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Certifications for computer builders ##@##

imported_KuJaX

Platinum Member
I was curious what certifications there were to be "certified" as far as building computers. I know that many computer building company's, locally, require a certification or two, and was curious what the industry standard was as far as that goes.

How hard are they to get and what is required?


edit: Okay, "A+" but my other question - how hard are they to get and what is required? Where can I get more information concerning getting one locally or online?
 
Originally posted by: Saulbadguy
A+

Pretty easy.

yeah. But whenever i had anyone that braggeda bout a A+ it just did not impress me. It is very easy to get. heck the local high school offers it as a course.

 
Originally posted by: waggy
Originally posted by: Saulbadguy
A+

Pretty easy.

yeah. But whenever i had anyone that braggeda bout a A+ it just did not impress me. It is very easy to get. heck the local high school offers it as a course.


A+ is the only thing I have...but I also don't put much value into it but rather the actual hands on experience of people.

I could easily get Network+ and MCP I'm sure...just never did.
 
Originally posted by: waggy
Originally posted by: Saulbadguy
A+

Pretty easy.

yeah. But whenever i had anyone that braggeda bout a A+ it just did not impress me. It is very easy to get. heck the local high school offers it as a course.

It's a start though. I started with an A+ certification and just moved my way up.
 
Originally posted by: Saulbadguy
Originally posted by: KuJaX


edit: Okay, "A+" but my other question - how hard are they to get and what is required? Where can I get more information concerning getting one locally or online?

http://www.comptia.org

Required? A couple hundred bucks for the examination, IIRC.

Is that "comptia.org" reputable? As far as will the certification say where I got it from, or is it pretty standard, like you don't mention where you got it from? I want where I get it from to be reputable.
 
Originally posted by: KuJaX
Originally posted by: Saulbadguy
Originally posted by: KuJaX


edit: Okay, "A+" but my other question - how hard are they to get and what is required? Where can I get more information concerning getting one locally or online?

http://www.comptia.org

Required? A couple hundred bucks for the examination, IIRC.

Is that "comptia.org" reputable? As far as will the certification say where I got it from, or is it pretty standard, like you don't mention where you got it from? I want where I get it from to be reputable.

I got certified 5 years ago, so unless things have changed, it IS the industry standard.
 
Originally posted by: Saulbadguy
Originally posted by: waggy
Originally posted by: Saulbadguy
A+

Pretty easy.

yeah. But whenever i had anyone that braggeda bout a A+ it just did not impress me. It is very easy to get. heck the local high school offers it as a course.

It's a start though. I started with an A+ certification and just moved my way up.

i also have my A+, it's a hit and a miss though, you can pass easily if you are very good at remembering random facts, but if you are genuinely good with computer but have a sketchy memory for things such as I/O addresses, and what ALL the components are in a laser printer you probably wont pass

luckily i consider my self good with computers and i was able to remember enough pointless stuff to pass

if i were to be looking for a computer tech and i had 2 people come in for the job, one being A+ certified and one not, i would probably consider the A+ guy more at the very first glance, once and interview happens, or the person is able to explain more about themselves

i would say that both people would be just as likely to get the job

<- certified through comptia
(still standard)

and at my work it says "immediate openings for A+ certified techs"

so i would say it cracks open a few doors
 
What about training videos/books/courses? Any recommendations there? Looking on eBay I noticed many 2005 Comptia A+ training course videos.

I am not interested in getting a job and using the A+ in help with that (already have my Bachelors degree in another field), but more for the fact that if people ask me if I am certified or have any certifications, then I can say yes. I build computer systems for people locally, friends and family and it made me start thinking about it yesterday when someone asked me if I was certified and I simply had to say NO and they didnt find me to be creditable. lol
 
Originally posted by: KuJaX
Originally posted by: Saulbadguy
Originally posted by: KuJaX


edit: Okay, "A+" but my other question - how hard are they to get and what is required? Where can I get more information concerning getting one locally or online?

http://www.comptia.org

Required? A couple hundred bucks for the examination, IIRC.

Is that "comptia.org" reputable? As far as will the certification say where I got it from, or is it pretty standard, like you don't mention where you got it from? I want where I get it from to be reputable.

The A+ is comptia's exam. They made it. No one else can/will give you the A+ certification. You'll take the test at a local test center that proctors the exam.

 
Originally posted by: KuJaX
What about training videos/books/courses? Any recommendations there? Looking on eBay I noticed many 2005 Comptia A+ training course videos.

I am not interested in getting a job and using the A+ in help with that (already have my Bachelors degree in another field), but more for the fact that if people ask me if I am certified or have any certifications, then I can say yes. I build computer systems for people locally, friends and family and it made me start thinking about it yesterday when someone asked me if I was certified and I simply had to say NO and they didnt find me to be creditable. lol

This book was the best. At close to 1,200 pages, it's not something to cram the night before a test, but it is certainly the best book out there.
 
Originally posted by: TechnoPro
Originally posted by: KuJaX
What about training videos/books/courses? Any recommendations there? Looking on eBay I noticed many 2005 Comptia A+ training course videos.

I am not interested in getting a job and using the A+ in help with that (already have my Bachelors degree in another field), but more for the fact that if people ask me if I am certified or have any certifications, then I can say yes. I build computer systems for people locally, friends and family and it made me start thinking about it yesterday when someone asked me if I was certified and I simply had to say NO and they didnt find me to be creditable. lol

This book was the best. At close to 1,200 pages, it's not something to cram the night before a test, but it is certainly the best book out there.

Have you had any experience reading the preparation material of any other books?
 
