A+ Certification; what should I do

william1971 · July 24th, 2008, 04:13 PM

I have no IT or Hardware experience but I want to get A+ certified so I can break into the IT industry. I've looked into tech schools in my area but there all very expensive, and none of them will provide me financial aid. Are there any alternatives or other avenues I can take to become A+ certified or is a tech school my only option? Some people have mentioned just buy a book, but I think I might need more due to lack of experience with hardware.

**RicheemxX** · July 24th, 2008, 04:23 PM

Here's an odd question but if you have no experience in the field why would you even be interested in a career there?

You don't need to go to school for an A+ cert, go to the library, the book store or heck even download a few of the free study guides/test and see what its all about then make a decision.

nemowolf · July 24th, 2008, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RicheemxX

Here's an odd question but if you have no experience in the field why would you even be interested in a career there?

You don't need to go to school for an A+ cert, go to the library, the book store or heck even download a few of the free study guides/test and see what its all about then make a decision.

I completely agree. This is something you should be passionate about before you start getting into it. Computers are not for the faint of heart. Doctors may go to school for 8-10 years to get their MD but IT professionals never stop their education. Even people who have 15-20 years of experience have to take classes, go to seminars, and visit conventions to learn about new technology and applications of old technologies in new ways.

I am not trying to discourage but i know alot of people who have found themselves completely blind sided once they take a cert and get their first job and realize its not exactly what they had in mind. I know IT professionals who hate their career and wish they hadnt gotten into computer but already have 4 years of college and several years of working in it to go back on. Make sure you WANT to do this before you do it.

**RicheemxX** · July 24th, 2008, 05:05 PM

Funny enough, he asked the question someplace else and pretty much got the same responses.

Just to pass the test self studying (for most people) is enough. You need to ask yourself if you can't afford or don't want to pay for the books then how are you going to afford (or are you going to want to) pay the cost for the tests? Again there are a ton of places you can study for free, but in the end you'll still need to shell out the $300 (i think thats the cost now days) for the 2 tests.

If you really have no experience at all in the field, and don't have that "computer bug" then are you really making the right career choice?

Some other options for some hands on learning (if you are really inexperienced) would be to take a few classes at a local JC, or see if any local schools offer adult ed classes. Most of those wouldn't be hardware related but might be ideal for a really inexperienced person.

JC classes would probably be more what you'd be looking for. My local JC has some decent classes you can even take from home.

nemowolf · July 24th, 2008, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RicheemxX

Funny enough, he asked the question someplace else and pretty much got the same responses.

Just to pass the test self studying (for most people) is enough. You need to ask yourself if you can't afford or don't want to pay for the books then how are you going to afford (or are you going to want to) pay the cost for the tests? Again there are a ton of places you can study for free, but in the end you'll still need to shell out the $300 (i think thats the cost now days) for the 2 tests.

If you really have no experience at all in the field, and don't have that "computer bug" then are you really making the right career choice?

I think their 125 a peice, no retakes.

Ive had the computer "Bug" since i was six so i really put it off when i finished high school. Now that i am doing it, i wouldnt want to do anything else and thats why i know i made the right choice.

**RicheemxX** · July 24th, 2008, 05:23 PM

Pearson VUE Test Vouchers - CompTIA
https://store.comptia.org/Default.aspx
Assuming he's in the us $163 for non-members $128 for members, but I've seen them lower from those discount sites

you better hope that computer bug doesn't spread you might get an all out infection

william1971 · July 25th, 2008, 10:56 AM

Well, why does anyone want to do anything. Because it interests them. I'm stuck in admin and want a change.

william1971 · July 25th, 2008, 11:00 AM

If everyone thought the way you both do no one would do anything. Funny thing is these replies did not help one bit. If the both of you are going to be discouraging and negative to people why even reply. Everyone has to start somewhere.

nemowolf · July 25th, 2008, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by william1971

If everyone thought the way you both do no one would do anything. Funny thing is these replies did not help one bit. If the both of you are going to be discouraging and negative to people why even reply. Everyone has to start somewhere.

Were not being negative, were being honest.

There is an over abundance of people who think that "IT" is a career that is simple enough to describe and get into.

IT is a generalized category to describe what we do to people outside the profession.

Working as a Cisco Specialist, Help Desk/Customer Service, Network Infastructure Engineer, Electrical Engineer, etc are all careers. Yes, everyone needs to start somewhere, but these days, its typically when your a child or teenager and you have a natural aptitude for computers and want to develop that into actual skills. Most people who enter the field after working in another do not find it as easy to break into. That is the honest truth, but often times they are Gems once they manage to get into it.

The older you are, the harder you have to work because all entry level positions are envisioned for younger and "harder" working individuals who do not have as many responsibilities and can spend the time needed to their jobs to prove to their employer they made the right decision. For instance, my boss is sending me on a business trip. I know it is coming but i will not know until the day or two before im flying out and I honestly hope it is a day trip but i wont know until I find out for sure i am going. If i had kids, think how difficult this could be for sally or billy when i miss their soccer game or recital because of work.

Now let me expand on "IT." As I previously mentioned, This is merely a category and a safe word used to describe what I do because as with many highly technical and skilled professions, it is not easy to describe what a "Normal" day is. I could say I answer a phone and help people, but that only scratches the surface of my Help Desk position because I am also planning projects, doing low voltage wiring in office buildings, setting up Cisco firewalls, writing documention and verifying its accurate, supervising on site visits, and a multitude of other aspects of my job that pop up from time to time. No two help desk jobs are exactly either. I work in a team of four while a larger company might have an entire cubicle farm of people and you don't get nearly the hands on work I do.

With that in mind, you need to start doing your homework about what in the "IT" field makes you want to do it. Is it networking, server admin, help desk, or programming for instance. This GREATLY effects your choices in what type of education you may want to pursue. Getting your A+ and expecting to break in is as realistic as saying your going to get a book or two on medicine and open up your own clinic. If you want a change, fair enough, but be smart about wanting to make that change.

djfuzion08 · July 26th, 2008, 12:03 AM

Sometimes we don't get to do what we really would like to do for a career. I took numerous Computer/Keyboarding/IT/Networking courses in High School but after graduating, no one would hire me.

All the courses I took were supposed to prepare me for the exam, instead they were all lies. It was tough to find a job in that field after graduating, I had to resort to what ever came at me.

Right now I am working as a Roofing Inspector but wish I would be working in an office doing anything.

On a good note, my non certified computer skills has tripled my salary, so I can't complain much.