Free Teacher Training
Different ITC's (Instructor Training Centres) offer a variety of free teacher (Instructor in Cisco terminology) training opportunities. Courses listed here should not be considered as an endorsement by Cisco UKI and are offered 'as is' for your consideration. You must also be aware that the same ITC's listed on this page, as well as other ITC's also offered 'paid for' options under different terms and conditions.
For these training options, you must directly contact the ITC, which can be located via the button to the right hand side.
Free courses
Offered by OU and UWTSD
The Open University (OU) and the University of Wales Trinity St David (UWTSD) formed an informal academic collaboration, based on long established free instructor/teacher training courses offered by the Open University.
The model is simple: three times an academic year, September, January and May, they will promote free courses that will commence during October, February and June. Each of these courses are 100% remote, instructor led, scalable, hybrid MOOC's (Massive Open Online Courses). Once you enrol, you are committed to commence (they will not remove you), however you are not required to complete (if you lack the time).
Within each course, you will see prominently displayed study instructions and guidance, as well as the terms and conditions for completion. This includes proctoring of the final assessment, grades that must be accomplished, number of modules (chapters) that must be completed, the locally required skills based assessment as well as the expected passing grade.
We are now pausing until early 2024
We aim to reopen enrolment for the following early 2024 ... as this initiative is run by volunteers, with no income from any source. We often have other commitments that must take precedence.
DevNet Associate
CCNAv7 - Introduction to Networking
CCNAv7 - Switching, Wireless, Routing Essentials
CCNAv7 - Enterprise Networking Security & Automation
Network Security
CyberOps Associate
We do not accept late applications.
Terms and conditions of enrolment for intake:
Enrolment deadline is 09:00 UK time on the course start dates
We do not accept late enrolments - EVER!
We do not complete anyone early on any course for any reason
You are enrolling as an educator to receive Cisco accreditation. You accept that digital badges and certificates of completion are not being offered. PLEASE DO NOT ASK!
Your purpose for participating in this training, is to utilise Cisco accreditation and credentialing, to teach any of these courses via NetAcad.
If you are already enrolled elsewhere, the OU Cisco team and collaborating colleagues WILL NOT remove you from this enrolment
By enrolling, you acknowledge that this is a 100% remote, 100% self-supporting experience
You will follow the completion requirements described within each course - it is your responsibility to read these with care
You acknowledge that by enrolling on any of these course, you will not consider yourself to be a formal student of any organisation supporting this programme, including the Open University
You must already have instructor status at an established Cisco Academy
You will not request additional special dispensation, as it will not be offered
You will not pester the team, at risk of being removed from the programme
For detailed guidance on the requirements/objectives for each course, please go this guidance page
Why is there no CCNP Enterprise Free Cisco Instructor Training?
The technical skills, equipment and teaching resource required to complete the CCNP instructor training places this in a different domain, where offering it for free isn't feasible. The collective view of all collaborating organisations, considers this to be one area where if an academy or a Cisco Instructor is willing and capable, they should consider exploring paid for options.
If you are interested, the Open University offers a postgraduate certificate in advanced networking, where any Cisco Instructor successfully completing at 70% or greater and passing the module assessment, will be accredited as a ENCOR and ENARSI instructor.