Free Teacher Training

Free Certification Ready Courses for Educators

Offered by volunteers at OU and UWTSD

The Open University (OU) and the University of Wales Trinity St David (UWTSD) formed an informal voluntary academic collaboration, based on long established free instructor/teacher training courses offered by the Open University. The model is simple: you enrol at any time at complete your studies at a pace that works for you. We check in, once every calendar month and complete those who meet the criteria.

To be able to teach CCNA, CyberOps, DevNet, or NetSec - educators (instructors) must take a course run by an ITC (Instructor Training Centre) - the OU and UWTSD are accredited ITC's.

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 (we will not remove you), however you are not required to complete (if you lack the time). With the duration of each course, you can dip in and out of each course at a pace that suits your workload.

Within each course, you will see prominently displayed study instructions and guidance, as well as the terms and conditions for completion. This includes terms and conditions for the final assessment, grades that must be accomplished. You must complete each final exam at 70% or greater and also complete the end-of-course survey - the final exam has unlimited attempts.

Paused until Summer 2026

We have now paused enrolment until Summer 2026 - watch this space where the team will announce a short summer run from a June date until late September.

Those already enrolled on the paused courses below - panic not, you are one of 5200+ enrolments ... the courses remain open until 30th of September, you may complete any time until then.

So long as you complete the final exam at 70% or greater and complete the end-of-course survey - you will be accredited.

To directly enrol on each course - please click on one of the following links -

Links and content updated 01/04/26

Everyone enrolled on (or before) the 1st of April 2026 has been marked for completion - when the final is completed at 70% and the end-of-course survey you will be automatically passed. DO NOT pester the OU Cisco Team - as this may encourage us to remove you from the course.

We encourage everyone to watch this short under ten minute introductory video and read the terms and conditions below.

Terms and conditions of enrolment for the post September 2025, intake:

You understand that this is a voluntary endeavour run by volunteers, there is no entitlement, no commitment, no recourse and no liability on behalf of Cisco, the OU, Glasgow Clyde or UWTSD.
The team will check in once a month, at the start of the month and mark everyone as complete - you will then gain your badge/certificate when you pass the final at 70% or greater on any of your attempts. You must also complete the end-of-course survey.
Your purpose for participating in this training, is to utilise Cisco NetAcad accreditation and credentialing, enabling you 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 may unenrol and re-enrol at any time; however any loss of data is entirely your own risk
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 courses, 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 - the OU Cisco Team, Glasgow Clyde nor UWTSD will not necessarily provide this
Each course is limited to a max of 366 days and will not be extended under any circumstances.
You will not pester the team for anything, doing so will risk you being removed from the programme.
No individual or organisation is awarded any special dispensation, for any reason, in any context, whatsoever.

These courses are the collaborative efforts of the OU, Glasgow Clyde and UWTSD.

And of course, the best of luck to all!

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse