Same sequence — IT Support content first, then Network Technician content — capped at 100 total hours. The IT Support and Networking course sets both cover network connectivity fundamentals (IP addressing, DNS/DHCP, wired/wireless basics), basic security threat awareness, as well as introduction to the NetAcad system, so those topics are trimmed to remove overlap but keep original material in the appropriate course segments without losing content breadth and depth across the combined courses.
Total instructional hours: 100 (IT Support: 26 hrs, Networking: 74 hrs incl. exam prep). Part 1 (IT Support) is completed first, followed by Part 2 (Networking, delivered at its full length, including exam prep). Delivered over 13 consecutive weeks. Available instructor-led (live, synchronous) or self-paced (asynchronous) via Cisco Networking Academy, with online mentoring — both synchronous and asynchronous — available a minimum of 4 hours per week, with additional hours scheduled as needed.
| Course | Hours | Main Subject Content |
|---|---|---|
| IT Customer Support Basics | 4 hrs | Help desk operations, professional documentation and customer communication; systematic troubleshooting approach, remote device support, AI-assisted diagnostic tools. |
| Operating Systems Support | 10 hrs | Troubleshooting Windows (display/power, accessibility, security, cloud backup, boot issues); Linux and macOS support and tools; mobile OS/app troubleshooting, mobile security, and cloud services. |
| Security and Connectivity Support (trimmed) | 6 hrs | Troubleshooting directory services, shared drives, and peripherals; network connectivity (wired/wireless, IP addressing (basic), gateways, DNS/DHCP, firewalls, CLI diagnostics). |
| Hardware and Upgrade Support | 6 hrs | Hardware troubleshooting (safety procedures, device info tools, ports/cables); hardware upgrades (system architecture, core components, driver/device management, secure e-waste disposal). |
| Networking Basics | 22 hrs | Network components/types, wireless technologies, home network setup, protocols, network media (copper/fiber/wireless), IPv4/IPv6 addressing (advanced), routing, TCP/UDP, diagnostic tools, Packet Tracer basics. |
| Networking Devices and Initial Configuration | 22 hrs | Network design, cloud/virtualization, number systems, Ethernet switching, network layer/routing, IPv4 addressing and subnetting, ARP, DNS/DHCP, TCP/UDP, Cisco IOS CLI, building small networks, ICMP/connectivity testing. |
| Network Addressing and Basic Troubleshooting | 14 hrs | Physical and data link layers, network layer routing, IPv6 static/dynamic addressing, IPv6 neighbor discovery, Cisco switch/router components and boot process, troubleshooting connectivity (wired, wireless, internet). |
| Network Support and Security (trimmed) | 12 hrs | Network support (endpoint/network assistance), cybersecurity threats/vulnerabilities/attacks, network security (protective measures, access controls). |
| Network Technician Career Path Exam Prep | 4 hrs | Cumulative review and exam readiness for the CCST Networking certification exam. |
Total instructional hours: 100 — including dedicated exam-prep time before the certification exam.
IT End User Support, Help Desk Support, Computer Support Specialist, Network Support Technician, Entry-level Help Desk Technician.
Help desk and customer support, OS troubleshooting, hardware diagnosis/upgrades, network operation and device configuration, network addressing, basic troubleshooting, and network security fundamentals.
Cisco digital badges for both CCST IT Support and CCST Networking. After completion of the combined course the Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) exam, CCST IT Support and CCST Networking, may be challenged, each a separate US $130 fee paid directly to Cisco/Pearson VUE. This exam fee is included in the course fee.
This pathway is hosted on Cisco NetAcad and delivered by Next Steps Certification Training Centre, a verified Cisco Networking Academy (Academy Locator listing: 126 School Street, Canso, NS, Canada).
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Reach out to Soldiers in Tech to check your eligibility, or contact NSCTC directly with program questions.
Get in TouchFor eligibility, applications, and funding questions, contact the Soldiers in Tech team through the Roland Gossage Foundation.
For questions about this pathway or its course content, contact:
NSCTC