A+ and other certifications questions

[mosdef]

I have a number of questions about the A+ and future certifications.

1. The way I understand it, the A+ is an industry standard certification which opens the way for more specified specifications, such as the MCSE. Is this correct?

2. Do these certifications aid computer engineers in any way, or is it just for IT people? From what I've seen, I think I'm confident I will perform well on this test, and I guess it could be a resume stuffer for the future, but does it receive any attention from engineering companies?

3. Where can I get information on test dates?

4. Is a book from 1998 suitable for taking the exam now, or has the test changed since?

5. For anyone who has taken the test, how did it go? Was it easy hard?

6. At what point are these certifications taken seriously? I'm assuming the A+ is meaningless in the industry, but rather the more specified tests the ones that are welcomed.

Thanks for any help!

-mosdef

 

[Mday]

1. The way I understand it, the A+ is an industry standard certification which opens the way for more specified specifications, such as the MCSE. Is this correct?

A+ is a certification for technicians, much like MCSE. it is general hardware and "equivalent" to 2 years of actual experience. MCSE will get you more money

2. Do these certifications aid computer engineers in any way, or is it just for IT people? From what I've seen, I think I'm confident I will perform well on this test, and I guess it could be a resume stuffer for the future, but does it receive any attention from engineering companies?

NO, it would not help you much. it's for IT. it's for help desk people. it's good enough to get you a job before getting that engineering degree. it's another "good" thing on your resume, not having it does not kill you...

3. Where can I get information on test dates?

check comptia.org since this is a comptia thing. click the A+ stuff and read.

4. Is a book from 1998 suitable for taking the exam now, or has the test changed since?

the test just changed. it's been updated to include w2k and w98 stuff, and some of the older stuff is GONE!

5. For anyone who has taken the test, how did it go? Was it easy hard?

i did not take it. for those who did, it was easy. basically if you built your computer, and know your way around w2k and w98, it's "easy"

6. At what point are these certifications taken seriously? I'm assuming the A+ is meaningless in the industry, but rather the more specified tests the ones that are welcomed.

depends. engineers are engineers. technicians are technicians. a+ is a help desk thing, it's something that you'd expect those people who first answer the phones at tech support numbers to be able to pass.

engineers are more into designing and solving problems.

frankly the engineering degree means MUCH MORE than a+ certification.

a+ is only at the beginning level of certifications. and some even avoid it and go straight to mcse if they want to be technicians...

--

if you already have an engineering degree, and want to get into the field that degree represents, "certifications" mean almost nothing. of course there are other very specific certs, such as java and crap, which means much more if your position requires knowledge of java and whatnot.

as you can see, being A+ certified does not get you a job working for intel designing chips.

 

[mosdef]

Thanks.

Yeah, that's what I figured. I guess I'll still get it in case any nice opportunities arise before I graduate.

-mosdef