questions about A+ Cisco and MCSE

[thecoolnessrune]

What do these certificates do for you? I also have heard from other forum goers that tests like the A+ are extremely easy. How easy? I go into the library and see books on the MCSE exam that are as thick as my printer is tall :Q Im just a 16 year old and have no intention of jumping into one of these. But for the heck of it, how well would someone like me do in one of these things (Built computers, knows hardly anything about programming, does web development). Just curious ATOTers :laugh:

 

[GeekDrew]

Originally posted by: thecoolnessrune
What do these certificates do for you? I also have heard from other forum goers that tests like the A+ are extremely easy. How easy? I go into the library and see books on the MCSE exam that are as thick as my printer is tall :Q Im just a 16 year old and have no intention of jumping into one of these. But for the heck of it, how well would someone like me do in one of these things (Built computers, knows hardly anything about programming, does web development). Just curious ATOTers :laugh:

A+ is nothing at all like any of Cisco's tests, nor the MCSE program. A+ is easy. The others have to do with networking, and nothing at all about programming or web development. Based on the contents of this post alone, I figure you'd be lucky to pass A+, and have no chance whatsoever with Cisco or Microsoft tests.

 

[PowerMacG5]

Cisco cert's aren't something that are easy to get. Most colleges offer a network programming class, which at the end you take the test for a Cisco CCNP cert.

Honestly, a college degree will do more for you in the long run than a A+ or MCSE. And a college degree + work experience will do even more.

 

[thecoolnessrune]

Originally posted by: GeekDrew

Originally posted by: thecoolnessrune
What do these certificates do for you? I also have heard from other forum goers that tests like the A+ are extremely easy. How easy? I go into the library and see books on the MCSE exam that are as thick as my printer is tall :Q Im just a 16 year old and have no intention of jumping into one of these. But for the heck of it, how well would someone like me do in one of these things (Built computers, knows hardly anything about programming, does web development). Just curious ATOTers :laugh:

A+ is nothing at all like any of Cisco's tests, nor the MCSE program. A+ is easy. The others have to do with networking, and nothing at all about programming or web development. Based on the contents of this post alone, I figure you'd be lucky to pass A+, and have no chance whatsoever with Cisco or Microsoft tests.

Well, thx for the anwer :laugh: Didn't mean to sound ignorant though. Why do you think i was asking for a definition. I didn't know what they were to begin with. Obviously now I know that Cisco is networking (Cisco the company, yeah i knew that ) MCSE I now know means Microsoft, but what does A+ do? As I said, Its not like I'm ignorant on this stuff or anything, I just want to know what they actually ARE.

 

[blurredvision]

The A+/Net+ certs are considered bottom-line. But a word of advice, don't listen to anyone about certifications on this board. They act like getting your A+, Net+, and MSCE/MSCA certs are not even worth it. Granted, you may be able to go to school for 4 years and get a nice degree to hang on your wall, but depending on your situation, 1 year of school will get you these certifications and what should be decent starting pay (I'm not talking Corvette-as-my-first-car kinda pay though). In the IT world, experience speaks more volumes than anything IMO.

 

[GeekDrew]

Originally posted by: thecoolnessrune

Originally posted by: GeekDrew

Originally posted by: thecoolnessrune
What do these certificates do for you? I also have heard from other forum goers that tests like the A+ are extremely easy. How easy? I go into the library and see books on the MCSE exam that are as thick as my printer is tall :Q Im just a 16 year old and have no intention of jumping into one of these. But for the heck of it, how well would someone like me do in one of these things (Built computers, knows hardly anything about programming, does web development). Just curious ATOTers :laugh:

A+ is nothing at all like any of Cisco's tests, nor the MCSE program. A+ is easy. The others have to do with networking, and nothing at all about programming or web development. Based on the contents of this post alone, I figure you'd be lucky to pass A+, and have no chance whatsoever with Cisco or Microsoft tests.

