Frequently Asked Questions

  • Can I find you on Social Media?

  • I need help - I am confused and am not sure where to begin!

    Confused? Not Sure Where to Start?


    Choosing a path for career certifications for your team can be a daunting prospect - especially when there are so many conflicting sources of information.


    Building knowledge from a solid foundation is the best and most logical place to start. It is also a good idea to begin with training that:

    (a) provides valuable professional knowledge,

    (b) offers good return on investment, and

    (c) leads to industry-recognized certification.


    For these reasons, we offer the following suggestions:

    CompTIA  •  CWNP  •  CISCO


    We have simplified our suggestions into these few main vendors, which offer major industry-recognized certifications, because we understand that no-one wants to waste money and time certifying for something they would probably never use or need.


    By virtue of their "vendor neutral" status, certifications such as CompTIA (vendor-neutral, general) and CWNP (vendor-neutral, specifically aimed at Wireless and IoT) are very useful to most employers, and are "portable" between vendors. By this, we mean that it doesn't really matter which technology a company uses - the knowledge gained from CompTIA and CWNP certification training is generic enough to give the student a good, broad, overview of most of the available technological offerings (available equipment) in these fields.


    CompTIA offers a number of generic, industry-recognized certifications such as Administrator Plus, Network Plus, and Security Plus, and also specializes in certifications such as CyberSecurity, general Infrastructure (i.e., Linux), Cloud Technology, and Project Management.


    CWNP certifications are well-known in the Wireless Technology arena. CWNP provides vendor-neutral training, in various areas of wireless networks (administration, design, security, etc.), which explains the "why" of wireless technology, not just the "how". Being presented with such meaningful concepts in class enables the engineer to deeply comprehend wireless technology at its most basic level. Many of our students have had their fabled "Aha! That's how it works!" moments during these training classes. 🙂


    Cisco training and certifications, on the other hand, are specific to Cisco technology - but Cisco certifications are very widely recognized and accepted as proof of competence in the IT networking field. Cisco offers multiple areas of focus and is probably one of the most globally-recognized certification providers in the industry. This is due to Cisco's tremendous corporate size and worldwide presence in the IT networking industry. Additionally, concepts learned from Cisco training can be applied to many comparable technologies.


    Information about our CompTIA classes can be found here.

    Information about our CWNP classes can be found here.

    You can find out more about our Cisco training here.


    We can be reached at 1(855) 941-2121 to discuss your specific needs and goals.

  • Do you Offer any Other or Additional Vendors' trainings?

    The vendors named on our website are, by no means, the only vendor training we provide. 


    So, the short answer is "Yes" we are pleased to offer additional vendor options.


    We have a number of trusted partners who provide authorized training on our behalf. They, in turn, are authorized partners of those additional vendors. This serves to extend our portfolio and provides a better "one stop" service to our customers.


    We offer a selection of trainings from the following vendors, which may be delivered by our partners:

    - Arista

    - Aruba

    - Amazon Web Services (AWS)

    - Citrix

    - Hewlett Packard (HP)

    - Microsoft

    - Palo Alto Networks

    - QuickBooks

    - Scrum

    - SoftSkills (and SoftSkills / Project Management)

    - SonicWALL

    - Symantec

    - VEEAM

    - VMware

    - and many others


    Please call us at 1(855) 941-2121 to discuss course details, pricing, locations, and dates.

  • Can Anyone Enroll for Training with NC-Expert?

    Unfortunately, No


    NC-Expert is a B2B company. We provide training and consulting services to commercial/business and governmental customers only.


    To clarify, we provide services to managers, teams, and individual employees (only when funded by their employers). We also provide services to small business owners / sole traders paying through their businesses.


    Our training is aimed at professional IT engineers, who are already working in the industry.


    We do not provide services to independent individuals funded out of pocket - and apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

  • What is "Virtual" attendance?

    All our training classes are offered with virtual attendance.


    The class attendance terms "virtual", "online", and "remote" are synonymous: each term refers to the same method of attendance, which is: on your electronic device, from your location.


    Our virtual training classes are delivered by a genuine instructor, in real time (NOT pre-recorded), and the training can be accessed from the comfort of your own office or home using an Internet-enabled device.


    Since COVID-19 forced all trainings to be provided virtually, we sped up our intended migration and now provide all our training classes on this basis. 


