I was on the same boat a month ago deciding whether I should switch my career to project management. In order to do that, I was thinking to spend a thousand to register the class and spend another few hundreds to pass the entry project management exam.

But I decide to wait on it for a while being that I do need that cash for the time being. Instead, I joined “LinkedLn” project management group to see what kind of issues they are discussing or free webinar they are offering to get a sense of what “project management” looks like and feels like before committing myself to the serious work.

Going to web programming/design or networking is tough. I am not the expert on the subject but based on my personal experience, no matter what you choose to do, committment and consistency are important. Job itself seems quite competitive, presenting few samples of projects and networking are useful when you are in a roll for a fresh start. Good luck!

AG

Given your background and interests, and your mention of network administration, I’m a little confused. It’s not clear to me whether you want to get back into Web page design and programming work (what you did before) or whether you want to change gears completely and go into out-and-out network adminsitration. That’s why I offer two sets of alternatives.

1. Web stuff
If you already know HTML and the rudiments of Flash, plus hopefully the basics of JavaSript as well, and want to return to this kind of work, you could probably just bone up and practice on your own time and on your own equipment. I’m not sure taking classes is essential, though if you can find low-cost local providers at a community college or technical school nearby, why not? My guess is that with 6-months to a year of serious, heads-down effort you could be ready to re-enter that part of the workforce.

2. Network administration
I get the sense that this is something that interests you but where you have no hands-on or on-the-job experience. In this case, you’ll want to start with something like the CompTIA Network+ to get your feet wet, and then to go after the Cisco CCNA (perhaps by breaking it into the two-piece exam sequence 640-822 (ICND1) and 830-821 (INTRO) which also earns you the CCENT along the way). After that you’ll have a good idea about whether or not this path is for you or if you might wish to investigate other alternatives. Here again, you’ll want to seek out low-cost quality training with labratory access–which makes local community colleges and technical schools and excellent source for such exposure.

Good luck with your career planning activities.
–Ed–