Beginning the process of getting these certifications. Im of course searching for the best books/guides for these but wanted to ask you guys your opinion on what guides you would use. Should I do the Network+ along with it or just do one at a time? Again I appreciate your help.
Top A+ certification study book/guide?
- Thread starter KDOG
- Start date
I would suggest one at a time. Mike Meyers is an excellent author - his books are very in-depth though. David Prowse has excellent study guides. I used both successfully. Make sure you get the right test version.
If you haven't already, sign up with CompTIA and download the course objectives to help with potential subjects you will see on the exam to help prepare.
If you haven't already, sign up with CompTIA and download the course objectives to help with potential subjects you will see on the exam to help prepare.
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http://www.professormesser.com/
He has free videos on both A+ and Network that will allow you to pass your test. This is what I am doing since I am too poor to buy the book.
He has free videos on both A+ and Network that will allow you to pass your test. This is what I am doing since I am too poor to buy the book.
Thanks! Il give that a good look!
If anyone else has any recommendations, thanks in advance.
unless you're pretty green, I'd skip A+ and Network+ and start working on MCITP: Server Administrator on Windows Server 2008 or a CCNA (ICND1 then ICND2).
A+ and Network+ have 3 year lives and both become unnecessary once a MCITP Server 2008 or CCNA is obtained, although I wouldn't be surprised if HR has tossed resumes out before because they were looking specifically for CompTIA certifications and didn't understand what the higher level certs represented.
the MCITP Server 2008 and CCNA certs will also provide you much better insight on whether you want to pursue a career in system or network administration.
A+ and Network+ have 3 year lives and both become unnecessary once a MCITP Server 2008 or CCNA is obtained, although I wouldn't be surprised if HR has tossed resumes out before because they were looking specifically for CompTIA certifications and didn't understand what the higher level certs represented.
the MCITP Server 2008 and CCNA certs will also provide you much better insight on whether you want to pursue a career in system or network administration.
Hmmm I didnt realize you could get the others without A+ and Network. I should probably still get them to have all the bases covered, but thanks for the heads up. My hope isnI can simply do the A+/Network study guides and just test them out and save the schooling for the other stuff.
Hands down, the best A+ book is the A+ All-in-One Study Guide by Meyers.
If you're just starting out in IT, I'd wholeheartedly recommend getting the A+ and Network+. I might even recommend picking up a client OS certification, such as the MCP on Windows XP and/or the MCTS on Windows Vista or Windows 7... and no further until you get some IT experience.
With the exception of the entry-level certifications I've mentioned above, certifications are designed to show employers what you already have experience doing... not what you want to be doing. So I would recommend holding off on the MCSA/MCSE/MCITP certifications until you've been doing server administration for a few months, and I would recommend holding off on the CCNA until you start helping out with Cisco router administration in a real-world environment.
Even with a bunch of certifications, you won't typically be allowed to jump right in to server or network administration. Those jobs are given to people who have IT experience. Generally, the career progression for an IT admin is desktop administrator -> server administrator -> network administrator. I've seen far too many people jump straight for the network admin carrot, get frustrated because they aren't hired for those positions, and give up.
Getting higher-level certifications without experience can actually make it MORE difficult to get employment rather than LESS difficult. Companies with higher-level jobs will pass you over because you are underexperienced for those positions, and companies with lower-level jobs will pass you over because you are overcertified - after all, they don't need a guy with a CCNA to do basic desktop support. Someone who is overcertified is a "flight risk" - they'll leave as soon as something better comes along, leaving the employer to find, hire, and train someone all over again. Rather than take that risk, they'll simply hire someone who is not CCNA certified and who will probably be cheaper for them to hire.
I've got 14 years in the IT industry both as a network admin and as a creator of IT certification training products. I hope my perspective can give you the insight you need to quickly and confidently climb the IT career ladder.
If you're just starting out in IT, I'd wholeheartedly recommend getting the A+ and Network+. I might even recommend picking up a client OS certification, such as the MCP on Windows XP and/or the MCTS on Windows Vista or Windows 7... and no further until you get some IT experience.
