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Network Administrator Training in Ontario: College or Certification?
Two routes lead to a network administrator job in Ontario. Here is what each costs, how long it takes and what the job pays.
There are two main ways to train as a network administrator in Ontario: a two- or three-year college diploma such as Computer Systems Technician (Networking), or the Cisco CCNA certification, which most people earn in three to six months of part-time study. Job Bank puts the median wage for network administrators at $35.71 an hour in Ontario, about $74,000 a year full time.
What a network administrator does
A network administrator keeps an organization's network running: configuring switches, routers, wireless and firewalls, managing IP addressing, monitoring for outages and fixing them. Job Bank classes the role with computer network and web technicians (NOC 22220). In the Greater Toronto Area the work sits in banks, hospitals, school boards, telecoms and the managed service providers that support smaller businesses.
College diploma or certification: the two routes
| College diploma | Certification (CCNA) | |
|---|---|---|
| Time | 2 to 3 years full time | About 3 to 6 months of part-time study for CCNA |
| Cost | About $1,400 to $2,200 in tuition per semester, plus fees | US$300 exam (about C$422) plus optional training such as CISNET's $499 course |
| What you get | An Ontario College Diploma, broad IT coursework and often a co-op | A Cisco certification recognized worldwide, valid for three years |
| Best for | School leavers who want a credential and campus support | Career changers and working adults who need to stay employed |
Ontario college networking programs in 2026
Each figure is the domestic fee as the college publishes it for 2026/27, so the units differ: some colleges quote tuition per semester, others two semesters or the whole program. Check the program page for ancillary fees before you apply.
| College and program | Credential | Published fees | Cisco content |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seneca PolytechnicComputer Systems Technician (CSN) | 2-year diploma | $1,507.50 tuition per semester | Switching and routing courses; no CCNA course |
| Seneca PolytechnicComputer Systems Technology (CTY) | 3-year advanced diploma | $1,507.50 tuition per semester | CCNA preparation course (CPO520) |
| Centennial College (Scarborough)Computer Systems Technician, Networking (3404) | 2-year diploma | $3,464 tuition for two semesters | Routing and switching course; prepares you to pursue CCNA |
| Centennial College (Scarborough)Computer Systems Technology, Networking (3405) | 3-year advanced diploma | $3,464 tuition for two semesters | Prepares you to pursue CCNA |
| George Brown CollegeComputer Systems Technician (T141) | 2-year diploma | $4,462 for the first two semesters, including fees | Cisco Networking Academy; CCNA 1 course |
| Humber PolytechnicComputer Systems Technician, IT Infrastructure and Services (CS211) | 2-year diploma | $4,333.58 for two semesters | Advanced routing and switching; no CCNA course |
| Durham CollegeComputer Systems Technician (CSTC) | 2-year diploma | $1,388.24 tuition per semester | Cisco partner; graduates can challenge the CCNA |
| Algonquin CollegeComputer Systems Technician, Networking | 2-year diploma | $9,783.26 estimated program total | Cisco hardware labs; works toward CCNA |
| Fanshawe CollegeComputer Systems Technician (CTN2) | 2-year diploma | $7,874.37 total program cost | Cisco Networking Academy course |
The certification route: CCNA first
The Cisco CCNA 200-301 is the standard entry-level networking certification. It covers IP addressing and subnetting, VLANs and switching, OSPF routing, network services and security fundamentals, and it has no formal prerequisites. The exam is US$300, and you can sit it at a Pearson VUE centre or online. Cisco replaces version 1.1 with version 2.0 on February 3, 2027.
If you have never worked in IT, CompTIA A+ is the usual first step into a help desk role, and the CCNA follows. After a year or two in the job, CCNP Enterprise moves you from administrator to engineer pay. The network engineer roadmap covers that next stage.
Network administrator pay and outlook in Ontario
| Region | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario | $19.00/hr | $35.71/hr | $57.69/hr |
| Toronto region | $18.67/hr | $35.71/hr | $58.24/hr |
The median works out to about $74,000 a year at 40 hours a week. Job Bank rates the 2025-2027 employment outlook for the occupation as moderate in both Ontario and the Toronto region. Wages come from Statistics Canada's Labour Force Survey for 2023-2024.
Which route fits you?
- Choose a college diploma if you are coming out of high school, want a co-op placement, or need a credential to qualify for an employer or a further program.
- Choose the certification route if you already work, have a degree in another field, or want to reach a first networking job within a year.
- Combine them if you are in a diploma: adding the CCNA before you graduate helps your resume stand out.
Train for the CCNA with an instructor
CISNET's live online CCNA course runs 30 hours across Saturday sessions with Packet Tracer labs, taught by a CCIE. Test yourself first with the free CCNA practice questions.
Explore CCNA trainingSources
Checked October 21, 2026. College fees and program details link from the table above.
- Job Bank: network administrator wages in Ontario (NOC 22220)
- Job Bank: wages in the Toronto region
- Job Bank: 2025-2027 outlook for the Toronto region
- Cisco: CCNA 200-301 exam topics
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I become a network administrator in Ontario?
Most people take one of two routes: a two- or three-year Ontario college diploma such as Computer Systems Technician (Networking), or the Cisco CCNA certification earned through a few months of study and hands-on labs. Either way, employers hire on demonstrable routing, switching and troubleshooting skill, so build lab experience alongside the credential.
Do I need a college diploma to be a network administrator?
No. A diploma is one way in, but employers hire on skill, and the CCNA plus hands-on experience is an accepted alternative. A diploma suits people starting out of school; career changers often go straight to the CCNA and a help desk or NOC role, then move up.
How much does a network administrator make in Ontario?
Job Bank puts network administrators, classed as computer network and web technicians (NOC 22220), at a median of $35.71 an hour in Ontario and in the Toronto region, about $74,000 a year at 40 hours a week. The Ontario range runs from $19.00 to $57.69 an hour, based on 2023-2024 Labour Force Survey data.
Which Ontario colleges teach networking?
Seneca, Centennial, George Brown, Humber, Durham, Algonquin and Fanshawe all run Computer Systems Technician or Technology diplomas with networking content. Centennial's Scarborough campus offers a dedicated Networking stream, and Seneca, George Brown, Algonquin and Fanshawe include Cisco Networking Academy or CCNA preparation courses.
Is the CCNA enough to get a network administrator job?
The CCNA proves the core skills network administrator interviews test: IP addressing, switching, routing and network security. Pair it with lab practice you can talk through in an interview. Many people start in help desk or NOC roles and move into administration within a year or two.
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