Well, thx for the anwer :laugh: Didn't mean to sound ignorant though. Why do you think i was asking for a definition. I didn't know what they were to begin with. Obviously now I know that Cisco is networking (Cisco the company, yeah i knew that ) MCSE I now know means Microsoft, but what does A+ do? As I said, Its not like I'm ignorant on this stuff or anything, I just want to know what they actually ARE.

MCSE = Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (networking stuff)

A+ is basic hardware and operating systems stuff.

 

[GeekDrew]

Originally posted by: blurredvision
The A+/Net+ certs are considered bottom-line. But a word of advice, don't listen to anyone about certifications on this board. They act like getting your A+, Net+, and MSCE/MSCA certs are not even worth it. Granted, you may be able to go to school for 4 years and get a nice degree to hang on your wall, but depending on your situation, 1 year of school will get you these certifications and what should be decent starting pay (I'm not talking Corvette-as-my-first-car kinda pay though). In the IT world, experience speaks more volumes than anything IMO.

FWIW, I do think that certs are worth it to some degree, but I see a big disconnect in the IT world: many employers now care about a college degree, and that's it. Some other care about both a degree and experience, and yet others care about experience only. Certs are just "icing on the cake" in all examples. The less education you have, the more important they are.

 

[Looney]

Ciscos are the most valued out of all of them (A+ isn't even in the same league). Especially if you start getting the Experts certification (CCIE). I believe there's only like a few people in the world with like 4+ CCIE certification, and almost all of them work for Cisco.

http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/le3/ccie/certified_ccies/worldwide.html

There's some stats... only 124 in the world has 3 or more certifications.

 

[fitzov]

As you can see there are two generations of opinion on the issue--those with CS degrees who have been working in IT before companies started caring about certifications, and non-traditional employees who have found their way into the industry through technical schools and certification. The best way, in my opinion, is a CS degree and then certification to get your foot in the door. After that, certification is something the company you work for should pay for to make itself look good.

 

[JinLien]

Screw the college degree, and go to trade school.

Trade school is cheap, only in school few weeks per year, and get paid while you are being train. There are no shortage of work for a trade person with one ticket, and multiple tickets will get you along way. And, the opportunity become your own boss is even greater than a college degree.

 

[Looney]

Originally posted by: blurredvision
The A+/Net+ certs are considered bottom-line. But a word of advice, don't listen to anyone about certifications on this board. They act like getting your A+, Net+, and MSCE/MSCA certs are not even worth it. Granted, you may be able to go to school for 4 years and get a nice degree to hang on your wall, but depending on your situation, 1 year of school will get you these certifications and what should be decent starting pay (I'm not talking Corvette-as-my-first-car kinda pay though). In the IT world, experience speaks more volumes than anything IMO.

You would be insane to go to school for A+ or Net+... imo at least. MCSE/MSCA is worth it, especially if you go to a school that offers job placement. Everybody i know that went with MCSE, went to a local college here and got placed in RIM (the Blackberry guys).

 

[thecoolnessrune]

Thank you all for your answers. I know feel educated in yet one more area of knowledge

 

[GeekDrew]

Originally posted by: JinLien

Screw the college degree, and go to trade school.

Trade school is cheap, only in school few weeks per year, and get paid while you are being train. There are no shortage of work for a trade person with one ticket, and multiple tickets will get you along way. And, the opportunity become your own boss is even greater than a college degree.

What area do you live in?!?!?

 

[JinLien]

Originally posted by: GeekDrew

Originally posted by: JinLien

Screw the college degree, and go to trade school.

Trade school is cheap, only in school few weeks per year, and get paid while you are being train. There are no shortage of work for a trade person with one ticket, and multiple tickets will get you along way. And, the opportunity become your own boss is even greater than a college degree.

What area do you live in?!?!?

I live in Victoria Canada & my old college degree job (networking security/database admin) paid about the same amount as a trade journeyman.