A+ Certification

[Chazumi]

Hello,

I have recently met with the manager of our IT department and in a few weeks I will begin shadowing them for a few hours a week learning how to do some routine tasks at work. I want to start school in the fall with an emphasis on computers (really not sure which direction to head into...I like it all), but they told me in the mean time to learn about A+ Certification, and I was wondeirng if any of you could answer some questions that I had. I did read a big huge book (700+ pages), but it was from the 1998 exams so I'm not sure how current it is.

1. Is the A+ Certification good to have for ANY computer field? Or only certain positions?

2. If you are certified, how often do you utilize it? i.e. bring it up in resumes, use knowledge gained from it, apply knowledge gained from it, etc.

3. What was the hardest and easiest part of the test for you? What did you need to learn more about specifically?

4. How hard overall was the exam?

5. Do you have any resources (websites/books/etc.) that would give me up to date information?

6. When did you take the exam?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Xanikk999]

Hello,

I have recently met with the manager of our IT department and in a few weeks I will begin shadowing them for a few hours a week learning how to do some routine tasks at work. I want to start school in the fall with an emphasis on computers (really not sure which direction to head into...I like it all), but they told me in the mean time to learn about A+ Certification, and I was wondeirng if any of you could answer some questions that I had. I did read a big huge book (700+ pages), but it was from the 1998 exams so I'm not sure how current it is.

1. Is the A+ Certification good to have for ANY computer field? Or only certain positions?

2. If you are certified, how often do you utilize it? i.e. bring it up in resumes, use knowledge gained from it, apply knowledge gained from it, etc.

3. What was the hardest and easiest part of the test for you? What did you need to learn more about specifically?

4. How hard overall was the exam?

5. Do you have any resources (websites/books/etc.) that would give me up to date information?

6. When did you take the exam?

Thanks in advance.

I took the exam twice and it was very close but I failed but i can still answer your questions.

1. Yes it looks good for any computer field really. Some fields it will look better for but its worth having for any computer field.

2. I dont know the answer to this one but i assume you would put it on your resume and it might be a requirement for some jobs.

3. The hardest part for me was about the old technical stuff you had to know. For example it asked a question on Appletalk. And i doubt you can find a single person that still uses that.
The easiest was the troubleshooting questions. I didnt know all of them but i knew a good deal.

4. I would say its pretty hard. And you actually must study for this. You arent going to pass it just from taking the class unless you also study hard.

5. I dont remember the website but you should just google it and you will probably find something.

6. Last summer in 2005. I took it twice and barely failed it the second time. I was so close to passing.

 

[Chazumi]

Are you unable to take it for a specific period of time if you fail it twice?

Do you know of any other beginner certifications? Thanks for your quick reply!

 

[Xanikk999]

Are you unable to take it for a specific period of time if you fail it twice?

Do you know of any other beginner certifications? Thanks for your quick reply!

You might have to wait a couple weeks or a month but im not sure.

I cant think of any other beginner certifications. There are others and ive heard of them i just wasnt interested in them and it didnt stick in my mind. So i dont remember what they are called.

 

[CruddyLeper]

Hello,

I have recently met with the manager of our IT department and in a few weeks I will begin shadowing them for a few hours a week learning how to do some routine tasks at work. I want to start school in the fall with an emphasis on computers (really not sure which direction to head into...I like it all), but they told me in the mean time to learn about A+ Certification, and I was wondeirng if any of you could answer some questions that I had. I did read a big huge book (700+ pages), but it was from the 1998 exams so I'm not sure how current it is.

1. Is the A+ Certification good to have for ANY computer field? Or only certain positions?

It's a good basic qualifcation in hardware theory, setting up and troubleshooting Windows Installations. It means you have technical ability to build, repair and maintain individual computers.

It doesn't mean anything for programming, web design or software applications. It barely scratches networking. So it's not a "plum" qualification but it's a good basic one... and it means your opinions on hardware hold more weight than the "softies" (ie not A+ qualified).

It's worth getting. About 200 hours study. Once you qualify that's it, no more retests, you're A+ for life.

2. If you are certified, how often do you utilize it? i.e. bring it up in resumes, use knowledge gained from it, apply knowledge gained from it, etc.

I'm not certified (yet - work doesn't want me to advance to quick) but the hardware side that's easy for me, learning how Windows (98-ME-2K-XP AND DOS) work isn't a breeze.

Which is good, because I'm learning stuff that is genuinely useful for me on a personal level with my PC, let alone professionally.

As I've pointed out, A+ won't get you real high bucks jobs on its own - but it's a handy standby for living hand to mouth until I get the plum qualifications.

3. What was the hardest and easiest part of the test for you? What did you need to learn more about specifically?

Test is 2 parts. All multiple choice done on computer to centralised (PeopleSoft?) server. Hardware and software basically. You have to pass BOTH. I could take the hardware test tomorrow, I'm not nearly so confident about passing the software (Windows) side.

4. How hard overall was the exam?

There are online examples - Google CompTIA (organisation behind A+). Each test is 100 questions, 4 possible answers. In theory a monkey could pass it - admitedly a very lucky monkey.

5. Do you have any resources (websites/books/etc.) that would give me up to date information?

I've got McGraw-Hill edition, written by Michael Meyers. Mine's 2003 so covers XP, albeit misses out things like PCI-E and dual core processors.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/00...f=pd_bbs_5/002-1811349-3904049?_encoding=UTF8

They generally throw in a few questions about "new" tech that isn't covered in most up to date books anyway - not enough to make you fail, just enough to seperate the really sharp from the fairly sharp.

6. When did you take the exam?

If my employer won't stump up the cash by end of June I'm taking it then. Paying for it myself. Then let 'em fail me for promotion and iit's work tribunal and discrimination/victimisation claim.

Your 98 edition book won't cover 2K or XP, but will cover 98 and maybe ME to a certain extent. Hardware wise about 75% relevant, software 50% or less.