    Our team has developed a presentation methodology whereby students don't really miss out on anything they would experience in a brick-and-mortar classroom - except the stress and added expense of travel!


    During virtual training classes:

    - Students can interact with the instructor and other students as if they were all in the same room. (When you speak, everyone can hear you.)

    - All students are provided with either electronic (or, for select classes, hardcopy) materials.

    - Students may be broken into task groups and placed in virtual "team rooms" so they can work closely together.

    - Our hosted labs can be accessed remotely from your computer using "virtual desktops", which, generally, do not require software downloads.


    To reiterate: we do not use pre-recorded video to present our instructor-led "virtual" training classes, our instructors are always live, and deliver the instruction in real-time. 


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    However, in cases where a client has enrolled multiple personnel into the same iteration of a specific training class, we can arrange to provide in-person training at your location, on dates/times that are convenient to you.

  • Should I sit the exam immediately at the end of class?

    We do not recommend this.


    Our students are encouraged to re-read and study their course materials - thoroughly - before attempting any exam.


    In recent years, one of our vendor partners performed a study of successful exam candidates, which concluded two things:

    1.  that the average time between attending class and sitting the exam was approximately 4-6 weeks, and
    2. those students who attended instructor-led training (in-person or remote) earned higher average exam scores than those who engaged in independent self-study.

    We recommend that our students take some time to prepare themselves, no matter which type of training class they have attended. If a student rushes into their exam, without studying properly, they could miss vital concepts that may cause them to fail their exam. On the other hand, students should not put off the exam for too long or they may forget what they learned in class!


    By training with an instructor, students have a valuable resource at their disposal - and we encourage them to use it. We welcome after-class questions. We also recommend that our students make friends with their classmates and arrange to study together. Helping others, and entering into discussions together, really helps to cement knowledge... and makes studying fun!


    We want our students to succeed and will do all we can to help.

  • Do you offer practice tests?

    For CWNP classes - yes. 


    Students will receive unlimited access to the class-associated Practice Test(s).


    Please see dropdown on our CWNP vendor page for further information. 

     

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    We do not offer Prasctice Tests for our other vendors' trainings. This is due to one of two potential reasons:


    [1] The vendor does not offer this type of product, or


    [2] Pursuant to a survey of over a hundred successful candidates in which they reported that either (a) they did not use the available practice test, or (b) the respondents felt that the practice test did not help them in their exam, we decided to omit this item from our offerings packages and pass along the cost savings to our students. 


    Where Practice Tests are available, students are welcome to visit vendor product pages, independently, to purchase their own practice test if they feel the need for this additional support. 

  • How does NC-Expert compare to its competitors?

    Price


    NC-Expert's classes are priced significantly below many of its competitors.


    Some IT training companies price their classes at exorbitant levels. We think that money and time are valuable and should not be wasted.


    Although we price at a lower level, this is not reflective of the service we offer: we provide a high-level of service, top-quality training, official vendor materials, and follow-up support. We simply provide you with better value for your money.


    Location


    Our head office is in Pleasanton, California, USA - not far from San Francisco. This is the location from which our virtual training is provided.


    All of NC-Expert's trainings are offered with remote attendance as the only attendance option. We have honed our presentation platforms, over the years, such that our remote attendance platform is almost identical to being in the classroom.


    Our remote classes are taught live (not pre-recorded) which means that students can hear and interact with the other students in the class, too. Live interaction between instructor and students, and students with students, is encouraged throughout our classes. 


    Most our labs utilize remote desktops, so your appropriate computing device can access our labs from anywhere.


    Schedule


    NC-Expert's classes are run at regular intervals throughout the year.


    We do not cancel classes except in unavoidable / extenuating circumstances. Again, we have heard tales, from our students, of their experiences with our competitors who have canceled classes on them, over and again. The students have gotten really frustrated about multiple cancellations and were very happy to have found us. We value your time, and appreciate that it often takes considerable organization to be able to arrange time out of work to attend class. This is why we do not "mess you around."


    In addition, because we are not a huge conglomerate, we have the ability to be flexible. If you need a class on a specific date, let us know and we will try to work with you to accommodate. (Although we have a publicly advertised schedule, we also provide lots of private classes for specific client companies, some of which may be amenable to permitting outside students/companies joining a class with their team(s) and sharing the costs.)

