A+ certification

[timaishu 10+ year member]

Anyone here got the CompTIA A+ certification?

Easy hard? I took the practice and got an 7-8 outa 10 on all of them. Not sure how that relates to the real test though.

How much does it cost and how long does it last for?

Click to read more...

 

[bw_audio 10+ year member]

..

 

[vgeek 10+ year member]

Waste of time, it just says you know how to use a computer.

 

[TurdFergueson2 5,000+ posts]

Waste of time, it just says you know how to use a computer.

Pretty much, but I guess it will get you in the door faster than a guy like me. I am a tier 2 support analyst, but all of my training was onsite. Everything else I just learned by doing.

 

[Shinju 10+ year member]

Waste of time, it just says you know how to use a computer.

It may seem worthless but that lil piece of paper is the determining Factor on rather you get a job over someone else and more pay because of that cert.

Certs are almost required now for EVERY tech, IT based job.

Not like it was when I got into this industry.

 

[timaishu 10+ year member]

It may seem worthless but that lil piece of paper is the determining Factor on rather you get a job over someone else and more pay because of that cert.
Certs are almost required now for EVERY tech, IT based job.

Not like it was when I got into this industry.

Thats what I was thinking. Ive been applying for jobs but have yet to get responses. I figured getting offically certified might help.

The funny part is that I just looked up the prices. And for me to get certified, I would need a job so I can pay to get certified! I have enough, but it would only leave me with 50 bucks to my name and no job guarantees.

 

[Shinju 10+ year member]

Thats what I was thinking. Ive been applying for jobs but have yet to get responses. I figured getting offically certified might help.
The funny part is that I just looked up the prices. And for me to get certified, I would need a job so I can pay to get certified! I have enough, but it would only leave me with 50 bucks to my name and no job guarantees.

I wouldn’t think of the cost of those certs as a hindrance or let it get you down.

Look into seeing if you cannot get some sort of help from the State or Collage were the cert classes are being taught.

Look at is a form of an investment. Those certs once you get back working again will pay for themselves x10 with the amount you make and also alow you to have more power to negotiate pay with your job recruiter or the people you are interviewing with.

 

[timaishu 10+ year member]

Good point. I'll ask one of the professors at my college and see what they recommend. I could probably get my family to help pay. But I'd rather be more dependent upon myself.

 

[mcsoul 10+ year member]

If it gets you any job computer related, it's a start. Go for it.

 

[GavinVoy 10+ year member]

the A+ doesn't mean much, my friend got one when he was a sophomore in high school. he cant even get a job at best buy. lol.

 

[Motley 10+ year member]

Go for the Cisco CCNA test. You should be able to pass it, just get a book for it, and study.

That will definitely get you in the door, rather than that A+ certification.

Info here: http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/le3/le2/le0/le9/learning_certification_type_home.html

 

[sinicle 10+ year member]

A+ is pretty easy. There are 2 tests before you are certified. The first one is the essentials, the next one is your choice of a few, I took the IT Tech test. I passed both with a pretty high score. Took me about 4 hrs for both tests (I took them both on the same day right after another). For both test it costs about $260.

 

[probmxstyle 10+ year member]

I am in the process of getting my A+ and CCNA certs also. After I get my ISS degree they should help in getting a job.

 

[GearGuy2001 10+ year member]

I took A+ and CCNA 1-4 in high school, I wish I would of got my certificates

 

[low00ranger 10+ year member]

It may seem worthless but that lil piece of paper is the determining Factor on rather you get a job over someone else and more pay because of that cert.
Certs are almost required now for EVERY tech, IT based job.

Not like it was when I got into this industry.

Negative.

Maybe basic hardware support, IT help-desk type stuff. If you're getting a mid-high level job its all about your professional education and competence. The certs do say you put forth a little effort in bettering yourself, but its really just a matter of memorizing some practice exams. It says nothing about a person's working knowledge. Some companies will pay for you to get the cert while you work there, and they definitely don't hurt so that is worthwhile. Focus on getting a good degree(you can't B.S. your way through most 4 year Computer Science/Engineering degrees) and doing substantial work on meaningful projects. If you can't pay for a degree, volunteer somewhere to get some real-world experience which is valued more than a basic cert which you have to pay for(multiple times if you fail).

I have a guy working under me with an active A+, Sec+, MCSE, and CCNA. He has to ask someone to help remember how to access a network share, how to open an sftp session, how to create an account on a Cisco router, etc. He has no personal or mental issues outside the fact that he is clueless to the most basic personal computing, networking, and security issues despite his certs.