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Anybody here A+ certified? Hard? Easy? You tell me...
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| PatMcGroin |
I'm hoping to find out how hard this is to get. My mindset has always been that this was a piece of cake, but I've never bothered. I've been searching for some jobs on monster and stuff, and I see a lot of "A+ Certification prefered." So now I'm considering it cuz it would help or atleast make things easier.
I'm a pretty big nerd when it comes to most things computers. I've been dealing with em for years, as long as I can remember actually. At school I was always the one who build the badass computers for my roommates for dirt cheap, and the one who was always called when needed to be fixed.
So basically, how hard is this to get?
Thanks in advance. :D |
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| NebulousQ |
My brother is A+ certifited. To pass the test you while have to know more than just basic knowledge of computers. By "basic" I mean you have to know more than just being able to build a computer and know it parts.
You should probably look into programs that teach and prep you for the A+ test and then you take it through them.
I do not know how much you know about hardware, software, and the history of computers, but you will probably not be able to pass the test taking it without preparation.
My brother joined a program and had already a good knowledge of computers before joining, but did not study before the test and had to take it twice before passing. |
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| PatMcGroin |
| quote: | Originally posted by NebulousQ
My brother is A+ certifited. To pass the test you while have to know more than just basic knowledge of computers. By "basic" I mean you have to know more than just being able to build a computer and know it parts.
You should probably look into programs that teach and prep you for the A+ test and then you take it through them.
I do not know how much you know about hardware, software, and the history of computers, but you will probably not be able to pass the test taking it without preparation.
My brother joined a program and had already a good knowledge of computers before joining, but did not study before the test and had to take it twice before passing. |
ah cool. thats basically the answer i was looking for. i know a bit more than basic knowledge. like i obviously can build and fix the ******s, but i know some history too from my comp sci days. i guess its better to prepare then take the test and fail horribly.
how expensive is the exam? |
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| PatMcGroin |
lol, i did a google search and sure enough, thats the site i'm on at the moment. :p
i took the pratice exams. first one i got like 5/10, second one 8/10. so i know some , but id still have to study. hmmmmm. i wonder how much all of this will cost me, cuz those exam prices kinda suck. its kind of a catch22. i want this certification so i can get a job, but without a job i cant pay for the exam. lol |
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| igottaknow |
| quote: | Originally posted by PatMcGroin
lol, i did a google search and sure enough, thats the site i'm on at the moment. :p
i took the pratice exams. first one i got like 5/10, second one 8/10. so i know some , but id still have to study. hmmmmm. i wonder how much all of this will cost me, cuz those exam prices kinda suck. its kind of a catch22. i want this certification so i can get a job, but without a job i cant pay for the exam. lol |
buy a prep book or hit ur parents up 4 da cash |
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| PatMcGroin |
| quote: | Originally posted by igottaknow
buy a prep book or hit ur parents up 4 da cash |
thats what i'm thinking... lol |
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| timmyboy2 |
| make sure you memorize your IRQ channels |
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| ambs |
| I think Luis did it, he never went and took the second exam though, he's still planning on it but he doesn't know when he'll have the time. I'm not 100% sure about it all but I will ask him about it and get back to you, Flo. |
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| emc^2 |
I used to teach MCSE/A+/CCNA/Security + class and unless you plan to be a desktop jockey, it's a worthless waste of your time.
Focus on getting a cert like MCSA or CCNA - don't waste it on archaic crap like desktop support. Not only you have to learn ancient OS'es like 95, 98, DOS, and ME but you also have to know that won't get you paid. Spend the same time and energy on easier subject like CCNA - which will take you into cisco arena and is a lot more promising, pays better, and way of the future (think VoIP).
2 cisco routers on ebay - $400, training kit $100 - spend 3 months learning and get an entry level job doing cisco support. You won't be sorry.
forget A+ - take it from me. I started as PC Tech 15 years ago.
Also, A+ certified you're looking at starting pay of $10 - $18 an hour, depending on the job.
CCNA - $18 - $25. See the difference? Plus if you stay in Cisco field you can progress to Pix (firewalls), Switches, etc. and get more and more dough. I know many CCIE's (top level cisco cert) who easily make 200K/year. As A+ certified, you'll probably spend just many years getting to $60k/year.
CCNA, say it with me, CCNA. http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/l...paths_home.html |
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| Jocker |
| cisco ccna exmas got really much more difficult last fall, with the introduction of the practical ospf and eigrp sections - that stuff was previously ccnp's turf. it's for better though, since initially ccna was a joke. |
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| Jocker |
| quote: | Originally posted by emc^2
I know many CCIE's (top level cisco cert) who easily make 200K/year. As A+ certified, you'll probably spend just many years getting to $60k/year.
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if you'd know how they studied for this exam, you'd see their salary being justified. the statistics are: 90% of first-time ccie takers fail. coupled with the fact that the exams costs more than $3000, you have to be reeeeeally dedicated to this stuff (like 6 months full-time learning) to succeed. |
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