A+ Cert, a few questions

[aUt0eXebat]

here are a few questions i have:

1) What kind of job(s) can I get with an A+ Certification? and how much do they usually pay?

2) Is there just one A+ exam? or different kinds/steps?

 

[jimmygates]

I think the A+ only gets you PC Building jobs.


A+ consist of two tests, hardware portion and software portion.

I took the test and it's fairly easy. It's a great way to get started in the PC field.



-Jimbo

 

[aUt0eXebat]

software portion... what does that cover?

 

[Pederv]

The present tests cover PC hardware that was prevalent 3 or 4 years ago. The software covers DOS 6.0-6.2 and some Win95 and WinNT. Begining late Jan or early Feb the tests will be updated to more modern hardware and software.

 

[aUt0eXebat]

ok, so i should wait until then to take the tests...

hmmmm im taking, pc trouble shooting (well that was last semester, and now advanced pc troubshooting, and i took net essentials, and now windows 2000 proff.) i hope this all helps me for A+. Oh yea and about 3 years of fixing lots of pc's

 

[Diablo6178]

I've had the A+ for a little over a year now. Usually the test is used as a base line to prove elementary PC Building/Troubleshooting ability. They are working to revise the test. In fact a new adaptive version is out that will test on things that you don't know more. The software portion of the exam covers DOS/Windows 3.1,3.11,95 They are working to update this to Windows 98/2000/NT4 So if you were to take it I'd take it now. The best place to start looking is Cramsession, just cut paste and add www. They have a good study guide to both the software and hardware Link to Study Guide. I would start with that. I study using only the guide for about 2 hours before the test and passed in the 80% range, but I'm very comfortable with testing and know PC's very well. If you get the Certification then the jobs your looking at start in the 20,000 a year range. Usually empoyers are looking for at least a one year track record so you might need to take a job making less to get a better one in the end. The most important thing to remeber is that the Certification in no way substitutes ability. All it does is prove you can pass a test.

Hope this helps,
Lee Cox, A+ MCP

 

[aUt0eXebat]

how long does the A+ cert. last? until it expires, or does it? cus i know the MCSE does after 4 or 5 years

 

[wyvrn]

Both, and then take the skill drill to test your knowledge for each.

 

[burnses]

Comptia are the organisers of the A+ certification, as well as the Network+ cert and others. You can find info on the test here Comptia.com