With the exception of the entry-level certifications I've mentioned above, certifications are designed to show employers what you already have experience doing... not what you want to be doing. So I would recommend holding off on the MCSA/MCSE/MCITP certifications until you've been doing server administration for a few months, and I would recommend holding off on the CCNA until you start helping out with Cisco router administration in a real-world environment.
Even with a bunch of certifications, you won't typically be allowed to jump right in to server or network administration. Those jobs are given to people who have IT experience. Generally, the career progression for an IT admin is desktop administrator -> server administrator -> network administrator. I've seen far too many people jump straight for the network admin carrot, get frustrated because they aren't hired for those positions, and give up.
Getting higher-level certifications without experience can actually make it MORE difficult to get employment rather than LESS difficult. Companies with higher-level jobs will pass you over because you are underexperienced for those positions, and companies with lower-level jobs will pass you over because you are overcertified - after all, they don't need a guy with a CCNA to do basic desktop support. Someone who is overcertified is a "flight risk" - they'll leave as soon as something better comes along, leaving the employer to find, hire, and train someone all over again. Rather than take that risk, they'll simply hire someone who is not CCNA certified and who will probably be cheaper for them to hire.
I've got 14 years in the IT industry both as a network admin and as a creator of IT certification training products. I hope my perspective can give you the insight you need to quickly and confidently climb the IT career ladder.
Saint Nick
Lifer
- Jan 21, 2005
- 17,722
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Hands down, the best A+ book is the A+ All-in-One Study Guide by Meyers.
If you're just starting out in IT, I'd wholeheartedly recommend getting the A+ and Network+. I might even recommend picking up a client OS certification, such as the MCP on Windows XP and/or the MCTS on Windows Vista or Windows 7... and no further until you get some IT experience.
With the exception of the entry-level certifications I've mentioned above, certifications are designed to show employers what you already have experience doing... not what you want to be doing. So I would recommend holding off on the MCSA/MCSE/MCITP certifications until you've been doing server administration for a few months, and I would recommend holding off on the CCNA until you start helping out with Cisco router administration in a real-world environment.
Even with a bunch of certifications, you won't typically be allowed to jump right in to server or network administration. Those jobs are given to people who have IT experience. Generally, the career progression for an IT admin is desktop administrator -> server administrator -> network administrator. I've seen far too many people jump straight for the network admin carrot, get frustrated because they aren't hired for those positions, and give up.
Getting higher-level certifications without experience can actually make it MORE difficult to get employment rather than LESS difficult. Companies with higher-level jobs will pass you over because you are underexperienced for those positions, and companies with lower-level jobs will pass you over because you are overcertified - after all, they don't need a guy with a CCNA to do basic desktop support. Someone who is overcertified is a "flight risk" - they'll leave as soon as something better comes along, leaving the employer to find, hire, and train someone all over again. Rather than take that risk, they'll simply hire someone who is not CCNA certified and who will probably be cheaper for them to hire.
I've got 14 years in the IT industry both as a network admin and as a creator of IT certification training products. I hope my perspective can give you the insight you need to quickly and confidently climb the IT career ladder.
I've seen similar recommendations before and I think there is starting to be some segmentation of IT job requirements - at least at the lower levels. In Michigan and a few other places there was a lot of money thrown to the unemployed for going back to school and retrain for a different job. These jobs were often in the IT or medical field. Around here you would get paid to take a college class about a certain certification and would sometimes get a voucher for the certification exam (The CCNA was one of those classes) Because of this there seems to be a glut of certifications out there. Now I don't know what type of people they are actually hiring but most of the job requirements now list a CCNA - even for desktop support!
Edit: Just did a job search and the second result was for a computer tech with A+ and Netowrk+ certifications for $9/hour. Fourth one listed CCNA as an 'asset' for $11.50 an hour
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$9/hr? Yikes. I make about $19/hr now. But its shift work in a factory thats killing me after 14yrs. Im actually a Line Technician setting up/running computer controlled camera-based inpection modules on production lines. Maybe getting some of these certs will help me progress in my current career as in finally getting a day shift only position with increased pay and fringe benefits etc. Its still a good idea though. Ive been a computer/tech nerd for a long time now and its assanine I dont have any certs at all.
