems Technology at GNTC, said he administered 32 certification tests for Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) to GNTC students, and all of the students passed all of their exams. CCST certifications may be earned in Cybersecurity, Information Technology (IT) Support and Networking.
“For about the last two years, our Cisco Academy Support Center (ASC) has made testing for CCST certification exams available to our students for free, enabling them to earn entry-level certifications,” Dr. Watt said. “I made this available to all my students. Students who tested earned between one and three certifications.”
The Cisco ASC is a regional academy within the Cisco Networking Academy that provides mentoring, onboarding, ongoing support and operational guidance to local Cisco Academies. Stanly Community College in Albemarle, N.C., is GNTC’s regional academy; Dr. Watt said he trained there to be a Certiport proctor for the exams given at GNTC on behalf of the regional academy.
The exams normally cost $145 each and are given at Certiport Authorized Test Centers, Dr. Watt said. In addition to the value in free testing, students also received the free curriculum and other benefits by participating.
Dr. Watt said over the last three years, he has taken the three exams each year while attending an annual Cisco conference to stay current with the latest updates.
Georgia Northwestern Technical College delivers high-quality workforce education to the citizens of northwest Georgia. Students can pursue associate degrees, diplomas and certificates in a wide range of career pathways, including aviation, business, health, industrial and public service. Over the past year, 14,082 people benefited from GNTC’s credit and noncredit programs. The college has an annual credit enrollment of 9,342 students and achieved a 100 percent placement rate. An additional 4,740 individuals are served through adult education, continuing education, business and industry training and Georgia Quick Start® programs.
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