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.

Eurorunner

The A+ is not a microsoft exam as such. The certification is put together by an organisation called Comptia

However, it can be used as a module towards Microsofts MCP (Microsoft Certified Professional) certification. If you are interested in networking and want to establish a very basic knowledge as a starting point, then Comptia's Network + is probably a good option for you.


A+ covers basic pc hardware and its interaction with (windows) operating systems. I found it a good starting point when starting out on this track. I would recommend it to anybody even if they intend not to concentrate on the hardware side of things later on - the background it provides is always going to be useful.

Testing centres worldwide through Vue and Prometrics . All you need to do the a plus is access to a pc, internet access and some good books and maybe some testing software before taking the test. Courses are too expensive for what you get - unless of course you have a corporate willing to pay for them.

rander00

My situation is that ive just returned to 3rd year Software development after a forced yr out. I had to take a yr out after 2nd yr cause i didnt get the 55 avg to get straight in 3rd yr, even though i passed.

Anyway, and i do not want to work in software. I cant see myself working as a programmer as ive lost interest and im not a natural at it. So basically, im thinking of leaving 3rd yr, no point wasting a yr, and no point doing 3rd yr in S/w when i could be doing networking, ect,,, and no point staying in 3rd yr just for 1 networking subject, and loads of programming + a prog project which ill prob fail anyway. So i thought i`d cut my losses and get some of thoses A+ or Net+ exams.

I could also switch over to another comp course "Comp Application" in my college, that course does the exact same networking stuff that ill be doing in 3rd yr s/w anyway, so i could do that course and not have to worry about programming which will prove of no use to me anyway.

So ive 3 options:

1 - Stay + try scrape thru 3rd yr and get a diploma.
2 - Leave and obtain some of the A+ and Net+ stuff.
3 - Transfer to 3rd yr Applications.

I dont want to do the 1st, im keen on the 2nd option but dont know enough about the status of them A+ stuff. And im not too pushed on doing the Applications 3rd yr.

4th option is to move away from computers altogether, which im actually very much debating. Im 20, but if was a bit younger i`d prob do an apprenticeship or something which is what i shud have done in the 1st place. I was interested in comps at time of doing the leaving cert, but think i made a big mistake. I worked at Tech support for 6months of my yr out, and the thought of sitting in front of a pc for my working life just depresses me.

Does anyone have any views on the above, or advice on what i shud do. Or are there any options ive not thought of. feel free to point them out.

nahdoic

Whatever you do, don't base this decision from working in tech support for 6 months. That would drain the soul of any creature on this planet - even from the soul of people who love computers!

What was it that originally attracted you to computers?