A+ Certification

Tom Mortensen · Post by **Tom Mortensen** » 18 Sep 2001 6:41 pm

If I wanted to get an A+ certification, what would you recommend...
-Buy a book.
-Online self study.
-Take a class with with a teacher.

Just wondering if any of you have knowledge in this area.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 19 Sep 2001 2:31 am

I used to be Novel certified (CNE) and at the time you had to have formal training (class). There was a lot of "little things" covered in class that either wasn't really documented or if it was it was buried deep in a manual and probably would have been overlooked in a self-study program.

There are books and computer self study courses out that basically teach you what you need to know to pass the test. But, that is what you know - what is on the test.

Mark Ardito · Post by **Mark Ardito** » 19 Sep 2001 10:35 am

Tom,

I got my A+ certification and I found that the Exam Cram (Red books) were the best. I also took a instructor led course that also helped a lot. I went on the get my MCSE and MCSE 2000 certifications after that and now I am going to grad. school and getting my masters in computer science.

I would recommend that Exam Cram books and take a instructor led course.

Good luck!
Mark

Larry Beck · Post by **Larry Beck** » 19 Sep 2001 4:49 pm

What certification you go for depends on what you want to do. Go A+ if you like the screwdriver side of things. If you want to do network stuff, the real shortage is in Cisco certifications, consequentialy, that's where the big bucks are.

As for classes, if that's your style of learning, go for it. But remember there is NO substitute for time in the treanches with your hands on the goodies.

I went from gound zero to Master CNE without classes, but I took a boot camp for my mcse.
If you've got the time, braindumps on the net and exam cram books can do it for a lot of folks. Don't get discouraged, I'm told the failure rate for a first time MS test is as high as 80%. Then you learn to speak Micro$oft and things get easier.

Right now you can put togeather a small network or Cisco lab for pennies on the dollar by snapping up dot gone's equipment off ebay.

Tom Diemer · Post by **Tom Diemer** » 19 Sep 2001 5:25 pm

I totally agree with Larry. I got my A+ right after it came out as a certification. Have CNE and MCP and a few others now, but Cisco certifications are the way to go. Getting the CCNA is relatively simple compared to CNE or MCSE, but carries more weight in the industry.

Just to think I was at the point of testing out on it, procrastinated and now would have to all but start over.....

Tom

Tom Mortensen · Post by **Tom Mortensen** » 20 Sep 2001 4:30 am

It seems like the best idea might be to buy an A+ self study book just for some foundation and then take a CCNA class.

I stopped by compusa yesterday to check on their training school. They wanted $950 for each of the two A+ courses. By last evening they had offered me both courses for $950.
Kind of left me wondering.

Larry, I like the idea of hands on learning but don't know where to start. I've already networked all the computers in my house, now what? Are their companies that will hire and train a 47 year old steel guitar geek.[This message was edited by Tom Mortensen on 20 September 2001 at 05:31 AM.][This message was edited by Tom Mortensen on 20 September 2001 at 05:36 AM.]

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 20 Sep 2001 6:45 am

You're sort of in a catch 22 right now. Most companies want people that are trained and have experience, but there are a few that want someone that is "untrained" so they can train them their way (but those jobs are usually entry level pay positions).

Having managed a large LAN/WAN network and a hardware/Novell help desk, I can tell you commercial systems and home systems are no where close to being in the same league. Getting back to trying to find a job, the two major requirements for my LAN engineers was certification and a minimum of two years experience in a large network, but the pay was in line with someone with that experience too. My help desk was considered a "level 1" and a "level 2" but we also did a lot of "level 3" support.

Larry Beck · Post by **Larry Beck** » 20 Sep 2001 2:17 pm

<hr>Are their companies that will hire and train a 47 year old steel guitar geek.
<hr>
Yea, there are, but age discrimination is alive & well. I had a guy ask me how old I was in an interview. I told him older than dirt, and he said "no, really, how old are you". I shoulda sued the sob. His company went toes up in the mud 3 months later.

As Jack says, experience counts. I have seen ads running requiring more years of experience in an area than the technology has existed.

As for the CCNA exam, learn to subnet in your head, better yet, in your sleep. Also classless interdomain networking is cisco's big thing. That will get you about 50% of the test right there. I occasionally guest lecture on security at the local Cisco Academy and from what I saw of their classes, it was subnetting with a pinch of IOS thrown in. I wouldn't hire a graduate, but the industry sure is. Now a CCIE, that's a different matter. [This message was edited by Larry Beck on 20 September 2001 at 03:26 PM.]