alt.certification.a-plus - Newbie Question

Author

Newbie Question

Jeff Turl

2003-10-17, 9:24 am

I have just qualified as an MCSE in Windows 2000, I was looking that the
Comptia qualifications and was wondering if anyone has any recommendations
on the Comptia exams as to what is regarded more highly over another
certification.

I am a network Technician with 4 years experience and so far I have the
following qualifications:

CCA, MCP, MCSA, MCSE

I do not want to bother with any mickey mouse certification. Any guidance
as to what is a 'good' certification to get would be appreciated. I am
sorry if this is a very open question but I have never really come across
the Comptia certification until now and so do not know what is entry level
what is intermediate / advanced stuff.

Regards

Jeff

Rick Blythin

2003-10-17, 11:24 am

"Jeff Turl" <jeff.turl@tesco.net> wrote in message
news:aRRjb.186$xr1.156@newsfep1-gui.server.ntli.net...
> I have just qualified as an MCSE in Windows 2000, I was looking that the
> Comptia qualifications and was wondering if anyone has any recommendations
> on the Comptia exams as to what is regarded more highly over another
> certification.
>
> I am a network Technician with 4 years experience and so far I have the
> following qualifications:
>
> CCA, MCP, MCSA, MCSE
>
> I do not want to bother with any mickey mouse certification. Any guidance
> as to what is a 'good' certification to get would be appreciated. I am
> sorry if this is a very open question but I have never really come across
> the Comptia certification until now and so do not know what is entry level
> what is intermediate / advanced stuff.
>
> Regards
>
> Jeff

Hi Jeff

This is just my personal opinion: I would consider A+, Linux+ to be entry
level. Network+ intermediate, Server+ advanced. I'm not sure about any of
the other cert as I don't hold them or not currently studying for them.

With that said I wouldn't consider any cert to be 'mickey mouse' as the
knowledge gained from any cert makes it worthwhile. I've been in the
industry 14 almost 15 years & only two years ago started on the cert trail.
I really wouldn't consider MCSE as 'highly prized' these days there's too
many paper MCSE's out their who hold it and unfortunately devalue it for the
true tech's but that happens with any cert. I really don't agree with the
way MS run their certs that's why I stopped studying for MCSE NT 4 and
switched to the more vender neutral Comptia stuff, I also was cutting it
close before the dead line before they retired the NT4 track. But the core
books are still useful knowledge & I keep them around for reference use.

Just my 2 cents.

Rick
A+, Network+

Netwerkz

2003-10-17, 11:24 am

hi Jeff - see below

"Jeff Turl" <jeff.turl@tesco.net> wrote in message
news:aRRjb.186$xr1.156@newsfep1-gui.server.ntli.net...
> I have just qualified as an MCSE in Windows 2000, I was looking that the
> Comptia qualifications and was wondering if anyone has any recommendations
> on the Comptia exams as to what is regarded more highly over another
> certification.
>
> I am a network Technician with 4 years experience and so far I have the
> following qualifications:
>
> CCA, MCP, MCSA, MCSE
>
> I do not want to bother with any mickey mouse certification. Any guidance
> as to what is a 'good' certification to get would be appreciated. I am
> sorry if this is a very open question but I have never really come across
> the Comptia certification until now and so do not know what is entry level
> what is intermediate / advanced stuff.
>
> Regards
>
> Jeff
>
>

Im not sure what "Network Technician" is for you but
by your certs alone, you seem to be more into server
administration.

If you are going to be installing/upgrading/troubleshootig
network equipment (hubs/routers/switches/csu-dsu, etc)
then you may want to look into going the CCNA-CCNP-CCIE
route.

If you want to do server administration, specialize in something:
email or databases...web servers..all the above?

Always keep up with security as much as possible....cert if
you can.

Barry Watzman

2003-10-17, 9:23 pm

From your perspective, it's mostly a "mickey mouse" cert., what you
have is an order or magnitude more difficult. However, the one
difference is that it is FAR more hardware oriented. My guess is that
you could take the exams and pass them cold with no studying, although
given the exam fees, it might be worth getting a low-cost review book
(the Mike Meyers passport book).

