I failed the A+

A+ is something highschool students are taught here in my area. Its worthless to companies. If you wanting a computer job around here you want a ccna to get in the door and a cnnp to get a little more cheese.
 
Destonomos said:
A+ is something highschool students are taught here in my area. Its worthless to companies. If you wanting a computer job around here you want a ccna to get in the door and a cnnp to get a little more cheese.
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I assume high school diplomas are also then worthless? Some high schools offers college level educational classes. I'd think twice before scoffing at a program because a high school offered it.

And to your CCNA comment, the high school I attended a long time ago are now offering CCNA classes also.
 
Ockie said:
I assume high school diplomas are also then worthless? Some high schools offers college level educational classes. I'd think twice before scoffing at a program because a high school offered it.

And to your CCNA comment, the high school I attended a long time ago are now offering CCNA classes also.
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QTF

After high school I had my A+,N+, Security+, CCNA and MCSA.... classes taught in highschool, certs paid for by the school..

But to make the opinion on young cert holders ring true... we were taught by the test... I really don't know what the hell I'm doing.
 
dalearyous said:
uhhh A+ is pointless regardless of where you go. we usually end up firing all our A+ guys and the best technicians we have, including the guys that go out to people's houses aren't A+. there is no respect for that certification
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How can you judge a person just because of the educational path that they took? It's up to the individual to apply what they learned, to stereotype a person as "useless" because they took A+ back at some point in their career path? :rolleyes: That logic is so flawed, it's like saying a College Grad enginering student is useless because they took Shop 101 back in junior high school.
 
d3c1us said:
QTF

After high school I had my A+,N+, Security+, CCNA and MCSA.... classes taught in highschool, certs paid for by the school..

But to make the opinion on young cert holders ring true... we were taught by the test... I really don't know what the hell I'm doing.
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Seriously?
 
some jobs require A+ with no real need... but if its required mine as well get it.

i'm stuck on getting ccna next or mcitp... since microsoft tests sound easier i might get my mcitp this year and ccna next year.
 
Dallows said:
Seriously?
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Absolutely, about acquiring the certs, and knowing shit. (Okay I know enough to run a small business IT but really I know shit.)

Now granted this wasn't an average high school class, it was co-op half day at regular classes, half day at tech (all four years, got my A+ and N+ freshman year) but I still graduated with the knowledge and qualifications to get into any entry level job I desired.

I should really get my ass in school, I was hoping on finding an employer to pay for my schooling, but got suckered into working for the family. Soon though, soon.

BTW:I'm only 20 =)
 
Y'all do realize that majority of community colleges have classes that get you ready for A+, MCP, and CCNA?

The CISCO classes that I took here where I live cost me $50 per class. If you go to ITT or whatever other institute there all the same programs because it's from CISCO. Best advice I could give someone is to buy 2 CISCO routers and 1 switch and a study guide for the CCNA. You can buy everything you need off ebay for under $400. After taking the classes at your local community college, the CCNA test is a breeze. A CCNA trumps A+ any day of the week.
 
I'm actually Getting ready to take my A+ and N+ Certified, I finally found a place were they Offer it (Community College). So Wish Me luck, Although My job doesn't require me to be certified it's a personal goal i want to accomplish. Any tips you guys could give me on either course?
 
d3c1us said:
Absolutely, about acquiring the certs, and knowing shit. (Okay I know enough to run a small business IT but really I know shit.)

Now granted this wasn't an average high school class, it was co-op half day at regular classes, half day at tech (all four years, got my A+ and N+ freshman year) but I still graduated with the knowledge and qualifications to get into any entry level job I desired.

I should really get my ass in school, I was hoping on finding an employer to pay for my schooling, but got suckered into working for the family. Soon though, soon.

BTW:I'm only 20 =)
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No no, this didn't make any sense:

d3c1us said:
But to make the opinion on young cert holders ring true... we were taught by the test... I really don't know what the hell I'm doing.
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I can't tell what direction this statement goes. The basic sense is that those are your words and you say you took the classes, passed the tests, got the certs, but don't know anything meaning field experience oor you just took the test once, teacher went over the answers, you wrote them down and took the test again - A.
 
supermen said:
I've heard they've started to make the A+ harder. I know when I took it; it was really easy. Sucks to lose that money though. What did you use to study?
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I finished my A+ test in 10 minutes, not a minute more. Easy as pie. If you can't pass, then you probably shouldn't be touching a computer imo.
 
