*Rollover A+/Network+ to ETA certification CST and CNST*

Webmaster

StudyExam4Less made an exclusive agreement with the Electronic Technicians Association (ETA) that allows you to rollover your A+/ Network+ to CST and CNST certifications, without sitting for any exam.

If you are already A+ certified, you can rollover to CST for $49

If you are already A+ and Network+ certified, you can rollover to CNST for $69

If you are already i-Net+ certified, you can rollover to CWS for $69

These ICAC/ISO certifications from the Electronic Technicians Association (ETA) do NOT invalidate your A+ or Network+ certification. They give you an entry into an association that offers fiber optic, biomedical and other specialized certifications. ETA is a non-profit organization established in 1978 and offers over 30 certifications.

Simply prove you are A+ / Network+ certified and your are guaranteed to receive your CST / CNST certification after verification. Please allow upwards approximately of 8 weeks for your cool lapel pin, wallet card, and certification to arrive by mail.

The only way to do this is through StudyExam4Less.com who, as a bonus, is offering with the rollover dozens of practice tests for download.

Webmaster

On a side note, it kinda remembered me of the i-Net+ to CIW option that was twice as expensive, and very popular. I think it will be interesting to see how many people will go for this, and what it will do to the popularity of other ETA certs.

evanderburg

I think I'll do it. I see a number of other users here with the certs. Thanks for the information.

Opi

maybe i can do this, now i know there is no monthly payment

vex

If you go to the ETA site you can also convert your I-Net+ to CWS for $50

I think I may just have to get a CNST. $69 for another cert without interfering with my 70-291 studies.

Webmaster

You're most welcome. I think I would go for it too 'if' I had A+ or A+ and Network+. Simply to have an other cert on my resume. Not show off to parents, friend, coworkers, or in these forums, but to make the chance that my resume gets selected from a bunch of candidates who have the same certs, experience, i.o.w. everything else being the same, apart from the extra ETA certs on my resume. If it's a company that knows the ETA, which certainly wouldn't surpise me, and especially if it's related to the job I'd be applying for, it might just make the difference. Regardless, I think it's cheap, and partly therefore worth a try. Especially if you are currently unemployed it seems like a good investement to me. And if you are employed and your 'boss' pays for it, it's seems like a no-brainer to me. Based on the popularity of the i-Net+ to CIW option, I think this one will become popular as well. But we'll see. The availability of this option alone will be good advertising for ETA. I'm going to check them out, and their certs, but if anyone here 'knows' them well, feel free to fill us in.

cairtaker

Do the ETA certs expire?

jescab

What is the difference between these two certs (CST & CNST) and is it worth getting both, if I have A+ & NET+, or should I just get CNST?

Thanks

Crucio666

jescab wrote:

What is the difference between these two certs (CST & CNST) and is it worth getting both, if I have A+ & NET+, or should I just get CNST?

Thanks

^^^^^ same question

Webmaster

As you can see on the following page, they have several different groups of certifications:
www.eta-i.org/CertsGroups.html

The one that applies most to us is the Computers group, and for some maybe the fiber optics and data cabling group. They have the following certs in the Computer group:

- Computer Service Technician - CST
- Certified Network Computer Technician - CNCT
- Certified Network Systems Technician - CNST
- Web Specialist - CWS
- E-Commerce Developer - CECD

The CST is similar to A+, CNST is similar to Network+.

www.eta-i.org/Computers.html

Webmaster

Whether it's worth it to get both is mainly up to yourself and depends on your situation. In the general certification forum is a topic called Interest or Career. Well, from an interest point of view, it's not worth much imo, unless you plan to go for other ETA certs. The interest comes from studying and sitting for the exam, while if you are A+ or Network+ you already know about 90-95% of it. So you basically have to ask yourself if it will benifit your career. But I think the main factor in your decision should be your job situation. If you think it will help in our current job (more chances of promotion, extra salary, etc.) pick the one that you think will be most useful. Same goes for when you are or will apply for a job. If you're aiming for PC technician or Customer/Computer Support Technician, an A+ 'and' a CST couldmake 'the' difference. I think both CST and CNST (as if we don't have enough abbreviations to remember already) have less value if you are a system adminstrator and don't work much with hardware anymore. Again, if the money is not an issue at all, or your employer pays for it, get them both, simply as a resume enhancer. No, I'm not getting any money for this promotion, but I'm biased, I'm a cert-fan. But although I do think it's a 'cool' option, I would not pay a dime for the certs if it would be of no use. So be sure to give it some thought and consideration first.

