A+ Certification

[xCarne_Asada]

ok so i want to get certified. does anyone out there have any tips, guides, or input on what i should do to get it? what books to buy?

Thanks

[Pinky]

It's generally a waste of time unless you're just interested in learning it for your own personal use/benefit. If you're expecting to make more than minimum wage with the cert then you're mistaken ;).

Certs in Cisco systems/routers and Java programming are in highest demand right now, but EVERYTHING in the US job market related to technology is tight.

Borders and Barnes and Noble will have text books, any local Technical Training center should be offering it (as some cert curriculums still require this as a prerequisite).

[xCarne_Asada]

so it would be better to get like my net+ or something like that?

[nealric]

From a career standpoint yes.
If you want to do freelance type work, A+ is good to have because its so general.
You can tell people your a "certified technician" and bring out your card- its amazing how much more trust you get.

I made back the cost of the test in about a week (only about 4 hours of work)

That said, the stuff they test on is quite pointless/stupid. Be ready to get a numb brain remembering uselss trivia. So, what are the common pin configurations on a dot matrix printer? :D

[kaltag]

The test it self isn't that hard. Just like nealric said you have to memorize a bunch of useless info like memory addresses of common system components and their IRQs, some general networking, and how a laser printer works. If you know what people are talking about on this forum you pretty much know enough to pass. I just took a bunch of the free pactice tests readily available online the week prior and everything o the test was a breeze.

[xCarne_Asada]

sweet thanks guys. i will go read up on it.

[Maxvla]

how much is the test?

[Marley]

er ive got a link to a guide somewere i'll get the link and put it on here later

[Marley]

oh and plus the A+ counts as part of the mcse now i believe so that's gonna mean you have a choice to go on to do an mcse relatively cheaper than it would have been

[Cowboy Shane]

Originally posted by Maxvla
how much is the test?

When I took it a few years ago it was two tests at $150 U.S. dollars a pop, but that may have changed.

[xCarne_Asada]

i think it's $13_ now.

[nealric]

its easy to find discounts. I got 1/2 off.

[Maxvla]

how?