Dallows said:
No no, this didn't make any sense:



I can't tell what direction this statement goes. The basic sense is that those are your words and you say you took the classes, passed the tests, got the certs, but don't know anything meaning field experience oor you just took the test once, teacher went over the answers, you wrote them down and took the test again - A.
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iWhat I meant was field experience. It was basically taught how boot camps are taught. Theyre taught by the test so youre almost guaranteed to past the test.
 
i have to take two tests... the A+ essentials and A+ remote desktop tech...

do you take both tests on the same day? should i study for both tests then take the test?

or...

should i study for 1 test... take the test. then study for the 2nd test... then take the 2nd test a few weeks later?
 
ElvisG said:
Y'all do realize that majority of community colleges have classes that get you ready for A+, MCP, and CCNA?

The CISCO classes that I took here where I live cost me $50 per class. If you go to ITT or whatever other institute there all the same programs because it's from CISCO. Best advice I could give someone is to buy 2 CISCO routers and 1 switch and a study guide for the CCNA. You can buy everything you need off ebay for under $400. After taking the classes at your local community college, the CCNA test is a breeze. A CCNA trumps A+ any day of the week.
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Hell the local community college prob does a better job then those asshates at ITT would do. Chances are they have better teachers as well.

jroe52 said:
i have to take two tests... the A+ essentials and A+ remote desktop tech...

do you take both tests on the same day? should i study for both tests then take the test?

or...

should i study for 1 test... take the test. then study for the 2nd test... then take the 2nd test a few weeks later?
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When I took it the 2 tests were hardware and software. Either way I took both the same day. Finished both of them in less then 15 minutes. Took more time taking the survey that was required then the test. If you are unsure take one at a time but in reality you should be able to do both at once.
 
A+ is not the most useful thing in the world, but it does come in handy sometimes. I know of two jobs I applied for that were given to other people because we were both equally qualified, but they had certification and I didn't.
 
Gabe3 said:
I took the essentials and technician today. Technician I took first with a passing score of 740 (700 needed to pass). Then I took a 20 minute break outside and had lunch, came back in and took the essentials with a failing score of 655 (675 needed to pass).

Kinda pissed, spent $145 on one voucher and now I need another to re-take. Thats $431 total if I can pass the essentials if I decide to take it.
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Gabe3 - Congrats on passing the first half. Keep studying and come back and let us know that you have passed the second part. I have my A+ Cert. I, like Stonecat mentioned, think it is a great building block for future certs and computer knowledge. There has been much debate here whether the A+ Cert is useless or useful. This is something that you can only determine for yourself because everyone get a different experience out of it. The only question you need to ask yourself is this: Did studying for and taking the A+ tests help you to learn more about comptuers than you already knew?

My guess is that you will answer yes to this question and it was probably worth it in the long run. This is an accomplishment that you will be proud of once you finish that last test. Dont let the Cisco Engineers in the room discourage you from finishing. Its all about gaining knowledge, and if the A+ has helped you in your pursuit of knowledge then thats all that matters ;)
 
metallicafan said:
Gabe3 - Congrats on passing the first half. Keep studying and come back and let us know that you have passed the second part. I have my A+ Cert. I, like Stonecat mentioned, think it is a great building block for future certs and computer knowledge. There has been much debate here whether the A+ Cert is useless or useful. This is something that you can only determine for yourself because everyone get a different experience out of it. The only question you need to ask yourself is this: Did studying for and taking the A+ tests help you to learn more about comptuers than you already knew?

My guess is that you will answer yes to this question and it was probably worth it in the long run. This is an accomplishment that you will be proud of once you finish that last test. Dont let the Cisco Engineers in the room discourage you from finishing. Its all about gaining knowledge, and if the A+ has helped you in your pursuit of knowledge then thats all that matters ;)
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I think that us Cisco peeps are trying to drive home the point that the A+ cert is for low level tech jobs that pay decent. People with the CCNA and the CCNP get paid craploads more in the long run..

I'm going from what I've been told since I did my internship this summer at the third largest bank security and software company in the US, Computer Services Inc. (CSI).

I'm hoping my 4 year degree in TSM will get me in the door at a place and then within my first year of being somewhere I am going to get my CCNA and start working on the CCNP. Hopefully by the time I'm ready to go for the CCNP I'll have been at the place for at least 2 to 3 years and I'll have a nice little resume setup for myself so I can either ask for a decent raise or start looking for a more perm job.
 
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