A+ Certification and other Certs

[JScriffs]

I would like to get A+ Certified. Where do I start?

Also, what other certifications are helpful? Thanks.

 

[Sentinel]

I am taking the test for a CCNA cert pretty soon. You might want to check out the bookstore/library about A+ certification.

 

[JScriffs]

What's the CCNA cert?

 

[Zim Hosein]

Originally posted by: JScriffs
I would like to get A+ Certified. Where do I start?

Also, what other certifications are helpful? Thanks.

Welcome to ATOT JScriffs :beer:

And before anyone else asks, who were you before you were banned? :evil:

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: JScriffs
What's the CCNA cert?

Cisco Certified Network Associate. Basically the intro networking exam. I'm taking it in a couple weeks too.

 

[Zim Hosein]

Originally posted by: JScriffs
What's the CCNA cert?

http://www.certyourself.com

 

[Nocturnal]

I took the A+ last year and passed both the OS and the Hardware. I'm currently studying for the Network+ exam (2005 objectives). I plan to take it sometime within the next six months.

 

Originally posted by: Nocturnal
I took the A+ last year and passed both the OS and the Hardware. I'm currently studying for the Network+ exam (2005 objectives). I plan to take it sometime within the next six months.

:thumbsup:

 

[Nocturnal]

I would recommend you get your degree from college first and foremost then worry about certifications.

 

[gshock888]

IMO A+ = useless

 

[Zugzwang152]

If you have any PC tech/repair experience above 6 months, I suggest saving your money and applying it towards a more advanced certification. Go in to a more specific area that interests you. I've heard Linux certifications are growing in popularity, and you may want to consider some kind of networking cert as well, depending on your knowledge. CompTIA offers a Linux+ and Network+ (as previously mentioned) for beginners in each area.

 

[JScriffs]

Originally posted by: Zugzwang152
If you have any PC tech/repair experience above 6 months, I suggest saving your money and applying it towards a more advanced certification. Go in to a more specific area that interests you. I've heard Linux certifications are growing in popularity, and you may want to consider some kind of networking cert as well, depending on your knowledge. CompTIA offers a Linux+ and Network+ (as previously mentioned) for beginners in each area.

I grew up with computers. I still remember working with DOS and Win 3.1. Anyway, I'm pretty experienced with computers already, but it doesn't seem like employers realize that. So I'm thinking that an A+ cert will open more doors for me.

 

[Zugzwang152]

Originally posted by: JScriffs

Originally posted by: Zugzwang152
If you have any PC tech/repair experience above 6 months, I suggest saving your money and applying it towards a more advanced certification. Go in to a more specific area that interests you. I've heard Linux certifications are growing in popularity, and you may want to consider some kind of networking cert as well, depending on your knowledge. CompTIA offers a Linux+ and Network+ (as previously mentioned) for beginners in each area.

I grew up with computers. I still remember working with DOS and Win 3.1. Anyway, I'm pretty experienced with computers already, but it doesn't seem like employers realize that. So I'm thinking that an A+ cert will open more doors for me.

it may. do you have "real' PC tech experience, ie, a repair tech job, help desk, or something similar? if so, like i said, it won't be worth sh|t to any IT manager who knows anything...

 

[JScriffs]

Sure I do Mr. Zugzwang152. I had an office job - which turned into a PC tech job because the IT guy for the company was lazy. My supervisors ended up asking me to fix stuff instead of waiting for the IT guy to do it.

 

[Zim Hosein]

Originally posted by: JScriffs
Sure I do Mr. Zugzwang152. I had an office job - which turned into a PC tech job because the IT guy for the company was lazy. My supervisors ended up asking me to fix stuff instead of waiting for the IT guy to do it.

That IT guy and company pwn3d you IMO!

 

[munruss]

your wasting your time and money.

 

[tami]

Originally posted by: gshock888
IMO A+ = useless

have you ever taken the A+ exam? believe it or not, i initially took the exam under the conception that it would be easy and useless, and i came out learning so much more than i thought i'd ever learn. it's not as useless as you think.

 

[Zugzwang152]

Originally posted by: tami

Originally posted by: gshock888
IMO A+ = useless

have you ever taken the A+ exam? believe it or not, i initially took the exam under the conception that it would be easy and useless, and i came out learning so much more than i thought i'd ever learn. it's not as useless as you think.

can you give us examples of what you learned?

