A couple of questions from a newbe

chrisbarbosa

Hi everyone, im going to a computer tech school next month to get my A+ NET+ certfication and the course is for a month, now im not a super genius with a computer if i would rate myself with experience from none, beginner, intermediate, advanced I would rate myself as intermediate. Do you think it is possibile to get a A+ NET+ certficate in a month with an intermediate know-how of computers? I have also experience as a technician, but as a cell phone technician, I know that phones and computers are two totally different pieces of equipment but does anyone think that will come in handy with dealing with computers? Thank you for your time, and all your answers will be well appreciated.

jamesleecoleman

I think that one month won't give enough time to fully study what is needed to study to pass the exam and to actually know the material unless most of the day is spent studying the material. These two certifications will be good for you starting off and I think any technology job expereience is better than none.

chrisbarbosa

The course is for about 80 hours, Mon thru Fri 9 a.m to 5 p.m. I checked the school and they are certified by CompITA on there website so there legit. Can you give me any websites I can go to so I can see what type of classwork the A+ NET+ consist of. Thanks.

instant000

chrisbarbosa wrote: »

The course is for about 80 hours, Mon thru Fri 9 a.m to 5 p.m. I checked the school and they are certified by CompITA on there website so there legit. Can you give me any websites I can go to so I can see what type of classwork the A+ NET+ consist of. Thanks.

Try these links below.

CompTIA

CompTIA A+ Certification

CompTIA Network+ Certification

A+ - TechExams.net IT Certification Forums

NETWORK+ - TechExams.net IT Certification Forums

http://www.techexams.net/forums/a/47249-comptia-220-701-2009-edition.html

http://www.techexams.net/forums/a/53389-comptia-220-702-2009-edition.html

http://www.techexams.net/forums/network/264-technotes-network.html

I would suggest self study for these, as it is difficult to be able to afford to go to school for every certification that you get, and self study is what you would wind up having to do in the future. So, why not start developing that habit now, at the foundational level?

If you've already paid for the school and can't get a refund, then ignore this suggestion, and get the best you can get out of the class. Ask 1,000,000 questions, and try to break everything. You can't really learn a computer, until you've broken it.

This forum is designed to help people pursuing certifications, so be sure to ask tons of questions in the A+ and Network+ forums.

chrisbarbosa wrote: »

Do you think it is possibile to get a A+ NET+ certficate in a month with an intermediate know-how of computers?

YES. If you work hard at it. These are basically "beginner-level" certificates. Do not be surprised if you see a lot of things that you know already.

I have also experience as a technician, but as a cell phone technician, I know that phones and computers are two totally different pieces of equipment but does anyone think that will come in handy with dealing with computers?

YES. Cell Phones are quite similar to computers.
1. They run an operating system.
2. They have a basic input/output system.
3. They have a graphical user interface.
4. They have CPU
5. They have RAM
6. They have longer-term storage: flash (vs. some type of HDD)
7. They have a network connection

With everything that I do, I try to relate what I already know, to the new thing that I am learning. So, now you can feel less like a noob when it comes to computers.

Thank you for your time, and all your answers will be well appreciated

You're welcome!

Hope this helps!

RobertKaucher

Go to CompTIA's site and look for the objectives for the exam.

I'm going to be very frank with you here. While you rate yourself as intermediate level with computers it is far more likely that you are from our perspective a beginner. I imagine what you are saying is that you consider yourself an intermediate level user.

Let's test to be sure. If you cannot define these terms by simply looking at them then you should consider yourself a beginner: DNS, IP Address, Default Gateway, RAM, VPN.

Those are just some quick examples, but if you don't know those terms you should not consider yourself intermediate. One month might not be enough for both. But I would imagine that it would be OK for the A+ if you are really dedicating 80 hours a week to the course work.

