I Want to Become a Computer Network Engineer,How can i get Without going College?

Answer 1

Anyone can call themselves a network engineer, and they might even have the required skills and knowledge, but not many companies will hire one without a colledge or trade school degree.

Answer 2

I disagree with jimobasa about the *impossibility* of being a self-taught network engineer. I would even go as far as to say that you probably wouldn't have to buy many books -- much of the information you would need to learn is available online if you search for it, and you're willing to put the time and effort into really learning what you need to know.

However, unless you're going to start your own company, it would be very hard to get a *job* as a network engineer without a formal degree from an accredited institute of higher learning. You may have the knowledge and the ability, but without that little piece of paper called a diploma, you will be hard-pressed to put your knowledge to a profitable use. I know that's not what you want to hear -- but it's true.

Answer 3

start off in a call center at an NSP or ISP, you'll probably want to go read the CCNA books etc so you can be familiar with the topics. However you've probably missed the boat on becoming a network engineer since most call centers have either been automated, or shipped off to APAC.

Most of todays network engineers were around back in the days of the NOCS (network operations centers) when lots of companies were NSPs/ISPs and when NOCs actually did some level of networking and could learn. Today most NOCS are ticketing centers to send information up the chain to tier II or direct to the network engineer.

Either way, you probably want to start off getting like a CCNA (www.cisco.com) and try to find some local ISP and get into their call center.

I also suggest going out and starting with the fundamentals, learn the OSI inside and out and how it applies to the different mediums etc..


It will be harder though for you to get ahead/up to speed today as opposed to those of us who have been around since the 90's just b/c of how the industry has changed..

Either way, it'll probably take you a good 5-10 years before you can call yourself "engineer", so might as well go ahead and get the college diploma too..*but target a trade school that specifies in "networking"* etc..and not something general like Computer Engineering or Computer Science.

Answer 4

All of the previous answers are rigth, you can get some certifications, and learn those subjects by your self or taking some courses. And that is true that you will not get an engineer certificate if you don't go to college. So what you do depends of what you want to achieve. I would say that if you have some posibility to go to college, do it, you will get much more than only the certificate. It is true as well that you can have a lot of more knowledge and experience on diferent tools with the experience, so if you cannot go to college go for it, but you will have to work a lot either case.

Answer 5

Get some books and study them at home. Then, take some Computer Network Engineer exams privately.

Answer 6

College is helpful, but not necessary. I have worked for an I.T. VAR since I was 18, 1985 I am in sales, however most of our engineers were not college graduates. I would recomment going to work for and I.T. Reseller, etc. and get started, it isn't rocket science and basically as you go and usually these companies pay for your test certifications, they have to have a certain no. to maintain their status w/ various manufactures. I have seen over the yrs several engineers work their way up, even startiing out as the delivery guy. Most employers are egor to assist, let you have hands on, hang out and assist with certain things and for you know it, you be teaching someone like you now.
What are of the us do you live in if you don't mind me asking, maybe one of our locations has an opening. never know

Answer 7

There is no way simply because your chosen field of study involves a considerable amount of hands-on teaching inside the classroom. Computer network engineering is not something you can learn from books.

Answer 8

You can take some Cisco courses, take the certifications they have, from the CCNA to the CCNP, for that you don't need to go to college but you have to pay for the classes, I took the course for the CCNA in high school, the course is entirely online and the exams too.

Answer 9

ill say get certifiications like: Cisco, Juniper,CWNA or BCNE

All you have to do is to choose the best certification for you.
Either you’ll base it from the requirements of most companies that are hiring or by your friends’ opinion