Microsoft texams --- A++ ect...

rander00

Can anyone inform me of these exams. What are the exact names, is A++ or A+ one of them. Im tthinking of doing some courses like this, preferably involving networking, ect...

Can anyone explain these to me and would you reccommend them. ARe they worth anything in the workplace. or is a college computing degree better.

rander00

Can anyone at all shed some light on this.

patch

It's the A+. You'll pay about 600 to do it, exams(2 -Hardware and operating systems) will cost you 300 or so more.

The N+ is the next exam, this covers networking. Just one exam this time.

CompTIA are the body who cover the exams. They won't hurt to have, but if I had the choice I'd do the degree. I have plenty more info, which I'll have to dig out, feel free to PM me if google doesn't bring up much.

turiel

If you've been using computers for a while, and have done things like installed hardware (pci cards, memory, etc) yourself, you probably don't even need to take a course to pass the A+ exam. Buying a book (I always use the Exam Cram series of books for IT certifications) and studying it will do you just as well. Thats what I did for A+ and got ~90% in the exams. It's €159+VAT. Same story with the Network+, although it requires a bit more in depth knowledge than A+. Network+ is €229+VAT.

If you have those 2 certs, plus an MSCE (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer), and CCNA/CCNP (Cisco Certified Network Associate/Professional), I personally think its worth more than any Computer Science degree.

rander00

Thanks for that Turiel.
Yeah, i reckon i could pass the A+ no bother if thats what its like.

How do i go about applying and doing these exams though. Are they through FAS. And would they all have started by now or do they start at differnt points in the yr. How long is the course for the Network+.

turiel

You can take the exams at any time. Register at http://www.pearsonvue.com and you can schedule+pay for an exam in one of the authorised exam centres. There's a couple around Dublin - BCT, TQ Training, and IACT in the city centre. I dunno about the rest of the country, but you can find out on the website.

If you're looking to do a course, any of the exam centres usually also provide courses too. The only one I've been to is BCT (http://www.bct.ie). They're starting their new courses in January. I think the Network+ one is about 10 weeks long. BCT seem to be the cheapest, can't comment on the quality of them compared to the other training centres though. Their pre-exam "sample questions" kick ass though :P

I don't know if any go through FAS. I wouldn't imagine that MSCE/CCNA do, but maybe the A+ might.

Also remember that all the above courses are centred on becoming a System Administrator type person. If you want to get into software development then maybe a 1/2 year Cert in Software Engineering might be more down your avenue.

rander00

I already have a cert in S/w development. Went bk for 3rd yr after and realised i dont wanna work at programming.... more interested i nthe networking side of things and that.

So i left it, and am gonna do all those A+ up to the Cisco course. WHen u say sys administrator do u mean like a network technician or office stuff.

turiel

Noooo not office stuff! Screw that :P

A sysadmin is someone who installs and maintains networks and computer systems. Its not all networking stuff, you'll need to learn a lot of other things (not for the certs, but to get a job as a sysadmin). How to configure a webserver, DNS server, and the like.

Moonbeam

Fas have alot of those courses online

jank

You know there are degrees out there that specialise in the networking side of things!!

cork and carlow springs to mind!!

but there arent many jobs out there in the mo for those types

keep your options open
dont be too narrow as to avoid all programming as you will have to do some anyway when it comes to networking