  • Better Business Bureau (BBB) Membership

    About the Better Business Bureau (BBB)


    According to the BBB’s own website ( https://www.bbb.org/mission-and-vision ) “BBB sees trust as a function of two primary factors - integrity and performance. Integrity includes respect, ethics, intent, and working toward a diverse, inclusive and equitable marketplace. Performance speaks to a business’s track record of delivering results in accordance with BBB standards and/or addressing customer concerns in a timely, satisfactory manner.”


    In other words, one of the main roles of the BBB is to act as a mediator for customer grievances in cases where the business is not responsive to a submitted complaint. The rating provided by BBB Is connected to the number of customer complaints submitted to BBB. Inclusion in the BBB database is based on a subscription model – for which a membership fee is paid each year.


    NC-Expert has been a member of BBB for 12 years. NC-Expert has always been highly responsive to all customer queries, making membership of BBB unnecessary, but simply a “nice to have”. Over the 12 years of membership, the BBB has never received any complaints about NC-Expert. At the time of writing this blog (October 2024), NC-Expert’s BBB rating is A+.


    Unfortunately, for the subscription renewal year of 2024-2025 the BBB Board has raised the membership fees by 125% over the 2023-2024 membership year. Measured against the original subscription rate, this calculates as an approximately 150% increase, overall. This latest increase is significant.


    In many cases loyal membership is rewarded, not penalized, as seems to be the case here. As a result, NC-Expert’s Board has determined that this year’s membership price increase, measured against the perceived value received from BBB, is disproportionate and is neither to NC-Expert nor its customers’ benefit.


    For, purely, the cost-vs-benefit reason, NC-Expert has decided not to renew its subscription.


    NC-Expert’s BBB profile was previously accessible at: 

    https://www.bbb.org/us/ca/pleasanton/profile/information-technology-services/nc-expert-1116-439600 

    ...whether, or not, this remains visible after our membership cancelation, is in the hands of the Better Business Bureau.


    Any customer concerns or grievances regarding NC-Expert can be submitted to: cs@nc-expert.com 


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    BBB Membership – Is It Worth It?


    Save the money. BBB is a paid service that’s a joke. When was the last time you looked up a business on their site or checked for their BBB cert. The only way I could see this having any value is if your main demographic is the boomer gen[eration], they think it means something.


    ( https://www.reddit.com/r/Entrepreneur/comments/15mh5sy/bbb_accreditation_worth_it_waste_of/ )


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    BBB membership and accreditation are more meaningful to Baby Boomers and older customers rather than younger ones. 


    ( https://www.fastcapital360.com/blog/bbb-accreditation-worth-it/ )


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    if a business is accredited, it has demonstrated a commitment to its customers’ best interests. The BBB also gives many businesses, accredited or not, a grade based on the A through F letter grading system. The grading system is based on an evaluation made by the BBB and is largely dependent on a business’s attention to resolving customer complaints.


    ( https://privacy.com/blog/is-bbb-accreditation-important )


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    ...the value of a BBB accreditation lies solely the eye of the beholder. For some customers, an BBB accreditation could be a make-or-break factor when choosing a company to work with. For other customers, however, a BBB accreditation might mean next to nothing. 


    ( https://www.housecallpro.com/resources/marketing/bbb-accreditation/#:~:text=Is%20BBB%20Accreditation%20Important%3F,might%20mean%20next%20to%20nothing )


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  • Federal / State Holiday Observance

    In observance of Federal and State Holidays, our administration and sales offices are usually closed on these days. 


    Please continue to contact us as usual (calls/voicemails, emails, etc), however please be aware that our responses may be slightly delayed due to observance of these holidays.


    The following is the list for 2025:


    Federal

    January 01 - New Year’s Day 

    January 20 - Dr Martin Luther King, Jr Day

    February 17 - President's Day (Washington’s Birthday)

    May 26 - Memorial Day

    June 19 - Juneteenth National Independence Day

    July 04 - Independence Day (United States)

    September 01 - Labor Day

    November 11 - Veterans' Day

    November 27 - Thanksgiving Day

    December 25 - Christmas Day


    Additional holidays (including CA State)

    January 20 - Inauguration Day

    March 31 - Cesar Chavez Day

    October 13 - Columbus’ Day / Indigenous Persons’ Day

    November 28 - Day after Thanksgiving


    Additional holidays (NC-Expert)

    March 18 - Good Friday

    April 20 - Easter Sunday (observed Monday)

    December 26 - Boxing Day (UK)

    December 31 - New Year's Eve

  • Governmental EoY Specials

    When you have "use-them-or-lose-them" funds that need to be allocated, and planning for continuing training options is well under way, we can help. Call us to discuss.