Originally posted by: KuJaX
Originally posted by: TechnoPro
Originally posted by: KuJaX
What about training videos/books/courses? Any recommendations there? Looking on eBay I noticed many 2005 Comptia A+ training course videos.

I am not interested in getting a job and using the A+ in help with that (already have my Bachelors degree in another field), but more for the fact that if people ask me if I am certified or have any certifications, then I can say yes. I build computer systems for people locally, friends and family and it made me start thinking about it yesterday when someone asked me if I was certified and I simply had to say NO and they didnt find me to be creditable. lol

This book was the best. At close to 1,200 pages, it's not something to cram the night before a test, but it is certainly the best book out there.

Have you had any experience reading the preparation material of any other books?

Abolsutely. Back when, I enrolled with New Horizons for classroom training when I wanted to dive headfirst into hardware. They provided their own in-house manual. I wasn't thrilled with it; truth to tell, since it was more a mirror of the classroom instruction (first rate, btw), and not a progressive training manual. Other books on the market are like this as well. The problem was that there was no logical building from one set of concepts to another. Perhaps that is simply a learning prefference of mine, but I think that a training guide should have a clear flow and direction.

I purchased several others at the time, no clue what the titles are. One book was all questions and breif answers. Not helpful since I wanted a comprehensive answer. Another was far too simplistic, almost like A+ for dummies but written like it was a secret guide to computers.

Some other great authors are Mark Minassi (SP?) and Mark Mueller. They were added to my shelf later, so I can't say they had any bearing on my success with the A+ exam.
 
Originally posted by: TechnoPro
Originally posted by: KuJaX
Originally posted by: TechnoPro
Originally posted by: KuJaX
What about training videos/books/courses? Any recommendations there? Looking on eBay I noticed many 2005 Comptia A+ training course videos.

I am not interested in getting a job and using the A+ in help with that (already have my Bachelors degree in another field), but more for the fact that if people ask me if I am certified or have any certifications, then I can say yes. I build computer systems for people locally, friends and family and it made me start thinking about it yesterday when someone asked me if I was certified and I simply had to say NO and they didnt find me to be creditable. lol

This book was the best. At close to 1,200 pages, it's not something to cram the night before a test, but it is certainly the best book out there.

Have you had any experience reading the preparation material of any other books?

Abolsutely. Back when, I enrolled with New Horizons for classroom training when I wanted to dive headfirst into hardware. They provided their own in-house manual. I wasn't thrilled with it; truth to tell, since it was more a mirror of the classroom instruction (first rate, btw), and not a progressive training manual. Other books on the market are like this as well. The problem was that there was no logical building from one set of concepts to another. Perhaps that is simply a learning prefference of mine, but I think that a training guide should have a clear flow and direction.

I purchased several others at the time, no clue what the titles are. One book was all questions and breif answers. Not helpful since I wanted a comprehensive answer. Another was far too simplistic, almost like A+ for dummies but written like it was a secret guide to computers.

Some other great authors are Mark Minassi (SP?) and Mark Mueller. They were added to my shelf later, so I can't say they had any bearing on my success with the A+ exam.

1,200 pages really neccessary? hehe, I took the practice exams on their website and got 90% on both just from prior knowledge/experience.
 
retake the exams over and over and over again

next time you may get 30%

there are so many question possibilities, and only so many on the test

you may get to the test and they may have put only questions on there that you know nothing about
 
If you fail the test, do you have to pay the $300ish in fee's again to re-take it? Or are there a certain amount of times you can retake it for free or timeframe?
 
Originally posted by: KuJaX
If you fail the test, do you have to pay the $300ish in fee's again to re-take it? Or are there a certain amount of times you can retake it for free or timeframe?

No free lunches in this world. Should you fail, you pay again.
 
Originally posted by: KuJaX
Originally posted by: TechnoPro
Originally posted by: KuJaX
Originally posted by: TechnoPro
Originally posted by: KuJaX
What about training videos/books/courses? Any recommendations there? Looking on eBay I noticed many 2005 Comptia A+ training course videos.

I am not interested in getting a job and using the A+ in help with that (already have my Bachelors degree in another field), but more for the fact that if people ask me if I am certified or have any certifications, then I can say yes. I build computer systems for people locally, friends and family and it made me start thinking about it yesterday when someone asked me if I was certified and I simply had to say NO and they didnt find me to be creditable. lol

This book was the best. At close to 1,200 pages, it's not something to cram the night before a test, but it is certainly the best book out there.

Have you had any experience reading the preparation material of any other books?

Abolsutely. Back when, I enrolled with New Horizons for classroom training when I wanted to dive headfirst into hardware. They provided their own in-house manual. I wasn't thrilled with it; truth to tell, since it was more a mirror of the classroom instruction (first rate, btw), and not a progressive training manual. Other books on the market are like this as well. The problem was that there was no logical building from one set of concepts to another. Perhaps that is simply a learning prefference of mine, but I think that a training guide should have a clear flow and direction.

I purchased several others at the time, no clue what the titles are. One book was all questions and breif answers. Not helpful since I wanted a comprehensive answer. Another was far too simplistic, almost like A+ for dummies but written like it was a secret guide to computers.

Some other great authors are Mark Minassi (SP?) and Mark Mueller. They were added to my shelf later, so I can't say they had any bearing on my success with the A+ exam.

1,200 pages really neccessary? hehe, I took the practice exams on their website and got 90% on both just from prior knowledge/experience.

My background was 100% software and no hardware experience. My approach was to learn from the ground up. So in my case, 1,200 pages was just what I needed since I wanted to be exposed to everything hardware.
 
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