How respected are the CompTIA certs?

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Hey everyone,

I was reading some of the past questions on this board, and one of them got me thinking: how respected are the CompTIA certs in the IT industry, especially if you're already employed as a techy?

After asking my colleagues and manager at work, at first they didn't have a clue what they were and when I explained (using the CompTIA) website, they snuffed their noses and exclaimed what's the point when you have MCSA, MCSE, CCNA, etc.

I can understand their point of view, as when I began studying for my CompTIA A+, I laughed. It was all common sense to anyone with the remotest idea of what's in a machine, not to mention, it was also very outdated i.e. 80486 and Pentium processors, etc.

Are they even worth considering, provided that many of the more serious certs start of easy and build up anyway?

Just something to discuss.

 

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Matt, the A+ cert is a good cert to have for someone new to computer hardware and software support. On the other hand the A+ cert is not very well known in the UK hence the response from your managers and colleagues.

The A+ cert is endorsed by quite a lot of big name companies i.e. Microsoft, HP and the list goes on. To be honest I really don't know why it's still not widely heard off or even endorsed by quite a lot of IT managers and HR personnels in the UK.

I think the bottom line why its not well known by the UK IT sector might be that it's not being marketed aggressively like the likes of the MCP, CCNA etc.

 

I agree

When I started studying for the A+, I happened to mention to the IT director at work and he had never heard of it, he said I would best of getting MCDST at first.

Although I am glad I started studying for the A+ as it has reaffirmed what I knew and also taught what I had forgotten since finishing uni.

 

As the others have already said......

.... in addition, I've posted a couple of times (being lazy so haven't got the posts at hand!) in the past saying that I've solved problems at work where 5 people, with about 30-40 years IT experience between them (if not more), and more than a dozen MCPs, couldn't solve in a couple of hours - a fair few occassions now...

I'm glad I have the A+, not so I can write it on my CV (but I do anyway) but because it has taught me so much more than I already knew - and by the looks of it, more than my colleagues knew!

 

Derkit, bear in mind the initial thread was started asking why the A+ is not well known in the UK amongst HR and IT personnels. I for one value the A+ and would recommend it anytime to anyone seriously looking to break into IT support regardless of their IT background or experience.

IT really is not getting the merit it deserves in the UK as a whole. I mean the A+

 

I did my MCSE without doing the A+ and Net+ first, it was a mistake IMHO. There were many holes in my knowledge which would not have been there had i got a solid basic foundation course under my belt first.

The Net+ would have been particulaly useful as Microsoft tend to be very cagey about mentioning any other product or way of doing things other than the Microsoft way. Which is 'not' how it is, in the real world.

 

And if for no other reason, THIS is why you get it. Rep added.

 

You asked how repected the A+ is and I would have to say not very much, does it teach you alot and give you knowledge you may not other wise have yes! but will it help you get a job not much I feel as most managers and HR do not know what it is so how can it help but I feel it's better to have then not!

 

If I were an IT Manager, I would make sure that I know everything about the CompTIA certs, they have been around for a few years now.

 

More than just a "few years"... they've been around for *14* years: link

If an IT manager hasn't heard of CompTIA certifications by now... then they really don't deserve to be in the position of IT manager.

 

Unfortunately they might not deserve to be a IT manager but they are and they are a lot out there that have not heard of it and at the end of the day they get to choose who gets the job which makes Comptia certs a lot less respected and less valuable then Microsoft certs.

 

Unfortunately, Mike as much as I agree a 100% with your statement but over here in the UK a lot of IT managers and HR personnels have not heard of the A+ but more of the MCP, CCNA etc. I really do think it is sad and is not getting the merits it deserves.

 

What I'm saying is this: do you *really* want to work at a place run by a clueless IT manager?

Thus... if your CV ends up on the desk of someone who *really* doesn't understand what's what, asking for an MCSE to perform an entry-level job, and he/she trashes your CV because you only have the A+, then you've just dodged a bullet, and lost very little in the way of "quality opportunities".

 

Well if you hold out for a IT manager that knows what Comptia is you will be waiting a long time and it's hard enough to get a foot in the door with most companies besides just because they do not know about Comptia you could still gain valauble experience from them which is the most imporant thing anyway. Also the fact they have not heard of Comptia does not make them clueless!

 

True it doesn't make them clueless, just makes them look a little short sighted at not seeing the bigger picture.

 

If an IT Manager hasnt heard of the CompTIA certifcations, then there is a problem there. I have to agree with Michael on that.

 

That's simply not true, mate... there are plenty out there who know what the A+ is.

The fact that the have not heard of CompTIA, even though they have had IT certifications for 14 years and over a million certified individuals DOES show that they are clueless, and should pay more attention to their industry.

 

I know lots of IT managers know what A+ is but there is also a lot that does not.

The fact that the have not heard of CompTIA, even though they have had IT certifications for 14 years and over a million certified individuals shows to me that they probably do not need Comptia certs for there IT department to run sucesfully.

I have the A+ and feel it is a very good cert and it taught me alot but did it help me get my job I do not think so but I'm still glad I have it.

 

You dont really need *any* certs for an IT department to run sucessfully. The certs themselves are just paper proving what you know. I have met numerous individuals who amase me with the amount of knowledge they have, and yet, no certifications at all.

The A+ isnt going to guarantee you a job, and it may not help you get a job. But then again, it might. If it was you against another guy, and the company wasn't sure which one of you to hire, A+ *could* tip it your way.