Comptia/Microsoft Certifications
 

Has anyone taken the A+, Net + or Microsoft Certifications? What are your thoughts on the difficult of the A+, Net+ or various other certifications?

I have taken several certifications, passed the CIW Foundations and Site Design and will be taking the A+ cert in several weeks. I purchased several A+ study guide books, like the A+ Certfication 5th Edition Mike Myers and the Exam Cram 2nd edition (not the best book, but reviewing the materials).

I just hope after reading several books, making a 76 page study guide and studying 2-3 hours a day for the next two weeks is enough to pass both the hardware and software.

I can't wait to take the A+ exam. Actually I can, because I've been waiting a year to take it, and I've just been a lazy piss. Yup, a piss.

BTW, I've studied for both A+ and Net+ on and off. I need to get into gear before they update the tests ... gah. Lazy FTW :|

CompTIA certs are a good foundation for everything else. I've had my A+ for years, and it's never landed me a job, but it's not bad to have. MS exams are okay, but only if you want to do Tier1/2 stuff forever. If you like desktop or server support, go for it. If you want networking, go with Cisco certs... even non-Cisco shops will be happy to hire you with those. For security, get your Security+ and maybe CCSP from Cisco... your eventual goal will be the CISSP.

If you have an exam questions, feel free to email or PM me. Good luck!

Cisco certifications are probably going to be extremly difficult exams unless you are a network administrator and know everything about network protocols.

How would you rate the A+ certification from a 1-10 (1 being easy and 10 being the hardest)

Well, for me it was a 1, but I had done tech bench work for a small OEM for years before I took it (I actually took it after I moved on to Systems Administration). I took the CCNA with minimum amounts of practical experience and a LOT of book study. Not ideal, but the cert landed me a position that gave me the hands on, so it all worked out. Network+ will also give you a basic step towards a CCNA and Security+, afaik, with Net+ will get you towards CCSP. The Cisco interface is pretty easy and follow along with to configure and manage.

I would have to say a 1 as well, slightly harder than a blood test. I took the MCSE and CCNA exams as well and the A+ isn't even in the same league.

And no-one really even looks at the A+ on your CV either.

I'd be more impressed if you said you worked through high school fixing your neighbours' PCs and / or built your own gaming rig.

Get the MCSE as soon as you can. It counts a lot more for lack of work experience.
Then get the Exchange specialisation tacked onto it and you're laughing.

There's way too many morons putting mail servers together.
That's why there's so much spam.

What if you have both low level certs as well as the aformentioned experience?

I passed both the hardware and the software exam, so I am now A+ certified. I think the next exam will be the network +. I am just going to wait a few months before I start studying again.

I recommend buying several A+ study guide books, going on the CompTIA website and getting the objectives and researching updated A+ information on these two websites: http://www.techexams.net/index.shtml, http://www.mcmcse.com/

I have an A+ as well as two MCSE's. I will tell you with considerable experience that a Cisco certification, including the entry level CCNA, carries much more weight with an employer than either Microsoft or Comptia. I am currently working on my first CCNA as well as Certified Ethical Hacker certifications.

I took the A+ about 8 years ago, and from what I understand, it is a much more difficult test now, so kudos and congrats on obtaining it. MCSEs are also much tougher to get now, because of the massive influx of paper MCSEs during earlier testing periods.

I have wanted to get my A+ but dont have the money to spend on the test and I am lazy and havent gotten around to actually studying it alot. Thanks for the above sites tho.

As for the MCSE test being harder, they changed it to where if you miss a certain ? they will continue to hit you on that type of ? til you get it right, which IMO should stop some ppl from getting it when they dont know a damn thing.