A+ or Network+

[gcarroll357]

First let me say hello, i am new here and look forward to participating and learning through this forum. I know this question has been asked before but in my eyes my situation is a little different. I do not have any certificates currently but want to get my Network+ and then my Security+ and etc. I have set my goal at getting my network+ by the end of april. My question is should i start with Network+ or go to A+. I have been looking at jobs in my area and it seems that the majority of them if they mention a certificate it is A+. I do have some home training on hardware but my end goal is a network admin. then to have my own consulting firm. I am not sure if i should go for the A+ now and hopefully be easier to get a job or go with my first thought and go with Network+. Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[moonguppie]

As somone who is going the certification route until I go back to school in the fall, I would start with the A+.

As a former teacher, I did a bit of looking around and found the best course was start with A+, then MSCE because the Windows XP and Server 2003 content. Then do Network+ with the AD and Windows knowledge under your belt. I would then take one of the Cisco intro certs. Although I got fed up studying by myself, ( I like structured learning) and signed up with a good technical school with a program that covers the broad spectrum of networking. Plus you can play with the school's hardware which I find is key. The material.

Now that I am thinking about it there is a certain prescribed order that reduces the number of tests. I'll look and post them.

What I did find helpful beyond anything else was using Tranceder's pretests. They will definitly add to the cost but they can mean the difference between pass and fail. I found

http://www.getcertified4less.com

that will offer bundles of test voucher and Trancender pretests. Definitly the way to go.

A little knowledge is dangerous.

 

[CiscoGuy33]

gcarroll357,

You did not say what your background in computers is but the A+ will tell an employer that you know your way around a computer (or should)

Most networking certs like Net + and CCNA assume that you have at the very least the understanding of A+ !

Before you go to Security + - make sure you have a very good understanding of networking - most of the Security CCIEs I talked to at the last Cisco Networkers convention felt that a person should be at least a CCNA before they try to defend a network

At this point do both! Net + and A+ those certs will stay with you for life.

Good luck and welcome to Tek Tips!


E.A. Broda
CCNA, CCDA, CCAI, Network +

 

[gcarroll357]

thank you both moonguppie and CiscoGuy33 for your answers. CiscoGuy33, i am currently going to school for Management Information System. All the knowledge i have is self taught from toying around from various computers that i have found and later people have brought to me. I belive to be fairly comfortable around computers but at looking at some of the study guide questions for A+ realized that i have a lot more to learn before i can pass the test. Thank you again guys for your help. Also, do i need to take both test or are their only one for A+?

 

[moonguppie]

There is a Hardware and an Operating System test for A+. I would study and take each one individually but maybe take them with in a couple weeks of each other? I'd take the hardware one first.

A little knowledge is dangerous.

 

[wiimike]

These days, under the updated objectives, there is an "A+ essentials" exam, and then you have the choice of taking one of these three "depot technician", "it technician", and some "remote support technician" or some such.

Check the Comptia site.

 

[scooter127]

Do both. As someone said above, they are lifetime certifications and combined they serve as an elective for the MCSA/MCSE track. I do believe some time in the field is necessary for the N+. Not so much so for the A+, though "they" say different. Field experience helps you navigate the troubleshooting questions. Having taken practice CCNA and MSCE's in years past, they were almost entirely troubleshooting questions.

Some say skip the N+ if you plan on doing the CCNA and I would disagree with that. My next goal is the CCNA. One is focused and the other is broad brush. The N+ has a higher success rate for first and second time testers while the CCNA historically does not. It is better going into the interview armed with the A/N+ and talking up the elective aspect rather than having a A+ and spent valuable money not getting that CCNA.

