My planned entry level IT Cert Path

Collective wisdom,

As a recent grad (Master of Library Science & Master of Information Science), I believe came up with a plan

Right now (no job yet):
1. A+
2. Network+
3. Security+
4. MCDST
5. CCENT (maybe the CCNA)

After getting the first job:
1. CCNA
2. MCSE
3. MCSA

Any thoughts?

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Comments

earweed

Instead of the MCSE/MCSA I'd go for MCITP:EA or MCITP:SA

tjb122982

earweed wrote: »

Instead of the MCSE/MCSA I'd go for MCITP:EA or MCITP:SA

I'm sorry, I actually meant to put that down; XP was a good workhorse but it is going out pasture soon.

Does anyone ever do both EA and SA?

earweed

tjb122982 wrote: »

Does anyone ever do both EA and SA?

A lot of people on here have done both

jamesleecoleman

It sounds like alot of certifications in a short time. I'm not trying to put you down or anything but maybe some certifications can go from list A to list B just incase it takes you a while to get all of them and so you don't get burned out.

tjb122982

jamesleecoleman wrote: »

It sounds like alot of certifications in a short time. I'm not trying to put you down or anything but maybe some certifications can go from list A to list B just incase it takes you a while to get all of them and so you don't get burned out.

Your have a good point but as long as I don't have a job yet, I would much prefer to complete the A+, Network+, and Security+ before the end of the year to ensure I will have a "lifetime cert(s)."

jamesleecoleman

tjb122982 wrote: »

Your have a good point but as long as I don't have a job yet, I would much prefer to complete the A+, Network+, and Security+ before the end of the year to ensure I will have a "lifetime cert(s)."

Yea, that's what I was thinking about but I didn't want to sound like I'm was trying discourage you or anything. I'll be trying to work on three certifications myself since I won't be working this summer

stlsmoore

You're on the right track, just remember to take your time, burn out is no joke when it comes to certifications.

Bl8ckr0uter

tjb122982 wrote: »

Collective wisdom,

As a recent grad (Master of Library Science & Master of Information Science), I believe came up with a plan

Right now (no job yet):
1. A+
2. Network+
3. Security+
4. MCDST
5. CCENT (maybe the CCNA)

After getting the first job:
1. CCNA
2. MCSE
3. MCSA

Any thoughts?

You might want to knock off A+ and Network+ off of this list. Also go for MCITP:EST or MCITP:EDST7. It doesn't seem like to much for me, I think it is doable.

laptop

I'm going to share my plan although I don't have any certifications. I am in a similar situation just like you, a recent graduate with no job right now.

Anyway, what do you want to become in the future??? You have a Master degree and I believe you don't want to be stuck in Technical Support for life. Do you have an idea of what you want to pursue? I believe your goal and my goal is the same at the moment: To get our foot in the IT world.

Hopefully you won't mind sharing my plan:
CompTIA A+
CompTIA Network+
MCDST
Upgrade MCDST to MCITP: Enteprise 7 (I think you take 1 additional course).

If you want to get into Networking: CompTIA A+ > CompTIA Network+ > CCENT > CCNA > Cisco route
If you want MCSA: CompTIA A+, Network+, take 70-270 (and you're halfway there)

fly351

Like some of the others said... A+ isn't really useful if your going into server work. Network+ is a good basic knowledge cert but very generic. If you have IT experience (1-2 years) those certs aren't really going to help much IMO. But the more the better, and if you get CompTIA certs done this year they will never expire. CompTIA Certification Renewal Policy

curtisdaley

A+,
CCNA
Server+
MCSA
JNCIA!