Online Certs/Accelerated Programs - Looking for quality online schools

I'm a newb when it comes to online schooling. WGU is great but I'm not looking for a BA, nor can I afford it.

I currently work in IT as a Desktop Tech and I'm finally getting around to starting my certs.

There are a lot of community colleges that offer their own certs, but thats sort of a last resort due to lack of time, industry recognition and their awful requisite programs.

Are their reputable interactive online schools out there? e.g Streaming audio/video of actual professors, Webinars, etc?

Immediate goal: A+

Long Term Study/Schooling: MSCE Win7/8, Net+, CCENT/CCNA, Security+

Any help would be appreciated.

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veritas_libertas

Have you looked at any local community/tech colleges? Usually they will have a class that is meant to help you pass the A+.

Mend

I wont need schooling for A+, mainly networking where just reading a book is very difficult.

veritas_libertas

Is there a Cisco Academy in your area? That would be great choice if it's available.

Mend

No such luck.

veritas_libertas

You may have to consider CBT Nuggets or Trainsignal then. Also, Udemy has quite a few different IT related training options. I'm currently using Chris Bryant's Udemy CCNA class: CCNA 2013 On-The-Go Video Boot Camp With Chris Bryant by Chris Bryant

ptilsen

WGU is easily your best bet. Many of the certs and technologies you are working for are part of it. If you focus hard enough, it's cheaper than community college and even cheaper than self-studying, for some of the harder certs. I don't see why you wouldn't be able to afford it with student loans. Two terms at WGU are cheaper than taking three classes per semester for three semesters at a community college.

If your goal is truly just training, I don't understand why you're looking at professors and schools. Most reputable schools don't offer training on this type of thing, and you certainly won't find any "professors" teaching MCSE curriculum because you can't get a doctorate in Microsoft Windows. WGU is the only regionally accredited school of which I'm aware that actually includes certifications as part of the curriculum. Even AS and AAS programs at CCs generally don't teach straight out of the certification's curriculum. There are plenty of certification-specific instructor-led training programs out there. Again, they're generally not cheap, and in fact the ones I've seen would easily top the price of a years at WGU just to train for an MCSE. I'm going to training for one of the Microsoft exams on SCCM 2012, and the cost is around $1800. The cheapest available was $1400. You'll find the training for any individual MS exam to be around there, generally, and that means somewhere in the neighborhood of $10,000 if you want instructor-led full MCSE training.

If online videos are okay for you, rather than an actual instructor-led online course, then there are options there. Otherwise, I think you're going to be disappointed in the search for an affordable, online instructor-led class relating to an IT certification.

Mend

^Thanks, I'll look into this.

jdancer

Some ideas for a list of online schools is degreeinfo.com and geteducated.com

JayTheCracker

university of Portsmouth? (British one)

dt3k

Since you already work in IT you may want to see if this is still available:

WGU Launches New Scholarship for IT Professionals | Western Governors University

filkenjitsu

Fort Hays State University (in Kansas, regionally accredited) offers the CCNA and CCNP as part of their bachelors degree program:

Information Networking & Telecommunications (Computer Networking) - Fort Hays State University