Wanting to gain Certification

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Hello all

Usuall introduction, I'm an IT Technician with no IT certification apart from a Computing Science Diploma from Stafford Uni and an old CNA (Certified Novell Admin) from NetWare 4.1!

I help to look after Novell NetWare network, 5.1 for file sharing print, GroupWise 5.5 for email and MS 2003 Server used for Terminal Server/MS 2000 Server running SQL. Our company has aprox. 70 pc's with Windows 98 and XP.

As I've sat on my arse for too long, I want to get back into studying so I've signed up tonight!

I want to do my MCSA then MCSE, but would it be benefical to start Comptia A+, Network+ first by doing self study? My boss the Finance Director wants me to start too so I don't see a problem in fees etc.

Thats enough of me, and many thanks to all your advice and help.

Bob

 

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As your already a time served tech I dont thin the A+ would be beneficial to you although it may help and if youre going to do the MSCA then A+ could help as the A+ and N+ count as two electives for the MSCA.

Welcome to the forums

 

Hi THXbob,

I'm afraid that I'm going to have to disagree with GBL. I think that you should definately start with the A+ and N+. As an experienced tech these two certs shouldn't take you too long to aquire, I would think 3 months MAX. These certifications are now a prerequisite to work for some middle and large size companies.

After passing those two certs I suggest that you move onto the MCSA followed by the MCSE.

All of these certs can be achieved through self-study. Our learned friend BosonMichael is proof of that (check out his signature the next time you read one of his posts!).

Best of luck!

Alex

 

Since you are already doing the work, I would skip the A+. Did you ever work towards the CNE and take the Network Technologies exam? If you did you might want to skip the Net+ too. Since you have experience the net+ might not be worth it. Mine hasn't been, got it after the MCSE NT 4.0 and after working for around 4 years.

you may want to start with the XP exam (270) or the server exam (290).

 

As Alex has said, I would have to disagree with the other comments and recommend A+ and N+ as your first port of call. If your already in the business or not, it will fill in gaps and cement the knowledge you have. If you do know it all already, even more reason to take the exams and prove it on your CV and to your employer.

Best of luck with the cert path, hope to see you around in the future!

 

Hi there and welcome

 

I would also recommend the A+ and N+ to start out. Here's why:

As Alex has stated, if you already experienced enough to know the material, it shouldn't take you long to study. Get a good study guide, skim the parts you know, and focus on the parts you don't. If you already know it all, then great: you'll have two certifications you can use to prove to future employers you've "been there, done that". And if you happen to learn something along the way, then even better; it's something you needed to know anyway.

For the record, I got A+ and Network+ certified and wrote training products for them AFTER I already had 6 years of experience, plus the MCSE and CCNA... and I *still* learned new things while writing them. It can only make you a better tech.

Will the A+ and N+ help you down the line in your career? They just might. If I had two candidates applying for a network admin job, both with roughly equivalent amounts of experience, and both with the MCSE, but only one had the A+ and N+, I'd figure the tech with the A+ and N+ would be more well-rounded. Further, the A+/N+ tech would be better equipped to help guide lower-level techs when they have problems. I would expect my senior techs to know that stuff already. Thus, my hiring decision would be clear.

Hope this helps!

 

Thanks for the very quick replies!

I think I may start from scratch as its been a while since I did any study and start the A+ and N+. Hopefully these shouldn't take too long. I'll get the A+ and N+ study guides and make a start.

Many thanks

Bob

 

Welcome to CF, and yep! you made the right choice on going for the A+ and N+ study route. Cheerio

 

Just to say welcome to CF and that I also agree about tackling the A+ & N+ first. I was in a similar position to yourself a few years ago. Plenty of experience in the field, but I wanted to gain some certs to go along with that. I decided that the A+ was a good starting point into self study and took it from there. Even though I had lots of experience and skills in the subject areas that the A+ covers, I still learnt stuff that I didn't know already. GL with whatever path you decide to go down.

 

Hey Bob,

Just noticed you're living in Alton, how long you lived there, I bet you used to love the noise from the firework displays at Alton Towers

 

Hi and welcome to the forum.

 

Hi Wizard

I can see the fireworks display from the back garden, been in Alton for about 10 years.

Although we get compensated for all that 'noise' with 20 free tickets to get into the park every year. Kids use them I never go

Bob

 

Hi and welcome to CF!

I also agree with regards to taking your A+ and Net+.