jonquilmcd

I was going to go for an A+ because that seems to be what most IT professionals recommend one start out with, but I noticed when looking in job postings that most employers were asking for Microsoft certifications and not CompTIA certifications. After noticing how much the MCSE seems to be more bang for your buck I am considering going for that first instead. I'm currently in college for Information Technology, have a work background in technical support and PC repair, and this will be my first certification. Which one would you recommend to me, and why?

PhoenyxRising

Im not entirely sure lolz, Im usually the one that says go a+ But to be honest they way it works where i am, i cant study for the MCSE unless i have done my A+ AND a network certification.

jonquilmcd

I wasn't even aware that it was like that in different areas. Here you just take 7 exams to get it, no prerequisites.

DT Roberts

Go for A+. Good way to get your foot in the door.

PhoenyxRising

I agree with ShIzNiT1707, It all starts there and you can then go different routes from there. It's true, for me to get my MCSE I need the compTia and i need i think they call it N+ (networking +) I have the study material here, but from there your work for the MCSE is a lot less as well.

The A+ teaches you the basics, and everything you go for after that adds on to it.

DT Roberts

Different places have different requirements for further and more advanced certifications. Where I am, there are no "prerequisites" - took two tests and I'm certified as an IT tech.

Madcatz

To be honest, theres a huge difference between A+ and MCSE certifications, requirements, and jobs you get for them.

A+ is for computer repair, best buy and any other repair shops will want an A+. Some places don't require any experience to be hired.

MCSE is networking, way more advanced than A+, and most places want IT experience to get hired. Also most MCSE's won't even be dealing with PC's anymore except to maybe setup a new user or add the computer to the domain. You'll be doing server repair, active directory, DNS, DHCP, IIS, exchange, SQL, and a whole lot more. Hence why there is a huge pay jump between A+ and MCSE.

If you want an MCSE, get the A+ so you can prove that you know computer basics and have a very good idea whats what when you open up a server box. Take a network+ class at least, go for the cert if you want. That teaches you things you won't learn in MCSE, the physical network portion, things you need to know being a MCSE. Network topologies, network layers, cables, wireless types, and of course the range of wired and wireless networks and interferance.

I'd also suggest to look at other network certs, not just the MCSE. Make sure you want to do what your getting into. MCSE is just dealing with microsoft and servers running microsoft, theres also CCNA and CCNE for cisco, working with routers and switches instead of servers mainly.

jonquilmcd

See, I looked over the A+ and that's what it looked like to me... all basic repair type stuff. Stuff that I wouldn't have survived my previous jobs without knowing. Can't work experience and education count as something when someone has the absence of such a basic certification and the presence of a more advanced certification such as the MCSE? I.E. wouldn't my work experience and education prove by themselves that I know computer basics, or does the A+ really help solidify that?

My first cert is by no means an end for me but a beginning as I am well aware. :) I have noticed in my research alone how employers are wanting a varied array of certifications. Personally I had planned on getting a lot more than one anyways just because I enjoy the learning process.

BTW, doesn't the Network+ mostly deal with topologies, network layers, cables, etc.? Does the A+ go in to it as well, and if so, does it go as in depth as the Network+ does? (I'm guessing if it does go in to it it doesn't go as in to depth as the Network+)

Madcatz

Yep, network+ deals with the physical network side, and is very in depth. A+ doesn't even scratch networking other than maybe having you point out what a NIC port looks like, lol.

If you already have job experience doing PC repair, don't waste time or money on the A+, if you didn't have a job already, then the A+ is helpfull, mostly to get a repair job to get experience. Going for MCSE jobs, they'd rather see the experience over an A+ cert any day of the week.

DT Roberts

On the contrary...

The A+ course that I took at my high school went pretty in depth with networking - drawing out schematics, setting up fake scenarios, etc. The test itself does not require that, no, but a course that you take for it may include good information.

jonquilmcd

I'm already going to school though for Information Technology with a focus in Networking, so it would be kind of redundant for me to just take the course for its educational value. I do want to get a Network+ in the future though because it will compliment my degree very well. Right now though I have my foot in the door when it comes to basic technical support and repair in employment. I'm just trying to take the next step, such as obtaining a help desk position (which requires Microsoft certification that can be easily obtained while working towards an MCSE).

jonquilmcd

Ok, so this is the way the plan looks right now: Start with the MCITP. This will earn me an MCTS while I'm going through the exams. Next the MCSA. Finally the MCSE. I'm thinking about adding some CompTIA certifications in between there so that I don't end up with nothing but MS certifications at the end (and I'm pretty sure one MS certification plus a CompTIA certification will look better than several MS certifications because it's more well rounded... right?).

DT Roberts

Sounds like a plan. Similar to what I'm doing myself. I'll (hopefully) have all of my A+ certifications done by the end of this year, then pick up Microsoft once I get into college.

Sounds like it can work. Wish you the best.

jonquilmcd

In college (at least this is the way it's played out for me so far) they're a lot more generalized and focus more on the way everything works than focusing on anything specific (like Windows). Had I realized how well some of the CompTIA certs like Network+ would play along with my classes I would have just studied for a cert at the same time I was taking a corresponding class so I don't end up studying the same stuff twice. Then I would just work on my MS certs while working on classes that aren't IT related (general ed).

I kind of went in to this whole degree thing thinking that was all I was going to need... then I learned about certifications but didn't look in to them deep enough to discover that some of them corresponded perfectly with certain classes in my schedule. Now it's so late in the game I might as well go ahead and work on the MS certs some then go back and work on some CompTIA certs just to refresh my memory if anything else.

It's great to hear you have a better plan starting out than I did. :)

greenbrucelee

apart from that you should have 12-18 months experience supporting a 250+ user multi server environment and network design. This is what Microsoft recommend and being over certified for your experience level can do more harm than good.

ynell

Network+ is a good place to start for networking.. but it's pretty general. I took a networking class in my junior year of high school and at the end of the school year we all took the network+ and like 95% of the kids passed it.

It's been three years sense then and now I'm taking college classes for computer networking and I'm doing tech support at a local ISP.. and nobody else doing tech support could pass network+ right now i'm making 12$/hr and i've only been here for about a month... needless to say its boring here, but sense i have the net+ it makes me eligible to get a quick promotion to a salary job

so... ..... ....... not sure what i was trying to say.


but there you go :D

cmcit

Greetings Guys,

Can some1 advise me what to choose from these 2:
-MCITP server administrator
-MCITP enterprise administrator

The enterprise administrator is double the price and double the course material, but the question is it useful in the IT world ? would they appreciate it ?

flipgeek

MCITP is definitely useful in the IT world since most are moving to Server 2008.

According to MS, MCITP Server Administrator validates your ability to handle day-to-day management of the server operating system and MCITP Enterprise Administrator validates your ability to design Windows Server infrastructures. So it depends on which you think you want to be in, administering the OS or designing infrastructures.

cmcit

10x dude :)

Matt56

Anyone looking to do A+, network+ or any other compTIA cert can do a sample test sheet here to kinda see how you stand knowledge wise. I took the A+ and only got about 2 of 10 wrong on each test and I have 0 computer training. Then did the network+ and got like only like 3 of 10 right, ha ha . Their pretty fun tests to take.

http://www.comptia.org/certifications/testprep.aspx