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Network Engineering Track · NNEA · first intake Mon 1 February 2027

Build. Configure. Troubleshoot. Operate.

From support work to an engineer who configures, verifies and troubleshoots switched and routed networks. Two exams, one credential.

€2,950 excl. VAT
€3,569.50 incl. 21% VAT · or 6 × €525 excl. VAT
Intake
Monday 1 February 2027
Duration
26 weeks, in one class
Rhythm
Online group session every two weeks (3 h), 30-min 1:1 every week
Exams
On location in the Netherlands
Credential
NDL Network Engineer Associate (NNEA)
Who it is for

Built for people who want a clear route.

  • IT support and helpdesk staff moving into networking
  • Career starters who want a clear route instead of loose courses
  • Employees an employer wants to grow into a network engineering role

What you need to start

No networking certification needed. You work comfortably with computers and can spend 8 to 10 hours a week on the Track.

Your ladder

NNEANetwork Engineer AssociateEnrolling
NNEPNetwork Engineer ProfessionalLater
NNEENetwork Engineer ExpertLater
CCIECCIE preparationExpert prep
Month by month

Six months, one plan.

Every month has one topic and one assignment. The exams sit where the plan says they sit.

  1. When you enrol
    Preparation module From the day you enrol: the preparation module on Network Design Labs (networking fundamentals and the first CCNA lessons) and a baseline check.
  2. Intake · Mon 1 February 2027
    Kickoff for the whole class The first online group session: the plan, the rhythm and how to use the labs.
  3. Month 1
    Foundations for support TCP/IP, Ethernet and addressing. The tools and procedures of a support desk. Your lab environment set up.
  4. Month 2
    Connectivity and basic configuration Switching basics, VLANs and IP routing basics. Diagnose connectivity problems by elimination.
  5. Month 3
    Support scenarios Tickets from start to finish: gather evidence, isolate, fix, document, escalate.
    End of the month: NNEA Exam 1 · Support. Practical support scenarios: connectivity diagnosis, basic configuration and fault isolation.
  6. Month 4
    Configuration and verification VLANs, trunks and spanning tree, static routing and OSPF. Every change verified.
  7. Month 5
    Multi-technology troubleshooting Routing, switching and services such as DHCP, NAT and ACLs failing together.
  8. Month 6
    Implementation labs Build to a written requirement, prove it works, and mixed scenarios in exam style.
    End of the month: NNEA Exam 2 · Technical. Configuration, verification and troubleshooting across switching and routing, including mixed support-and-technical scenarios.
  9. Credential
    NDL Network Engineer Associate (NNEA) You receive the NNEA when you pass both exams. A single passed exam shows in your own account only; the NNEA is listed on the public NDL verification page.
Your exams

Practical exams, on location.

You receive the NNEA when you pass both exams. A single passed exam shows in your own account only; the NNEA is listed on the public NDL verification page.

NNEA EXAM 1 · SUPPORT · MONTH 3

Practical support scenarios: connectivity diagnosis, basic configuration and fault isolation.

NNEA EXAM 2 · TECHNICAL · MONTH 6

Configuration, verification and troubleshooting across switching and routing, including mixed support-and-technical scenarios.

The first attempt at every exam is included. A resit is paid separately.

Every week

The rhythm that keeps you going.

Group session every two weeks

3 hours online with your class and your instructor: new material, worked examples and the assignment for the next two weeks.

A 1:1 every week

Book 30 minutes with your instructor every week. A week you skip does not carry over to the next.

Questions by email

Between sessions you ask your questions by email. You get an answer within one working day.

Labs that check themselves

Many lab assignments on Network Design Labs check your work automatically, so you see straight away what works.

Peer review

Some assignments you review with a classmate. Explaining your choice is part of learning it.

6 months NDL All-Access

Every course, lab and practice exam on Network Design Labs for the length of the Track.

Where it can lead

Possible directions.

Network EngineerNetwork Implementation EngineerNetwork Operations EngineerNetwork Support Engineer

Job titles are examples of possible directions, not guaranteed outcomes. Where you go depends on your experience, what you can show and what employers need.

Enrol

Start on Monday 1 February 2027.

Pay online and your preparation module opens the same day. The payment page runs through Stripe: card, iDEAL and other methods. You receive a receipt and an invoice by email.

Introductory price for the intake of Monday 1 February 2027

PAY IN FULL
€2,950excl. VAT

€3,569.50 incl. 21% VAT

One payment. Everything unlocks from the day you enrol.

PAY MONTHLY
6 × €525excl. VAT

6 × €635.25 incl. 21% VAT · €3,150 in total excl. VAT

Six monthly payments. Each payment unlocks that month's materials and sessions. The plan runs for the full six months.

From the second intake: €3,950 excl. VAT in full, or 6 × €695 excl. VAT.

Included

  • The preparation module, from the day you enrol
  • 13 online group sessions of 3 hours, every two weeks
  • A 30-minute 1:1 with your instructor, every week
  • Assignments with feedback, auto-checked labs and peer review
  • The first attempt at both NNEA exams, on location in the Netherlands
  • 6 months of Network Design Labs All-Access
  • Progress reports for your employer, if your employer pays

Not included

  • A resit is paid separately.
  • Exam Training on location is an optional module, booked separately.
  • Travel to the exam location.
Is your employer paying? On the payment page, choose to buy as a business and enter the company name and VAT number. Prefer an invoice in full or in two parts? Email academy@networkdesignlabs.com.

At checkout you confirm that you want access to the course materials straight away. Your right of withdrawal for the digital materials ends once access is given; for the live sessions, private customers keep 14 days. Introductory price for this intake. From the second intake: €3,950 excl. VAT, or 6 × €695. All rules

Questions
Can I get a refund?

Digital course materials work like a sealed product: once opened, they can't be returned. That's why you confirm at checkout that you want access straight away. For the live sessions, private customers keep a 14-day right of withdrawal, paying only for what was already delivered.

Is an NDL certification a Cisco certification?

No. NDL certifications are issued by Network Design Labs and assess competence against the NDL scheme. They are not Cisco certifications and not accredited qualifications. The Tracks build skills that also help with Cisco exams.

What happens if I miss a week?

You catch up with the material and the assignment of that session on Network Design Labs. A 1:1 you don't book in a week does not carry over, and the deadlines stay, so plan your study time from the start.

How much time does it take?

Plan 8 to 10 hours a week: one group session every two weeks, your 1:1, and assignments and labs in between.

What if I fail an exam?

The first attempt at every Track exam is included. A resit is paid separately. Optional Exam Training on location helps you prepare for it.

Can my employer pay?

Yes. Choose to buy as a business on the payment page and enter the company name and VAT number. EU businesses with a VAT number pay no Dutch VAT (reverse charge). Prefer an invoice in full or in two parts (at the start and in month 3)? Email academy@networkdesignlabs.com.

Where are the exams?

On location in the Netherlands. You receive the address and the time with your exam invitation.

Why is the price lower for the first intake?

The first intake runs at an introductory price of €2,950 excl. VAT. From the second intake the price is €3,950 excl. VAT.

Prefer design? See the Network Design Track →All about the Tracks