Metaldave

Do Comptia have anything to say about it? It look like a great deal.. If even its only to make your CV look better.

Webmaster

I haven't seen or heard a comment from CompTIA about it. But I think it will only be good for them and A+ and Network+. Take one CompTIA exam and get two certs. The rollover option to CIW certainly made i-Net+ more popular.

Megadeth4168

Sounds promising! I know this is valid but should we wait until CompTIA says something about it?

Webmaster

I wrote:

These ICAC/ISO certifications from the Electronic Technicians Association (ETA) do NOT invalidate your A+ or Network+ certification.

Personally I don't understand the concern, because I can't imagine what CompTIA could say about this that would have any influence. They would certainly not hold it against you or anything. Am I missing something, are you worried about anything in particular?

Regardless, I'll see if I can get an 'official' response from CompTIA.

Megadeth4168

Webmaster wrote:

I wrote:

These ICAC/ISO certifications from the Electronic Technicians Association (ETA) do NOT invalidate your A+ or Network+ certification.

Personally I don't understand the concern, because I can't imagine what CompTIA could say about this that would have any influence. They would certainly not hold it against you or anything. Am I missing something, are you worried about anything in particular?

Regardless, I'll see if I can get an 'official' response from CompTIA.

Well, since you put it that way
I will go for it, I see nothing but reputable sources that I trust

Webmaster

I guess it was to be expected that it would raise some questions. That's the point of this topic, so more then ok. And it's not everyday something like this comes a long. But it's not that different from Microsoft accepting CompTIA certs as an MCSA/MCSE elective, or getting credit for certs when you are going for a degree. ETA has been around for a long time, but is obviously not that well known in the 'computer' certs industry, which, probably also obvious, they want to change. Any possible competition between the ETA and CompTIA is irrelevant to the certified individuals like us IMHO. But I very much doubt there will be less CompTIA candidates because of this rollover to ETA certs option, on the contrary actually. I've contacted CompTIA nevertheless, and will post the answer here 'if' they answer and with something I can publicly post.

Again, if you are considering this option, take your time, there's no rush. Personally I'm very interested in what the moderators have to say about this option.

Tcat

cairtaker wrote:

Do the ETA certs expire?

I'm sure a more offical word will come down. The short answer is yes or no.

Yes they expire when you die. They expire after 4 years if you do nothing.

ISO rules require that you are annually improving yourself. That means self documenting that you went to a trade show, wrote an article, etc. *Something* besides being a rock.

After 4 years you have to upgrade to a new test OR a different test. So you would have to roll your Network+ in 2010 if you only had CST. Or take the CNST test. Then you are golden for another 4 years.

This repeats until you reach the Master status and you are done for life.

I will have my Master status later this year with the RESI series.

HTH

Tcat

stallion750

I found this FAQ on the site......

Question: What is CNST Recertification Policy?
Answer: The ETA has a two-fold recertification policy. With a CST or CNST whether they are part of the CET program or standalone, at the end of the first year of certification an individual is asked to submit information to verify that they have kept current in their field. This can be taking a class, specific product training, attending a convention, researching & writing an article. They need to show ten hours per year to maintain their certification. There is a $25 fee to update the certification and they also recieve an ETA membership for another year. At the end of four years of updating their certification it is renewed for the next four years if they have kept it current. If not, they may retake the LATEST exam at half the fee to renew. This ensures that someone doesnt become ETA certified and then never practice in their field but try to get a job next to a newly certified in current technology tech or a tech who has upgraded his skills/knowledge and kept current with technology. The policy was established to keep ETA certifications aligned with ISO 17024 which calls for recertification and for keeping in touch with the people that you certify.