    Our Government Savings Option is used for training solutions that have standard and/or special requirements. By taking advantage of this special training budget program, you have total flexibility in your choice of delivery options and classes.


    Lock in your training budget at today's discounted pricing, and enjoy the peace of mind that comes from knowing your budget will cover your required training for as long as it takes for your employees to complete their training plan. Whether you want online or in person, public or private group training, NC-Expert has a delivery option to match your preferences and needs.


    Benefits of choosing NC-Expert:

    • Work with a dedicated training team. Our team includes former military personnel who understand the how the government works and know, first-hand, how to assess your needs and execute a custom-fitted learning plan.
    • Build a brilliant workforce. From foundational skills to advanced knowledge, we can help you develop and retain skills for a stronger and more reliable team.
    • Support and back federal initiatives. Gain the knowledge and expertise needed to comply with top federal initiatives.
    • Maximize your return on technology investments. Helping your team make the most of standardized platforms and emerging technologies.
    • Update, streamline, and strengthen infrastructure. Gain an understanding of how to reduce costs, improve interoperability, and address cybersecurity vulnerabilities.

    As a certified Woman-owned Business Enterprise (WBE), we have partnered with other, like-minded business and 8(a) providers, including those owned by minority, service-disabled veterans, HUBzone, and native tribal (Alaskan) companies, as well as strategic government contractors, to position trainings that we can offer on several major contract vehicles, including GSA Schedule 70, ITES-2S, NetCents, FasTrac, GoLearn, SeaPort-e, SEWP IV, NECO and ECS III.


    Contact us today to see how we can help preserve and stretch your training budget dollars!


    Call us at: 1(855)941-2121 

    or email: sales@nc-expert.com 

    or fill out the form on our Contact Us page.

  • Warning: False Representations

    Company Founding and Ownership


    Questions have, occasionally, been raised as to the founding and ownership of NC-Expert. We would like to formally clarify this issue...


    NetCertExpert, Inc., which rebranded under the Doing Business As (DBA) name of "NC-Expert", in 2016, for marketing purposes, operates under both names. 


    The company was founded in 2011 and, since that time, one private owner has solely and continuously owned 100% of the company.


    Although select indivdiuals have, at various points in the company's history, been employed in positions of responsibility and visibility, at no time has any portion of ownership of the company been extended to any of those persons. Those persons were each engaged with the status of "employee". Any inferences or claims by any of those persons that they founded and/or owned any part of the company are completely deceptive and false, and have been made without authorization.


    In addition, it has emerged that one or more of these employees may have made claims, and/or taken actions purporting to be authorized to act on the company's behalf. Unless these actions were taken by the company owner, in person, such employee actions were unauthorized and, as a result of discovery of employee wrongdoing, any working relationship with those persons has been terminated. 


    We are actively engaged in correcting the impact of those unauthorized actions.


    Bangladesh / India Branch


    We have learned that a company calling itself "NetCertExpert" has opened in Asia.


    They say that "the best form of flattery is imitation", so we should feel proud that our reputation is so good that a company would want to duplicate our name and ride on our coat-tails!


    However, please note that the Asian company has *nothing* to do with the original California/USA-based NetCertExpert, Inc. (dba NC-Expert) nor is it endorsed as a subsidiary or partner. 


    There is no business relationship between the two companies.


    Sulekha


    It has recently been brought to our attention that the company by the name of Sulekha has been promoting itself as an authorized agent for NC-Expert. It purports to be engaged, on our behalf, in the enrollment process for Cisco, CompTIA, and other IT training classes.


    Although NC-Expert's company name, logo, street address, and Twitter feed appear on Sulekha's website, this is absolutely without authorization. Sulekha does not have, and has never had, permission to represent NC-Expert.


    Please note that any training obtained through Sulekha is *not* NC-Expert authorized. 


    Sulekha representatives do not possess the ability to enroll the student in any NC-Expert classes, no matter what they may say. 


    In addition, any "Contact Me" requests submitted through the Sulekha site will never be seen by any NC-Expert representatives.


    NC-Expert has formally requested that Sulekha remove all references to NetCertExpert, Inc. and/or NC-Expert, from its website. 


    We are still awaiting Sulekha's response to this request.

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