NSSP provides you with job-ready knowledge and skills and exposure to the latest technologies and applications. The NSSP program enables you to:

• develop the most current IT skills to meet global standards
• focus on the skills that are relevant and important to industry, including virtualization
• achieve proof of competency in leading global industry certifications
• work confidently with key Microsoft and Cisco technologies
• practise newly acquired skills in a real-world situation
• work effectively on an IT project integrated throughout the program
• work closely with local industry, better preparing and positioning yourself for your new career.

Who Should Participate?
The program is designed for individuals who are interested in pursuing positions in network administration and network security. Prospective students include career changers interested in entering the field, individuals working in junior positions who want to update and improve their skills and credentials for career enhancement, and individuals new to BC/Canada who wish to validate their skill set and gain important 'Canadian experience'.

Candidates should have a minimum of one year's experience in information technology (see below for further details).

NSSP is a nine-month, full-time program held at UBC Robson Square in downtown Vancouver. The final two months of the program are spent in an internship position at a local company. The program is delivered in a series of face-to-face courses, employing a range of learning modes including computer labs, lectures, assignments, exams, industry talks and visits, and an ongoing project component.

The NSSP program prepares students for the most sought-after industry certifications, including:

• VMware Certified Professional (VCP)
• Cisco Certified Entry Network Technician (CCENT)
• Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA): Windows Server® 2008 (formerly MCITP: Server Administration)
• CompTIA Network+
• CompTIA Security+

Meeting the demands of a changing industry, the program covers both Windows Server 2008/Windows 7 and Windows Server 2012/Windows 8. Other key technologies addressed are virtualization, Linux, SharePoint®, Microsoft Systems Center, Cloud computing and managing a network within a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) environment.

Our instructors are leading practitioners from local industry who bring their knowledge and experience to the program.

NSSP program dates: September 16, 2013-Jun 13, 2014.

Applications are processed on an ongoing basis, up to the published deadline for each offering of the program. There is no cost for applying to this program.

Program fees
Full tuition is $14,000, which includes a non-refundable $2,000 deposit due upon acceptance to reserve your space in the program. There are a number of payment options available (see program handbook). All required textbooks and software are included in the fee as well as all industry exam vouchers.

Funding Opportunities
Student loans are available (to a maximum of $19,980 for students with dependents, and up to $12,480 for students without dependents) Human Resources and Skills Development Canada also have funding available. Click here for more information.

Courses in the program are taught by highly qualified professionals with experience in adult education. Our instructors are also industry practitioners often working in the field that they are teaching in. This means our instructors are often experts in their field, bringing a wealth of practical information, experience and an awareness of industry and market trends to the classroom.

Before applying to this program you must read and understand the terms and conditions in the program handbook .

There is no cost to submit an application, however a non-refundable deposit is due upon acceptance to reserve your space in the program.

Before applying for this program, please read and understand the program handbook.

Admission Requirements
The admissions process helps to ensure that the needs, intentions and expectations of participants are adequately matched to the program's objectives and capabilities.

To accommodate learners from a variety of backgrounds, the admission requirements for the UBC Certificate in Network Systems and Security Professional are fairly broad. However, all applicants should have the following skills and experience:

• One year’s experience in an information technology role, including:
  • An understanding of the fundamentals of computer technology, networking and security.
  • An understanding of the operating system including an ability to perform an operating system installation and the ability to format a hard-drive.
  • Experience of the Windows operating system environment.
• Fluency in the English language (business English written and oral skills)

This is a fast-paced, intense, and challenging program and is designed for those who already have some experience or have taken courses in basic computing and networking.

If you have read the program handbook and met the admission requirements you can apply to the program by filling out and submitting an online application form and attaching the required supporting documents. As space in the programs is limited, information on the application form and in supporting documents should be as thorough as possible so that the admissions committee will have sufficient information on which to base its decision.

An admissions committee reviews program applications, and individuals are advised in writing as to whether they have been accepted into the program.