comptia a+, CCNA worth while?

[MR_T]

This is a question to the professionals on this board. I currently work in a help desk environment and just found out the company I work for is going bust. My question is simple, other than work experience I have zero certifications and am going to have a hard time finding another job that pays 15/+hour. I've always been good with computers and have experience with general pc/network repair and am thinking about making this my career. Would it be worth my while to get certified. The comptia seems like the most logical choice, I could take the test next week and pass if I review some details but it costs $200. I would really need to prepare for the CCNA but think I could do it in a couple of months. What would you guys recommend?

[critter]

certs are always good to have. get your network+ anything higher. A+ if you want to stay working on residential computer with lower pay. CCNA will take you some time to get but is good to have but you still need experience.

[MR_T]

certs are always good to have. get your network+ anything higher. A+ if you want to stay working on residential computer with lower pay. CCNA will take you some time to get but is good to have but you still need experience.

OMG WTF is up with the avvy? DAMN thanks for the input

[spywizard]

with every cert you get.. experienced or not you will have a job..

however..

to get past the $100k yr mark you need a ba in computer science...

MCSE
CCNE

these 2 certs will get you $60-90k in most major cities.. even in this economy..

[Kale]

CCNP and CCIE are the goal dude. I work for Cisco so trust me In know what those certs are worth, they are highly respected in the industry !!

[T_Own]

i agree with everyone above. and think of it this way, $200 to always have a job to fall back on is NOTHING. any of the ms certs will help you get a much better job than a help desk and 15 an hour. having a solid college degree really helps too

[critter]

I think the VCDX and CCVP are the new hot certs to get.

[quarry206]

If you want to break into 6 figures, yes you will need a degree. Mainly because jobs that pay that much want you to be a stand alone type of guy.

typically speaking an A+ cert will get you a full time job paying 13-16 an hour. Some people make more, but most of the time not in a full time position.. When taking the test be sure to study an actual A+ cert study guide. some parts of the test want you to know their answer. not the answer maybe you have been raised to use.

CCNA is your basic cisco cert, but Cisco is the king of the networking world right now so everybody use's their certs as a guide.. but a CCNA IMO can not be self taught. you might can be able to pass the test by memorizing answers. but the hands on part asks you to write lines of syntax that you need to be taught.. but good new is a CCNA course is a four class course, and most all community colleges teach it.

Instead of CCNA, worry about the Net +, you can teach yourself that, and that will allow you to further understand the real side of networking..also the MSCE is really just learning how Microsoft Server (the OS) works. It had alot of tech terms, but really is basic OS knowledge mixed in with the extra features of being a "server"


i have an A+, security +, MSCE, Net +, CCNA, CCNP (just got it)... With no actual "official job" experience i walked into a tech job making 54K (that was before i got my CCNP)..

be advised most certs have to be retaken every 3 years. as far as the comment about VCDX and CCVP.. the CCVP really is just an add on to the CCNP. since so many companies have gone to VoIP the CCVP is just the Voice part of the CCNP...as far as VCDX, this is only IMO that cert will fall apart soon. no offense to anybody but a nutless monkey can learn Vmware and the knowledge to make a inner network with them just will not lead to employers asking for that cert, there for might be a waste of money to get, but worth learning, which most all IT school programs teach.

[Guycamero]

If you want to break into 6 figures, yes you will need a degree. Mainly because jobs that pay that much want you to be a stand alone type of guy.

typically speaking an A+ cert will get you a full time job paying 13-16 an hour. Some people make more, but most of the time not in a full time position.. When taking the test be sure to study an actual A+ cert study guide. some parts of the test want you to know their answer. not the answer maybe you have been raised to use.

CCNA is your basic cisco cert, but Cisco is the king of the networking world right now so everybody use's their certs as a guide.. but a CCNA IMO can not be self taught. you might can be able to pass the test by memorizing answers. but the hands on part asks you to write lines of syntax that you need to be taught.. but good new is a CCNA course is a four class course, and most all community colleges teach it.

