Those of you A+ certified??

[KEF89]

I have a few questions about getting A+ Certified. First, where is a good place to get the certification done? A tech-school? What would be the best way? Also if I got A+ Certified for PC repair and maintnance would I be able to find a job in the St. Louis area without much of a struggle? Also what does the average A+ Certified job pay??

[RobRich]

Moved to certification forum.

[BluesMan1]

I don't know if you'll find a job easier in your area but getting A+ certified will help.

About the salary, don't expect to be rich tomorrow with only a A+, it's the beginning of a long road if you really want to make money, more certification will be needed.

If you are really, really, really good, there is maybe a chance that someone will recognize your knowledge and give you a little bit more.....but i've been doing this since 7 years now, i have a degree in Networking and a A+, i won't be rich soon

I am a manager at a computer store, 2 tech on the road and i'm still underpaid so i hope that you will get lucky and be as rich as Bill Gates

[PoonDoggy]

Starting out you will prolly make about $8.00 - $10.00 per hour...depending on what the market is like where you are. If you are already knowledgeable with computers, I would go the route of purchasing the books and reading and doing the practice tests. If you are not knowldgeable then go with a tech school that has been around for a while...most of them will allow you to retake their classes for free if you want to. They will set up the tests for you when you are ready.

[famosbrown]

I used New Horizons for my certifications and still do. I could easily pick up a book and take the test, but I like the classroom intrsuctor led environment as well as the hands on labs that you do within the course. I'm still pursuing MCSE, CCNP, CEH, and a bunch of others...long process for me .

The salary all depends on what the employer is paying. My last job I had, all you needed was an A+ cert and a security clearance and you are making at 20 bucks an hour. It was federal governement. You can work at a tech store or Geek Squad for around 10-12 bucks an hour with that certification. I have a degree in MIS, A+, Net+, MCP, MCSA 2003, and I'm still working my way up to make the same amount of money that I made as a "Software Enginner" (Programmer) when I left college. I'm not too far away though . I think the average Systems Administrator in my area make 50K per year, and that is just usually with certs (MCSA/MCSE), but with a degree you will probably get a little more. The A+ and Net+ are the foundation certs that will help with the other certifications if you decide to go the cert route. The A+ certification is something employers look at to see if an applicant or employee is getting serious about working in this field of I.T. It is the basic/entry-level of the networking/systems/support side of I.T. and will give you a well rounded view of what to expect as you progress more into the more specific and difficult certifications.

[KEF89]

Wow thanks for all the answers! But unfortuanetly 8-10 bucks an hour isn't enough to live off of these days so what would be the best route for me to take in the computer industry after A+ certification so i can make at least 12-15 bucks an hour?

[GroundZero3]

NOW can I get a job?!

He is in Bethalto, IL and has been trying to find a job. St Louis might be a little better since its a bigger city. How much real experience do you have?

[KEF89]

NOW can I get a job?!

He is in Bethalto, IL and has been trying to find a job. St Louis might be a little better since its a bigger city. How much real experience do you have?

Actually i have no job experience in the computer industry. I'm 17 and still in high school and I have very little time to find out what i'm going to do once i'm out on my own. I do know alot more about computers than the average person tho. I know all about the hardware and how to troubleshoot problems. I've changed my own hardware components and stuff like that. I have no idea whatsoever what i'm going to do for a career, the only reasonable option it seems is something in computers since I literally spend all my free time working with computers and gaming.

But i have to admit that you guys are scaring me away from the computer industry seeing posts like "i've been looking for an IT job for two years and haven't gotton a single call". I definately don't want to spend the time and money getting the certifications if I wont be able to get a job or if the pay wont even be enough to live off of.

[GroundZero3]

The IT field is a tough one since the dot.com crash. (Its slowly coming around but it will never be the way it was before) With no experience i don't see anyone paying someone 12-15 dollars an hour.

Martoch and Siliconjon have the skills needed for doing computers, alot has to do with where you are and being in the right spot at the right time. They live in areas where i guess the IT field isn't that good.

You need some experience under your belt before someone will hire you (unless you have someone who can set you up with a job) You never know someone might hire you cause they need help and they dont care what experience you have. Wont hurt to try!

[Bizkitkid2001]

I know that here in San Antonio, jobs that require A+ Certification start out at around $12-$18 per hour (Altex,Geek Squad, ect..) and go up not much from there. I think maybe max is $25 at a place like 2Wire.

I am currently studying for A+ so that I can find a better job than Domino's Pizza. While I do make good money at Domino's, around $16 per hour with tips, its not the career field I want.

Many people will laugh at you if you apply for a higher paying job with only A+ certified, however, those same people won't even look at your resume if you don't even have A+. TO get anything beyond $20 an hour, unless you are lucky, requires having Certifications like MSCE or Network+, ect...


I will be getting other certifications after I get A+, but for now, A+ is good enough for me to get me a high enough paying job for a new Vehicle which is top on my list as my current one sounds like a ticking time bomb.

[GroundZero3]

Network+ means squat

Pretty much the A+ is the only CompTIA certification worth mentioning from them. Anything else they have such as network+/server+ are generic.

If you really want to learn about networking/earn more money Biz, start the CCNA. It will give you so much more information than the network+ and prepare you alot better.

[KEF89]

Well how easy would it be to get a job from Best Buy on the Geek Squad?

[GroundZero3]

From what i heard they get alot of applications to apply for those positions.

[KEF89]

From what i heard they get alot of applications to apply for those positions.

Dang i guess i will have to go to college if I want to make enough money to live off of. It isn't right now how you have to spend most of your life in school after you graduate just to be able to live a modest life

[RicheemxX]

Sadly most of the time people do it to themselves. When the IT business was just starting to boom you could demand top dollar because there were so few techs. Then everyone decided to jump on board and now there are more techs than jobs. Creating a flood of people that started undercutting and taking lower wages for the same job.

I see lots of places out here in my area that won't pay very much for their techs {even though they get what they pay for} but they figure someone will fill the spots so why pay more! Any of the top paying positions won't bother looking at someone with only an A+ and no experience. The reason why is because there are just too many people out there.

You can't come right out of high school with no real world experience and expect to demand top dollar. You've got to start off at the bottom and work hard for it.

[GroundZero3]

Yup i worked part time making 7 bucks an hour for 4 years while i was in college doing computer stuff. You have to start somewhere and if you go into a place demanding 12 to 15 dollars with no experience you are just gonna get laughed at.

Did you honestly expect to make 12 to 15 bucks working with computers right out of college with no experience?

[KEF89]

Yup i worked part time making 7 bucks an hour for 4 years while i was in college doing computer stuff. You have to start somewhere and if you go into a place demanding 12 to 15 dollars with no experience you are just gonna get laughed at.

Did you honestly expect to make 12 to 15 bucks working with computers right out of college with no experience?

Sort of there are some jobs that dont' require any type of degree that pay more than that.

[GroundZero3]

Yah but do they really lead anywhere? The technology field is not like other fields out there.

[KEF89]

Yah but do they really lead anywhere? The technology field is not like other fields out there.

I guess i'm stuck going in the army then after i graduate. There seems to be no other option for me unless i want to be imprisoned in a classroom all over again after i graduate.

[Bizkitkid2001]

I guess i'm stuck going in the army then after i graduate. There seems to be no other option for me unless i want to be imprisoned in a classroom all over again after i graduate.

Trust me, you will still be imprisoned in a class room no matter what branch of the military you join.