A+ renewal poll

Hi Folks,

I took the A+ way back in 1997, has anyone renewed with the latest version of the certification or generally take in once and move on?

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tpatt100

I took mine a year or so after you did and I see no need or desire to take it again even if it expired lol.

Zartanasaurus

12 years later, hopefully you are way beyond A+ level employment.

tpatt100

Zartanasaurus wrote: »

12 years later, hopefully you are way beyond A+ level employment.

Well the thing is the Government's 8570 requirement for IT certs has the A+ for helpdesk and desktop support positions. Microsoft is listed as well. I was told and this makes me shudder a bit is your "certs" are only good for three years after the date of issue. Meaning you might have to take your A+ exam again to refresh the date on it if you are doing helpdesk and desktop support. I have not seen anybody do this yet but I could see somebody taking the A+ and Network+ over again.

veritas_libertas

tpatt100 wrote: »

Well the thing is the Government's 8570 requirement for IT certs has the A+ for helpdesk and desktop support positions. Microsoft is listed as well. I was told and this makes me shudder a bit is your "certs" are only good for three years after the date of issue. Meaning you might have to take your A+ exam again to refresh the date on it if you are doing helpdesk and desktop support. I have not seen anybody do this yet but I could see somebody taking the A+ and Network+ over again.

I can see CompTIA just loving this

JDMurray

veritas_libertas wrote: »

I can see CompTIA just loving this

Oh, this didn't happen out of accidental good fortune. CompTIA, Microsoft, and (ISC)2 lobbied the Department of Defense long and hard to get their certs accepted as part of 8570.1. Having the government require their employees and contractors to earn specific certs is a huge economic win for the cert's vendor.

veritas_libertas

JDMurray wrote: »

Oh, this didn't happen out of accidental good fortune. CompTIA, Microsoft, and (ISC)2 lobbied the Department of Defense long and hard to get their certs accepted as part of 8570.1. Having the government require their employees and contractors to earn specific certs is a huge economic win for the cert's vendor.

By the increase of people on the (ISC)2 and Security+ forums I knew it had to be great for them...

whutupper

Zartanasaurus wrote: »

12 years later, hopefully you are way beyond A+ level employment.

yeah, I've been in IT for about 12 yrs, just now starting to align my certs with my experience, previously I had A+ and every vendor cert you could imagine.

working on mcsa 2003, net+ and Sec+

Zartanasaurus

whutupper wrote: »

yeah, I've been in IT for about 12 yrs, just now starting to align my certs with my experience, previously I had A+ and every vendor cert you could imagine.

working on mcsa 2003, net+ and Sec+

In your case, I'd see no good reason to renew it unless you wanted to do it for the hell of it, or the job market in your area demanded it. I'm sure you have plenty of proven experience in the A+ domain to put on your resume if it were ever called into question.

Plantwiz

whutupper wrote: »

Hi Folks,

I took the A+ way back in 1997, has anyone renewed with the latest version of the certification or generally take in once and move on?

There is a thread here already about this topic. And yes, most felt that A+ is their beginning tech years and generally most move on to bigger and better responsibilities and therefore don't bother with entry-level certs when the can make more money working with networking technologies and such.

You may wish to search the old thread here if you are curious about the answers.

JomP

tpatt100 wrote: »

Well the thing is the Government's 8570 requirement for IT certs has the A+ for helpdesk and desktop support positions. Microsoft is listed as well. I was told and this makes me shudder a bit is your "certs" are only good for three years after the date of issue. Meaning you might have to take your A+ exam again to refresh the date on it if you are doing helpdesk and desktop support. I have not seen anybody do this yet but I could see somebody taking the A+ and Network+ over again.

Yeah I was looking into this. I took my Security+ in April 2008 and it expired in December 2008 (I know go ahead an laugh, I did after the anger passed). I am required by the 8570 requirement to have a current Security +. I read about it and it looks like there is a bridge exam that covers the difference, or you can just take the exam with the new objectives. From what I read most organizations are just recerting 1/3 of there people each year. I haven't been told that I have to recert yet, but I am expecting it......

CompuTron99

whutupper wrote: »

Hi Folks,

I took the A+ way back in 1997, has anyone renewed with the latest version of the certification or generally take in once and move on?

1997? I passed mine in 1999. Wasn't there a MAC OS option for A+ back then? I remember studying for in in '97 or '98.

NetworkingStudent

whutupper wrote: »

Hi Folks,

I took the A+ way back in 1997, has anyone renewed with the latest version of the certification or generally take in once and move on?

Yes

I don't see the point in renewing the A+, because I feel that customer service skills and a Microsoft desktop specialist cert are better suited for a help desk role.

I could be wrong though..............

Are they paying for your voucher or training?

daveshpiro

NetworkingStudent wrote: »

Yes

I don't see the point in renewing the A+, because I feel that customer service skills and a Microsoft desktop specialist cert are better suited for a help desk role.

I could be wrong though..............

Are they paying for your voucher or training?

I agree, unless you are required to renew in which case A+ would have to offer a bridge exam like they do for Sercuity+ which DOD employee have to take even if already Security+ Certfied.

j_a_s_o_n

None of the CompTIA certifications actually expire. The tests are retired and, I suppose, could be considered to have expired, but the certs don't.