You could always go ahead and take the coruse, knock out the A+ and then continue to prep for the Net+ after the course completes. No shame in that and it would ensure you have a better grasp of the knowledge. IMO, I think 3 months is much better for someone who is coming more from a user background.

chrisbarbosa

Thanks a lot for your help guys, this website is great for a person like me starting there journey to get there certificates. I'll keep you updated on how I'm doing and if I get stuck with any issues at my training.

chrisbarbosa

Let's test to be sure. If you cannot define these terms by simply looking at them then you should consider yourself a beginner: DNS, IP Address, Default Gateway, RAM, VPN.

DNS is the Domain Name System, IP address is the serial number on a modem, printer, computer, etc., RAM is Random Acess Memory it is a form of data storage, VPN is Virtual Private Network it securly connects you to a private network. I've heard of Default Gateway it has to do with TCP/IP I think, not to sure.

instant000

chrisbarbosa wrote: »

Let's test to be sure. If you cannot define these terms by simply looking at them then you should consider yourself a beginner: DNS, IP Address, Default Gateway, RAM, VPN.

DNS is the Domain Name System, IP address is the serial number on a modem, printer, computer, etc., RAM is Random Acess Memory it is a form of data storage, VPN is Virtual Private Network it securly connects you to a private network. I've heard of Default Gateway it has to do with TCP/IP I think, not to sure.

Based on your answers, you are a beginner.

Most of your answers are OK, but an IP address is definitely not a serial number, and I could say that the Internet Layer has something to do with TCP/IP.

IP address - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Default gateway - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You stand to learn something from A+/Network+.

EDIT: Just realized all you did was mostly translate acronyms ... Could you tell us what those do? If not, then yeah, work at that A+, and study hard.

The Army sent me to school for 16 weeks (where my job was going to school), then sent me around the world doing IT for over 5 years, and before that I'd up to junior level in a computer information systems degree ... so my perspective towards how fast someone could tackle A+ and Network+ is based upon that--which is to say that it's not difficult with a sound background, but I honestly can't say that I was ever a "beginner" whenever I went to study a single certification. So, I think my perspective is "skewed" by that, to say yeah, just review the book, and take the test, when I'm not realizing I'd been doing it for years before studying for the test.

I'm considering adding "6 years of experience before beginning certs" to my signature, so people can take my suggestions with a proper-sized grain of salt.

chrisbarbosa

Is the A+ NET+ certification exam difficult for a person that is a beginner?

Repo Man

Network+ can be difficult because it covers a lot of material.

slushi

chrisbarbosa wrote: »

Is the A+ NET+ certification exam difficult for a person that is a beginner?

A+ is an entry level cert, so the information isn't too overwhelming, just a lot of fact-memorization. Same goes for the Network +. It's all trivial.

I took my A+ after studying for 3 weeks (reading for 2, taking practice exams and reviewing for the last week, I didn't even finish the book). I studied and passed my N+ 3 weeks after my A+, so it is doable.

LOL at IP being a serial number. I'd say its more of an address that you send mail to. But anywho, that's what this forum is here for, helping each other out.

RobertKaucher

chrisbarbosa wrote: »

Is the A+ NET+ certification exam difficult for a person that is a beginner?

I think you could get the A+ in that time. I think Net+ will probably cover too many new concepts for you to take it after only a month of study. Like I said in my last post. I think 3 months would be ok provided you did a lot of labbing for the net+ (building your own networks, even if you just use consumer equipment like LinkSys routers).

Psoasman

chrisbarbosa wrote: »

Is the A+ NET+ certification exam difficult for a person that is a beginner?

Those were my first 2 certs. I think I spent around 4 months working on them, but I was new to IT at the time. Some of the things I did were:

1. Get a break / fix computer - this is a computer you can literally break and fix again. I got several for free. Lab, Lab, Lab, and lab some more.

2. Download exam objectives for each exam and make sure you understand them both from a book point of view, as well as from hands-on.

3. Asks lots of questions. This site is great for that, as we all started off somewhere.

4. Take lots of notes. I write all my notes in Word for example.

5. Use practice tests to gauge your knowledge, not as a way to just pass the exam. Paper certs may get the job, but they'll be canned soon for lack of actual knowledge.

I think the A+ and Net+ will give you solid foundational knowledge and will be a good start for you.