A+, N+

 

[burtsbees]

Scooter...
I got my CCNA, A+ and Network+---in that order. I'll tell you what---you're right about the difficulty level of CCNA compared to Network+---The N+ was a breeze after I had my CCNA. Then I started studying for CCNP---here and there for like 8 months, and then I got serious and passed all four tests within the next three months. One thing to note, and I am sure CiscoGuy33 agrees (maybe)---I highly recommend Cisco Academy, if there is a place near you, like a community college. I never would have passed the CCNA without it, not to mention how much interest it built up in me. Does that last sentence have too many prepositions???lol
Oh yeah---DON'T CHEAT BY USING TESTKING!!! Especially on the Cisco tests---actually, they will soon have CCENT, which is a stepping stone cert to the CCNA...

http://www.globalknowledge.com/trai...615&country=United+States&translation=English

Burt

Burt

 

[burtsbees]

Sorry---that was not meant to be a plug...here's the Cisco link...

http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/le3/le2/le45/learning_certification_level_home.html

and the Tek-Tips thread...

http://www.tek-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=1381921&page=1

Burt

 

[kmcferrin]

Do both. As someone said above, they are lifetime certifications and combined they serve as an elective for the MCSA/MCSE track.

I've done some looking on the MS Certifications site and can't find any record of this. The only CompTIA exam that appears to apply towards MCSA/MCSE is the Security+ exam, which qualifies as an elective and also counts towards the MCSA/MCSE with Security specialization.

 

[CiscoGuy33]

kmcferrin,

Not sure where you are looking I "googled" MCSA and got the Microsoft FAQ on it -

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/partners.mspx

Microsoft Certifications
Apply Your Credentials to Microsoft Certifications
Updated: November 15, 2006

Microsoft has integrated select third-party credentials into a variety of Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) certifications. These third-party credentials are developed and maintained through a robust and tested process by companies recognized across the information technology (IT) industry. As a result, MCP candidates have the flexibility to achieve MCP certification by applying their qualifying third-party credentials—and in the process demonstrate a broad-based set of knowledge and skills to their employers, clients, and peers.

CompTIA
Certain specified CompTIA certifications can serve as alternatives to passing elective exams or specialization exams for select MCP certifications.

• Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA)
To receive an elective credit toward the MCSA certification, candidates must earn the CompTIA A+ credential and either the CompTIA Network+ credential or the CompTIA Server+ credential. Alternatively, candidates can earn the CompTIA Security+ credential.

• Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE)
To receive an elective credit toward the MCSE certification, candidates can earn the CompTIA Security+ credential.

• MCSA: Security
To receive a specialization credit toward the MCSA: Security certification, candidates can earn the CompTIA Security+ credential.

• MCSE: Security
To receive a specialization credit toward the MCSE: Security certification, candidates can earn the CompTIA Security+ credential.


To apply CompTIA certifications toward these MCP certifications, follow these steps:

1.
Take at least one MCP exam and obtain an MCP ID number. Candidates will not be allowed to apply their CompTIA credentials until they have taken (passing is not necessary) at least one MCP exam and obtained an MCP ID number. The MCP ID number is sent in an e-mail after passing an exam or by contacting a Microsoft Regional Service Center for assistance.

2.
Visit the CompTIA Web site for information about CompTIA certifications, and to register your CompTIA credential and your MCP ID number.


CompTIA will verify your certifications and forward your information to Microsoft.

Hope this helps!




E.A. Broda
CCNA, CCDA, CCAI, Network +

 

[kmcferrin]

I was just browsing through the lists of requirements for MCSA and MCSE from

http://www.microsoft.com/certification.

The links that I saw are:

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/mcsa/messaging/windowsserver2003.mspx

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/mcsa/security/windowsserver2003.mspx

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/mcse/windows2003/default.mspx

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/mcse/messaging/windowsserver2003.mspx

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/mcse/security/windowsserver2003.mspx

After seeing your post, I did some more digging and did find the "Standard" MCSA certification, and it does show that you can use a pair of CompTIA exams as an elective.

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/mcsa/windows2003/default.mspx

But I couldn't find anything other than the FAQ that you found that listed those exams as counting towards an MCSE. In general, Microsoft's certification pages are fairly confusing. I would assume that if they count as an MCSA elective they'd also count as an MCSE elective too since the other MCSA electives do.

 

[CiscoGuy33]

kmcferrin,

You said - " In general, Microsoft's certification pages are fairly confusing." I agree 100%

One of the hardest sites to find ANYTHING - that is why I "google" it and come in through some backdoors or weirdly linked pages



E.A. Broda
CCNA, CCDA, CCAI, Network +