Webmaster

I was just pressing CTRL-V with the same info. Thanks stallion, and you too tcat for filling in some details.

johnnyg5646

The ETA has a two-fold recertification policy. With a CST or CNST whether they are part of the CET program or standalone, at the end of the first year of certification an individual is asked to submit information to verify that they have kept current in their field. This can be taking a class, specific product training, attending a convention, researching & writing an article. They need to show ten hours per year to maintain their certification. There is a $25 fee to update the certification and they also recieve an ETA membership for another year. At the end of four years of updating their certification it is renewed for the next four years if they have kept it current. If not, they may retake the LATEST exam at half the fee to renew. This ensures that someone doesnt become ETA certified and then never practice in their field but try to get a job next to a newly certified in current technology tech or a tech who has upgraded his skills/knowledge and kept current with technology. The policy was established to keep ETA certifications aligned with ISO 17024 which calls for recertification and for keeping in touch with the people that you certify.

So, if I roll over my certifications to these things and then next year I am in graduate school for Computer Science would that count as relevant experience? I know it's experience in the computer industry, but the chances of covering anything in a computer science course that would be on those exams are slim

TheShadow

The rollover program is not new unless they discontinued it for a while. I know they were doing it as far back as 2000. I asked a CompTIA official at the time if they had a problem with it and the answer as a no. ETA is a very old organization of technicians and their testing centers are actually testing persons. Normally school instructors, college professors, persons high up in the membership hierarchy and even an occasional Librarian. Basically anyone that could be an unquestioned testing proctor.

madboy

This "year end renewal, four year period, $25 renewal fee, showing that you've done courses" business is too much work... If i am going to spend time renewing a cert, it might as well be the MCSA or MCSE.

Oh, and Webmaster, i should have been more specific when i asked if the announcement was "spam"... i got an email in my junk mail folder with that very notice, and then I came to this forum to see if there was any discussion about it.

I should have said i was wondering if it was spam when i first saw it in my junk mail.

I am a little mad at times. Kwazy!

Tcat

"So, if I roll over my certifications to these things and then next year I am in graduate school for Computer Science would that count as relevant experience? I know it's experience in the computer industry, but the chances of covering anything in a computer science course that would be on those exams are slim "

I could call taking a collage course in computers relevent experience. Sure. Again the point is you we're not a rock. I figure my badge from LinuxWorld and the ETA-I show I did certainly qualifies as continuning ed. Nobody has ever asked to see them.... maybe they know because they see at the shows....

Dionysus

I took both of them.

I'm up for a promotion soon, and my boss said the more certs I have, the more money I'll be offered when the promo comes up.

... and they'll remiburse me for the certs I get, so... win/win for me.

porengo

Webmaster,

If this takes off you may have to add an ETA forum.

Personally, I think I'm going to give it a shot. Not only may it support you when competing for a job, it may also support you when trying to get a contract as a consultant. Like the Webmaster said, someone who's familiar with the ETA certifications (perhaps because they have one in another discipline such as fiber optics) may decide to hire you just for that reason. Every little bit helps in this industry.

Megadeth4168

I went for it.... Just waiting on the confirmation email now

I downloaded the bonus exams that came with this deal... I will try them later and see how helpful they are.

Webmaster

porengo wrote:

If this takes off you may have to add an ETA forum.

Did cross my mind actually. Will give it some more serious consideration in a couple of months or so.

Webmaster

Due the rapidly increasing interest in the rollover option, StudyExam4Less.com now also offers the i-Net+ to CWS option:

www.studyexam4less.com/cwsrollover.asp

PremierCisco

Hi all,

I also went for them both

Regards

Eamo20

petedude

Webmaster wrote:

On a side note, it kinda remembered me of the i-Net+ to CIW option that was twice as expensive, and very popular. I think it will be interesting to see how many people will go for this, and what it will do to the popularity of other ETA certs.

I wanted to do the i-Net+ to CIW option, but checked into it too late.

Other than a cheap, fast route to CIW there would have been no other reason to take i-Net+ at that point.

Maybe I'll do the i-Net+ in parallel with my CCNP to do the rollover thing.