Instead of CCNA, worry about the Net +, you can teach yourself that, and that will allow you to further understand the real side of networking..also the MSCE is really just learning how Microsoft Server (the OS) works. It had alot of tech terms, but really is basic OS knowledge mixed in with the extra features of being a "server"


i have an A+, security +, MSCE, Net +, CCNA, CCNP (just got it)... With no actual "official job" experience i walked into a tech job making 54K (that was before i got my CCNP)..

be advised most certs have to be retaken every 3 years. as far as the comment about VCDX and CCVP.. the CCVP really is just an add on to the CCNP. since so many companies have gone to VoIP the CCVP is just the Voice part of the CCNP...as far as VCDX, this is only IMO that cert will fall apart soon. no offense to anybody but a nutless monkey can learn Vmware and the knowledge to make a inner network with them just will not lead to employers asking for that cert, there for might be a waste of money to get, but worth learning, which most all IT school programs teach.

Grats on the CCNP, I have 1 test to go =P

I agree with everything said here, your best bet is college (No joke, I plan on changing jobs when I get my CCNP, and lots of jobs ask for a degree)

You can do those smaller certifications pretty quickly if you focus, and you stand a better chance if you have experience.

IT is changing, and no longer is it a place where you can find a great job with no education, degree's and certifications are a must.

[Guycamero]

Wow, sorry about dragging up this old post. New to the boards, my fault

[MR_T]

just signed up for my exam.. taking it on monday Been studying for about a week and haven't found anything particularly hard about it, just some bits to memorize. , will let you guys know how it goes.

What kinds of companies do you guys recommend I focus on the job search? The plan get some experience, and make $$$.. going to take the ICND1 before march and hopefully make it up to $20/hr before I go back to school this summer.

[MR_T]

today I passed the ICND1 and I am proud to say that I am now a CCENT, that test was a bitch.. I was in the testing center sweatin balls and I really thought I was going to flunk, most of it was subneting

Also I got my A+ bout two weeks ago, it wasn't so bad.. Still had to study and brush up on my dos. I had to spend almost $300 on vouchers and the damn book though. Thanks for all the input guys, I don't officially loose my till the end of Feb and plan on taking the ICND2 If I feel ready right when I get out. The first test scared me straight even though I did study alot. I don't have any equipment and have been playing just with sims.

Then I will look for an entry level job. So one more question, does the MCP make sense in my situation? I saw a lot of jobs prefer Microsoft certifications
in addition to the CCNA. Also what microsoft exam should I pick?

[quarry206]

the ICND1 is a good step, on the scale of cisco is the entry level, i would say if you passed it try taking the N+. its close to the same test, but most people that hire don't know what they are really looking at. Same with Security +. in all honesty the security plus cert is worthless. that is type of stuff you either know or don't know. and passing the Security cert would never qualify you for a informational security job.. BUT jobs love to see it because they like to think you have a security mind set with their network..

i would say take your Net + and Security + but entry level exams. but look good on a resume..

as far as the microsoft exams, i would say taking the server exam is a good start, it is just an operating system test (more or less). there are alot of small differences and wording but it will help you get your foot into the door.. and learn excel and access bussiness's love people that know those two programs

work on for now:
Net+
Sec+
MSCE

down the road:
CCNA or if networking isn't going to be your long term field work on the certs in the field you want.

[borra]

Like quarry said, get the basic ones out of the way, Net+, Sec+, and I think a ccna is a great all around networking cert.

From there you can decide if you want to go a specialized path such as Microsoft, Cisco, or Security. I got my MCSE back in 1995, got burnt out, then got Cisco certs and went to for for Nortel. haha !!

If you like security and have played with it in the past it may be a good career path. People are realizing things are not safe, regulations for privacy are being put into place which requires heavy security. I would first decide if you like security as a hobby first because unlike Microsoft or Cisco products, the security world moves at a fast pace and someone is always finding a way to bypass or deny someone.

I personally think certs are GAY, but they get your foot in the door and most hiring managers like them. Also now adays a cert means alot less. More and more tech's are asked to join the interview process to validate a canidate knows what they are talking about. Now adays there are just too many unqualified people with certs.

[adina001]

Nowadays many of the people like to do certification to improve their career. I have passed in CompTIA A+ exam. I have referred CompTIA A+ Certification Video Training from the following site.
http://www.atiatraining.com
I have cleared CompTIA A+ exam in first attempt by using CompTIA A+ Certification Video Training.You can also refer that site for your CompTIA A+ exam.

Adina Cannon
CompTIA A+ Certification Video Training

[yannick35]

My last interview the employer wanted me to get an A+ certification is was ready to pay half, i turned it down.