You might want to take a good look at the job listings in your area. That should give you a good idea of what the job pool is like. You can still probably get a job (esp if you interview well) without them but it might take longer
IT training schools will try to sell you the biggest package of courses they can offer you... regardless of whether it will help your career or not. Sad, but true. Worse, they'll tell you that you NEED them, setting you up on a long-term payment plan to pay off courses you didn't need to take.
For what it's worth, you don't need an expensive training course. All you need are some books and some gear. And if you want to find out if you're ready, a high-quality practice exam is a worthwhile investment. And all for a small fraction of what a training provider will cost!
Those are employers who probably have no idea what the CCNA is. In those cases, the CCNA might help you get those jobs. But you probably aren't going to be doing any Cisco admin work, and you're gonna have to recertify in three years. The old adage of "if you don't use it, you'll lose it" is absolutely valid here.
Yes, surprising as it may seem, computer techs start out making low wages. But what do you expect? It's an entry-level job - a job in which you enter the industry, requiring no previous experience. So don't expect to make big bucks on day one.
However... nobody says you'll be making $9/hr forever. Pay raises seem to come pretty quickly in IT... usually by moving up the IT career ladder, not just by staying at the same employer in the same job for years. Sure, you can make $9/hr at McDonalds... but in IT, you'll probably double your salary before the McDonalds dude hits $10/hr. THAT is the difference.
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Consider, would I be able to jump into a job at your factory making what I make now? Probably not. Same is true for IT... just because you make $19/hr now doesn't mean that you should be making $19/hr in IT. Fortunately, it sounds like you see the long-term potential that exists with having an IT career.
Start looking and applying for IT jobs NOW. Don't wait on getting certified before looking, because some employers don't require certifications. As you get the A+ and Network+ and MCP/MCTS, add them to your resume and keep looking. Eventually, you will get your chance.
Stay determined and keep your chin up. Your first IT job will be the hardest one to get. With the current economic and employment situation, MANY people are bailing to what they see as a lucrative IT career, so competition for these entry-level IT jobs is fierce. And upper-level jobs are even more so, as unemployed techs WITH experience are looking for work as well. Still, it's worth doing. Once you get your first IT job, you will start building the one trait that all employers desire in a tech: real-world experience.
Thanks for the advice everyone, well recieved. Professor Messers vids only play about 9 mins though.Hmmm
fjmeat
Diamond Member
- Jan 13, 2010
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Is this book the most current?
http://www.amazon.com/CompTIA-Certification-Seventh-220-701-220-702/dp/0071701338
http://www.amazon.com/CompTIA-Certification-Seventh-220-701-220-702/dp/0071701338
For now, yes. It covers the 220-701 and 220-702 exams. The Eighth Edition will cover the 220-801 and 220-802 exams. I wouldn't wait on the new version. There will be some overlap time in which both sets of exams will be available.
fjmeat
Diamond Member
- Jan 13, 2010
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Thanks. just bought this one. I'm interested in taking this test as well. I just found this FAQ link, it's pretty helpful OP:
http://www.proprofs.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=15244&st=0&gopid=66530&#entry66530
That's an old link that covers the old (60x) versions of the exam. I would recommend that you get all of that information directly from CompTIA's Web site: link
AyashiKaibutsu
Diamond Member
- Jan 24, 2004
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I think comptia certifications are a joke. I got Security+ because my work required me to, and after I got it I was like what did that really do to prove I can do a job better? Nothing in my opinion; it's just a scam that's been institutionalized. That said if you need it to get the job you want go for the cheapest route possible for obtaining it.
Amazon says the book will be published July 1, 2012. But CompTIA hasn't even announced when the 80x exams will go live. The 70x exams will be around for a number of months after that.
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