CCNA is definitely the way to go, you could take Net+ but its pretty much the same thing as CCNA, but not as proprietary, but seeing as how CISCO practically runs the background of the internet, its not such a problem. And even if you end up gettnig juniper products or something else, all the commands are very easy to pick up most router IOS's being unix based. CCNA helped me expand my knowledge ALOT, and I do mean ALOT. If you were going to get anything to test on, you might grab a CISCO 1841 router, there not cheap but if you have a "unlimited" amount id get one, o and me one:). If you sign up for a Cisco Netacad class, you get access to PacketTracer which is a router IOS emulator which is very useful and powerful and there are also other alternatives out there. Nowadays you can even make a Virtual Machines with a router IOS.
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CCNA is definitely the way to go, you could take Net+ but its pretty much the same thing as CCNA, but not as proprietary, but seeing as how CISCO practically runs the background of the internet, its not such a problem. And even if you end up gettnig juniper products or something else, all the commands are very easy to pick up most router IOS's being unix based. CCNA helped me expand my knowledge ALOT, and I do mean ALOT. If you were going to get anything to test on, you might grab a CISCO 1841 router, there not cheap but if you have a "unlimited" amount id get one, o and me one :). If you sign up for a Cisco Netacad class, you get access to PacketTracer which is a router IOS emulator which is very useful and powerful and there are also other alternatives out there. Nowadays you can even make a Virtual Machines with a router IOS.