Jeff Turl wrote:
> I have just qualified as an MCSE in Windows 2000, I was looking that the
> Comptia qualifications and was wondering if anyone has any recommendations
> on the Comptia exams as to what is regarded more highly over another
> certification.
>
> I am a network Technician with 4 years experience and so far I have the
> following qualifications:
>
> CCA, MCP, MCSA, MCSE
>
> I do not want to bother with any mickey mouse certification. Any guidance
> as to what is a 'good' certification to get would be appreciated. I am
> sorry if this is a very open question but I have never really come across
> the Comptia certification until now and so do not know what is entry level
> what is intermediate / advanced stuff.
>
> Regards
>
> Jeff
>
>
>
>

Jeff Turl

2003-10-18, 3:24 am

Thanks everyone for your thoughts on the Comptia certification. I will
certainly be looking in to the Comptia exams more, as you say they are not
vendor specific, and as most peoples opinion of M$ is going down hill that
maybe a useful! I think I will probably look in to the Cisco certs later
next year. as I think it maybe good to have a mix of qualifications, showing
you have a mix of knowledge in a lot of areas until I decide what to
specialise in.

Can anyone explain the pricing on the Comptia exams, I am used to paying £88
for M$ exams, Comptia ones are more money for less testing time! who is
really out to make money M$ or Comptia??

Thanks for the advice on the study materials

I think if money was no object I would study for all the exams as I enjoy
studying and really like IT (sad I know).

Regards

Jeff

"Jeff Turl" <jeff.turl@tesco.net> wrote in message
news:aRRjb.186$xr1.156@newsfep1-gui.server.ntli.net...
> I have just qualified as an MCSE in Windows 2000, I was looking that the
> Comptia qualifications and was wondering if anyone has any recommendations
> on the Comptia exams as to what is regarded more highly over another
> certification.
>
> I am a network Technician with 4 years experience and so far I have the
> following qualifications:
>
> CCA, MCP, MCSA, MCSE
>
> I do not want to bother with any mickey mouse certification. Any guidance
> as to what is a 'good' certification to get would be appreciated. I am
> sorry if this is a very open question but I have never really come across
> the Comptia certification until now and so do not know what is entry level
> what is intermediate / advanced stuff.
>
> Regards
>
> Jeff
>
>
>
>

FireSword

2003-10-18, 3:23 pm

If you are a Network tech you should look at CCNA
It is not easy, but you'll learn a lot more about networking,routing and
switching.
If you get that one don't bother with Network+, you'll be able to pass it
without even studing, but it would be a waste of money. Instead, you can do
Security+

J.Rivera
CCNA,Network+,A+

"Jeff Turl" <jeff.turl@tesco.net> wrote in message
news:aRRjb.186$xr1.156@newsfep1-gui.server.ntli.net...
> I have just qualified as an MCSE in Windows 2000, I was looking that the
> Comptia qualifications and was wondering if anyone has any recommendations
> on the Comptia exams as to what is regarded more highly over another
> certification.
>
> I am a network Technician with 4 years experience and so far I have the
> following qualifications:
>
> CCA, MCP, MCSA, MCSE
>
> I do not want to bother with any mickey mouse certification. Any guidance
> as to what is a 'good' certification to get would be appreciated. I am
> sorry if this is a very open question but I have never really come across
> the Comptia certification until now and so do not know what is entry level
> what is intermediate / advanced stuff.
>
> Regards
>
> Jeff
>
>
>
>

Tom MacIntyre

2003-10-18, 5:23 pm

On Fri, 17 Oct 2003 14:08:35 +0100, "Jeff Turl" <jeff.turl@tesco.net>
wrote:

>I have just qualified as an MCSE in Windows 2000, I was looking that the
>Comptia qualifications and was wondering if anyone has any recommendations
>on the Comptia exams as to what is regarded more highly over another
>certification.
>
>I am a network Technician with 4 years experience and so far I have the
>following qualifications:
>
>CCA, MCP, MCSA, MCSE
>
>I do not want to bother with any mickey mouse certification. Any guidance
>as to what is a 'good' certification to get would be appreciated. I am
>sorry if this is a very open question but I have never really come across
>the Comptia certification until now and so do not know what is entry level
>what is intermediate / advanced stuff.
>
>Regards
>
>Jeff
>

Can you strip down, build, and troubleshoot PC problems? If not, do
you want to be add that to your list of abilities? If so...A+ is *not*
a "Mickey Mouse" certification. Most doctors could not pass an A+
exam.

Tom

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