All of the cisco certification will pay lots of $$$, i am back in school now to learn cisco and its not easy.

For the A+, i live in Canada and have been told be a lot of people and company that its good for a novice 1 month to 6 months experience, i have 12 years and your right it doesnt pay well at all, the job offered me 30k a year then again the guy said i dont offer salary but experience, well i got the exprience so $$$.

Good luck on certs

[Necrosaro]

Getting a certificate would be easy if you understand most of the stuff behind everything you do. People look for the cert even though you know it all in your head...get some certs and pass the class with flying colors and then you would be good to go

[zimmy]

****ing troll

[ozzY PLO]

Certs and education from a reputable school is what IT Directors look at.

[boz]

This is an interesting thread, I'm currently undergoing my diploma in networking.
My teacher tells me, that the course is just the stepping stone for a CCNA certificate, if i were to go for it after the diploma. Ill see how well in my diploma goes.

[Ninja1990]

I have my A+, Net+,HP cert, and Half My CCNA, (CCENT).
I know a network engineer that I used to work with that had only a high school diploma and no college but was a network engineer making 80,000 a year, and was only 23. He only had his CCNA, he later got his CCNP and now has his CCIE as well as other certs from the other paths, and is finishing his degree, he only had to pay for his CCNA and he got NP IE other cisco certs and a bachelors degree all paid for on top of his slaary.
So yes Cisco is worth going for, if you have to Help desk experience, A+ and Net+ will help you be able to get that. Without paying your dues (working the help desk for about 4-5 years, its really hard to move up in the corporate IT world.)

[lovbyts]

BTW dont forget that it means you will continue education, getting re certified and going to school for most of your life besides working. I'm old school I got a job so I didnt have to go to school anymore lol.... It doesnt really work like that anymore.

IF you get lucky and find a good gig they may not require you to keep up the certificates but then hope you dont have to go somewhere else eventually. Catch22.

I got my A+, did all the MCSE and completed all the CCNA classes but didn't test. Good thing it would have been mostly wasted where I am or I would have forgotten most of it by now.

[rozeny2k]

I will recommend that just go for ccna directly,take some good books for it like CiscoPress Official Exam Certification Guide (ICND1 and ICND2) – Wendell Odom ,CiscoPress CCNA Portable Command Guide – Scott Empson, Boson Exsim Max questions with cbt nugget tutorials,also online resources are beneficial,i studied from a site which is http://ccnaexam4u.blogspot.com which really worked

[Orangecrushpilot]

There is no way you need a degree to break the 6 figure mark. This completely depends on where you live. I know some guys with CCIE certs with no degree making well over 100K. I also know very experienced network engineers with minimal certs breaking the 100K mark as well. That is a fairly broad statement to say you have to have a degree. Experience is worth ten times the degree, although a degree is a definite plus.

[Kk570h]

This is a question to the professionals on this board. I currently work in a help desk environment and just found out the company I work for is going bust. My question is simple, other than work experience I have zero certifications and am going to have a hard time finding another job that pays 15/+hour. I've always been good with computers and have experience with general pc/network repair and am thinking about making this my career. Would it be worth my while to get certified. The comptia seems like the most logical choice, I could take the test next week and pass if I review some details but it costs $200. I would really need to prepare for the CCNA but think I could do it in a couple of months. What would you guys recommend?

It really all depends on YOU and which career you decide to choose .. I am currently Network and Security major with background and associates in Programming and Sciences... Getting your associates then going on to your bachelors is a must... As far as all of the different certifications yeah they're great to have so you can have your options open down the road but it's not really necessary depending on what you plan on doing.. A lot of companies like you to specialize in one or two specific fields.. For example, if you plan on going to work for CISCO and want to become an expert or architect you'd want to follow their cert guide ..other certs will be useless and waste of money (maybe take them after you have your Cisco certs and land a job to keep your options open). I had the option to take my A+ exam and decided not to. Why? I landed a job after I get my BA in network security dealing with IT infrastructure, Wireless, Security, VoIP, Digital Attenae & Structured Cabling, so A+ would be useless right now for me. What it comes down is to each is own ; if you're not sure where you're going to land ...get them ALL . I plan on getting my A+ just because eventually maybe own my own business on the side fixing computers . $$$$$