Cert Questions
Ironbeat
Member Posts: 6 ■□□□□□□□□□
I am pretty new to IT. But dreaming to enter the door though. How's the route of A+, network+, then MCSA. Is it still a feasible way to get an entry level job. I don't mind how many certs to go after, don't mind to assemble computor at the back of a shop. Just wanna have a new career. Been doing odd jobs for years, just hate it. Wanna change. Thanks!
Ironbeat
Comments
A+, network+ and MCSA is definitely a good path. How's your background with computing? A+ has been updated recently, so there's now "two" tracks you can be certified on. I think you only have a couple of months left to get the older track, and after that, it's all going to be the "2006" objectives.
http://certification.comptia.org/a/default.aspx
There's alot of things to consider when choosing a new career, money is usually the first thing. Can you afford to survive on the salary of a pc tech. where you might only be making slightly better than minimum wage? Your current career could also affect the outcome, I know cases where people with call centre background were able to jump to helpdesk/technical support jobs with a few MS exams (MCP) and thus made a decent living.
I'm not saying that helpdesk is necessarily better or worst than pc tech. and the truth is that it's probably harder to get a job as a technician without experience.
I also know of success stories from people looking into switching career using their community colleges. I know that many colleges will have co-op options built into their diploma programs, generally only 2-3 years in length, so that way you will get to have training + experience + education all in one shot in a relatively short period of time.
Good luck!
In your case, have you thought about CCNA? I know that there are lots of network academies out there that are great. I am sure there're lots of A+/Network+/MCSA bootcamps out there also, but they tend to be expensive, and I am not sure if they're meant for people with little or no experience.
http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/netacad/index.html
http://certification.comptia.org/
Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) and Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) are certifications led upto by several exams, obviously by Microsoft.
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/certifications.asp
Cisco, is a highly recognized company specializing in networking hardware/software and services.
http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/le3/learning_career_certifications_and_learning_paths_home.html
as you can see, CCNA is their entry level cert that introduces many of their technologies.
Network Academy is a training program authorized by Cisco taught by vendors around the world. I suggest it because I know of the many success stories.
2. Any source that you know about learning at Vancouver Canada? Cos' I am a Canadian.
Anyway, you've been very helpful. And many many thanks!
From experience, CCNA is sort of hard to self study unless you're doing network related work. In the summer, I was starting to study for CCNA, bought 3 routers, but then it was simply too hard to focus and learn...so then I decided to get MCSA first, I'm 2 exams away from getting my MCSA, and then I will be back to CCNA.
Vancouver eh? I know that their IT industry is starting to take off influenced by Edmonton/Calgary. I heard that Telus is launching many projects there.
Do you guys have chapters indigo over there? If not, you can shop online:
http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/home Check out CCNA books as recommended by the FAQ section, we have lots of knowledgable people here that are more than willing to help and support.
Cheers~
Ironbeat therefore I suggest for you to do Network+ and move up the ladder otherwise you will not understand the hard topics of CCNA
If I am lucky enough, I can print off my 30 pages of notes for the Net+ exam... Has everything you need to memorize for the exam.. (osi, cabling etc etc) (bad things is I have no idea where I stored them or even called them)
PM me and I'll meet you downtown one day.