What certifications should I get?

[urbantechie]

When I turn 16/17. I want to do A+ can CCNA. Is CCNA any good? Does it have many opprotunities? Thanks

 

[Ulfwald]

While indus try certifications are no replacement for a good educational background, gert as many as you can. The more letters afer your name, the more opportunities will be available.

 

[zippy]

I'm getting A+ within the next 2 or 3 months so I can get a job at a local computer shop as a techie. I've heard it's an easy test.

I'll probably get MSCE or CCNA this summer...well, I'll get it sometime in the next 2 years.

 

[atomicbomberman]

CCNA

Is A+ really easier?

 

[zippy]

A+ is a test for basic principles of techiness. It's like a multiple choice test by the way.

 

[urbantechie]

<< so I can get a job at a local computer shop as a techie. >>



I quit my tech job !

 

[zippy]

So? I just wanna make a lil money getting some good experience...

 

[Cable God]

The CCNA is easier than the new Win2000 exams by a long shot. The NT4 exams were a breeze and I think MS took it personal when the NT4 MCSE lost credibility because it was so easy. I have heard from a few trainers that the 2000 exams are a LOT harder. The CCNA can be passed with about a month of hard studying from what I've saw of it.

 

[BuckMaster]

This subject about which is better or best is brought up alot. Since your still young and have NO certifications the A+ is a very good one to start off with. I got my A+ before the new updated one came out, so I dont know how hard the new one is. Another one you might consider is the Network+ test. Its about the same degree as the A+ but is based on Networking side. Then if your still interrested I would look into the MCSE. Here were I live if you go to school to study for the MCSE its very expensive! Your looking around $5,000-$10,000 here in Kentucky and that was for the old NT MCSE. Im sure the new 2000 MCSE is more. Unless you want to buy your own books and study on your own.

Heres a site that might help you:

Certifications

Good Luck!!

 

[BuckMaster]

The CCNA would be a good one to have also. Lan and Wan is great information to know! Especial Wans in my book. Big companys with WANS have Frame Relays, and Web Servers and Routers. This is great knowledge to know in todays IT field!!

Im not up to Par on the CCNA test. So Im hopeing this is what it covers?

 

[Bluga]

A+ is a good start, then Network+, MCSE etc.

But nothing beats education background. If you can get into top-tier college, than you won't need to worry about certifications. Employeer will come to get you instead of you looking for them.

Good Luck!!

 

[Tripleshot]

cablegod

Dang! Just when I thought I was going to do the right thing.:Q I just enrolled in an accelerated MCSE course at my local collage. 18 weeks intensive training put on by Msoft. $3500 includes all books, materials,and vouchers for all basic and elective tests.

I may be dumb as a rock when it comes to computers,but I will give it all I can to get that certificate. I really love computing,all facets of it. You who have the oppurtunity to get certifications while you are in high school,and you have the desire to persue it further,take advantage of what is available. It is a technoligical world we live in,and if we are importing geeks at the rate of 180,000 a year,there must be demand.

A+ is becoming a requirement for working on government computers and in companies like dell,micron,gateway. They have removed the dos requirement, I believe, but I'm not positive.


Any novell certs or cisco certs are a plus but the most in demand seems to be MCSE. Many branches on that tree, so many oppurtunities.

My hat's off to you that continue your education.

 

[urbantechie]

I just got some good advice and i'm going to learn Oracle

 

[StageLeft]

You have to pick an area urbantechie. A++ is hardware; oracle is not. What do you want to do? Be a network administration or database consultant? Software developer or project manager? You have to pick a field and go hard into it...learning Oracle out of the blue is easier said than done and unless you have a strong background its going to be virtually impossible to get an Oracle job without a lot of things behind it (a certification in it is a hell of a lot harder than A++).

 

[zippy]

Forgot about Network+.

I'm probably going to get A+ and Network+ in the near future- then move on to bigger and better.

The reason I want this stuff before college is so it looks purty on my college application.

I would like to go to MIT...but not really. See, I know that if I go there I'll be all but guaranteed an very well paying job immediately after, but on the other hand- I want to have fun at college. I.E., not be surrounded by geeks...not to mention mostly male geeks. hehe

 

[Bluga]

I want to get MCSE but i don't want to be IT administrator.

I want to get CCNA but i don't want to be network administrator.

I want to get A+ but i don't want to be an PC technician.

I want to be a Software developer but i don't want to get MCSD.

I want to be a a project manager. What should i get(besides college)?

I'm not kidding, i want all theses certifications, but is it helpful?

 

[StageLeft]

If you can get into MIT and come out with a job do it - I just got out of university two years ago and although partying is fun, believe me (and anybody will tell you this), 4 years of fun simply cannot be compared to 4 years of a satisfying education and more importantly a kick ass job afterwards. Most people who get out of university don't know what they want to do...coming out with a great job is worth way way way more than being hungover every weekend!

 

[nateholtrop]

I personally am taking network+ in may and a+ prolly around the same time. so I dunno about you. I have a networkng class that preps you for the network+ exam and tehre is an a+ class but that doesnt fit into my schedule so I will take it on my own.

Nate

 

[StageLeft]

Bluga You don't _need_ certifications. I'm a software developer and I know several dozen other people who are and none of us are certified and we make great money. We did some pricey training but because of that we didn't need certifications...and not a single IT developer's job I've looked at requires - or even mentions - a certifications. Experience talks. Certifications are nice, but are not the be all and end all.

 

[zippy]

Skoorb, that is what I am thinking. I will apply to MIT then from there I will see what happens. If I get in I have a lot more thinking about my future to do than if I don't. Heh

I dunno, I kinda doubt I will though because three of the smartest people I know in my school all got waitlisted there and someone from my school got rejected last year- this kid was a National Merit Scholarship Award Winner too!

I'll see though.

 

[Tripleshot]

Brooks

>>Experience talks. Certifications are nice, but are not the be all and end all. <<

By your own admission you recieved some high priced training to have the job of &quot;software developer&quot;. Cool. Not everyone wants a boring job like typing out code all friggin day. No one said its the be all,end all, but since you probably don't read the want ads,you wouldn't know whats required by apllicants at the major companies in the US and abroad. Get a clue fella. They all want the certs. You are an acception,not a rule. And those with the certs and experience will pass you by in the labor pool.

 

[zippy]

In Skoorb's defense, not all people think that programming is a boring job- I personally do, but I am going to learn it anyway.

The rest of the stuff...I dunno...it really depends on the field I think. For programming, there really aren't many if any certifications besides experience. For other stuff, it depends on the company- but generally certs are a nice thing to slap on the application.

 

[Tripleshot]

zippy

I should have put some emoticons in that post. I'm not coming down on brooks. I have researched the value of being certifed and am convinced of its value. It should not be cast aside like a worthless piece of paper as Brooks seemed to want to relate. I take offense at that. Perhaps that is not his motive,but I'm sure he can speak for himself.

If you want to write code,get a book on c++ and have a ball. You can do it the way brooks did. Others may aspire to do other things in the IT field,and an education is paramount to achieving those goals,be it a degree,certs,reading books and OJT. Experience begins with a chance. You will get more chances with an education than without.

 

[Lolow]

whoa! that's the same thing i'm thinking about! urbantechie, PM me if you want to talk about it.

 

[Soybomb]

A+ is a waste of my money in my eyes. It shows very very basic comprehension about hardware and some windows stuff. Spend the money for that test on books for a different one if you ask me......