 

[tami]

JScriffs: A+ is a good stepping stone into tech support. there are a number of good skills you'll pick up, and a number of helpful guidelines and information you'll learn along the way.

a good idea would be to go to your local bookstore and get some ExamCram books. they are very helpful.

also, other good certs to try are the CompTIA Network+ (this is the same company that produces the A+ exam) and the CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate). you might also want to go along the track of obtaining your MCP (Microsoft Certified Professional -- pass any microsoft exam and you're considered a MCP), or further, an MCSA or MCSE (Microsoft Certified Systems Associate/Engineer -- these require additional coursework and more exams to pass, and many of these exams can be a bit difficult).

of the aforementioned tests, the CCNA is hardest, and unless you're playing with Cisco Catalyst routers and switches, you don't really need it. however, if you have a job in the future that would require you to play with routers, this is the certification for you. the microsoft exams are good if you're administering a Microsoft Windows (Server) environment and want to deal with user accounts, policies, and perhaps Active Directory as well (it depends which exam you take). a lot of jobs require experience in Active Directory so passing one of those exams would be useful to you if you're looking to make a career move.

as for the CompTIA exams, check out http://www.comptia.org

for microsoft exams, check out http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/

and for cisco, check out http://www.cisco.com/en/US/learning/le3...fications_and_learning_paths_home.html

 

[tami]

Originally posted by: Zugzwang152

Originally posted by: tami

Originally posted by: gshock888
IMO A+ = useless

have you ever taken the A+ exam? believe it or not, i initially took the exam under the conception that it would be easy and useless, and i came out learning so much more than i thought i'd ever learn. it's not as useless as you think.

can you give us examples of what you learned?

i took the exam over a year ago i learned some cool windows shortcuts and a bunch of hardware troubleshooting techniques. there's a lot more, but i'm not really working in IT actively right now so i don't have that information readily available in my brain

 

[Zugzwang152]

Originally posted by: tami
JScriffs: A+ is a good stepping stone into tech support. there are a number of good skills you'll pick up, and a number of helpful guidelines and information you'll learn along the way.

a good idea would be to go to your local bookstore and get some ExamCram books. they are very helpful.

also, other good certs to try are the CompTIA Network+ (this is the same company that produces the A+ exam) and the CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate). you might also want to go along the track of obtaining your MCP (Microsoft Certified Professional -- pass any microsoft exam and you're considered a MCP), or further, an MCSA or MCSE (Microsoft Certified Systems Associate/Engineer -- these require additional coursework and more exams to pass, and many of these exams can be a bit difficult).

of the aforementioned tests, the CCNA is hardest, and unless you're playing with Cisco Catalyst routers and switches, you don't really need it. however, if you have a job in the future that would require you to play with routers, this is the certification for you. the microsoft exams are good if you're administering a Microsoft Windows (Server) environment and want to deal with user accounts, policies, and perhaps Active Directory as well (it depends which exam you take). a lot of jobs require experience in Active Directory so passing one of those exams would be useful to you if you're looking to make a career move.

as for the CompTIA exams, check out http://www.comptia.org

for microsoft exams, check out http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/

and for cisco, check out http://www.cisco.com/en/US/learning/le3...fications_and_learning_paths_home.html

MCSA is Microsoft Certified System Administrator, not Associate

CCNA is the one with Associate...

 

[tami]

Originally posted by: Zugzwang152

Originally posted by: tami
JScriffs: A+ is a good stepping stone into tech support. there are a number of good skills you'll pick up, and a number of helpful guidelines and information you'll learn along the way.

a good idea would be to go to your local bookstore and get some ExamCram books. they are very helpful.

also, other good certs to try are the CompTIA Network+ (this is the same company that produces the A+ exam) and the CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate). you might also want to go along the track of obtaining your MCP (Microsoft Certified Professional -- pass any microsoft exam and you're considered a MCP), or further, an MCSA or MCSE (Microsoft Certified Systems Associate/Engineer -- these require additional coursework and more exams to pass, and many of these exams can be a bit difficult).

of the aforementioned tests, the CCNA is hardest, and unless you're playing with Cisco Catalyst routers and switches, you don't really need it. however, if you have a job in the future that would require you to play with routers, this is the certification for you. the microsoft exams are good if you're administering a Microsoft Windows (Server) environment and want to deal with user accounts, policies, and perhaps Active Directory as well (it depends which exam you take). a lot of jobs require experience in Active Directory so passing one of those exams would be useful to you if you're looking to make a career move.

as for the CompTIA exams, check out http://www.comptia.org

for microsoft exams, check out http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/

and for cisco, check out http://www.cisco.com/en/US/learning/le3...fications_and_learning_paths_home.html

MCSA is Microsoft Certified System Administrator, not Associate

CCNA is the one with Associate...

yeah, i thought i might have been wrong, but i'm hungry so i didn't go to correct myself

 

[RagingBITCH]

I'd say it depends on what you want to do with your job/career.

A+ is pretty worthless nowadays, at least go for a MCSE (you'll become a MCSA along the way) and then a few network tests and you'll be good to go. All assuming you have the experience to match.

 

[Paulson]

I just took it last week, and I plan on taking network+ as well as mcse as well as ccna at some point

 

[vital]

how much do these exams cost?