Which Comptia cert will go well with CCNA? A+ or Network+

The last time that I took the class for CCNA was 2006 and didn't get chance to do the cert exam so this time I've just decided that I will pursue CCNA again. I'm going to do it in classroom and will do the cert exam as soon as I finished the study. As I mentioned on my other posts, I have a degree in computer engineering (2007) but don't have IT experience. I plan to self study Comptia and get certification while studying for CCNA so that I could start my IT career even helpdesk and do my way up in networking. So my question is, it also possible if I could self-study one while doing CCNA and which Comptia is good to compliment while studying CCNA, Comptia a+ or Comptia Network +? I'd really appreciate all you'll suggestions as I am desperate to work within IT industry especially networking.

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Comments

N2IT

If you must do a Comptia I would go with Security +

How about adding onto the CCNA or going to the CCNP?

Edmond Dantes

As your study for CCNA i would do the network+

effekted

As N2IT said, if you're wanting a CompTia cert then get Security+

With having a CCNA you already show you have a good understanding of networking so Network+ isn't adding any value and A+ isn't worth getting IMO.

N2IT

effekted wrote: »

As N2IT said, if you're wanting a CompTia cert then get Security+

With having a CCNA you already show you have a good understanding of networking so Network+ isn't adding any value and A+ isn't worth getting IMO.

Agreed and you can take the CASP eventually if you want to progress to a higher level security certification.

Bl8ckr0uter

Security+ and Linux+ are probably the only ones that are worthwhile. I would suggest picking up one or both of them. CCNA and CCNA:S should be on your radar too. The combo of those four would be awesome on a resume.

ghienzy09

Thank you so much guys for the replies. You're all very helpful. Basically, I'm just worried that since I don't have work experience in IT since after I graduated in 2007, companies might not hire me. Hence, studying comptia will refresh me again and maybe if I get certs Comptia a+ or Network+, combined with CCNA will help me quickly enter the IT industry. I don't know if what I'm thinking is right?

Devilry

If you are already a CCNA, go with either Sec+ or Net+. Since you have no experience.

powerfool

I would just work on getting employment first... I didn't have any certification for my first three years of working... nor college. I regret it, as it probably would have helped me get to the next job... but experience and employment are what you need right now.

Darril

ghienzy09 wrote: »

So my question is, it also possible if I could self-study one while doing CCNA and which Comptia is good to compliment while studying CCNA, Comptia a+ or Comptia Network +? I'd really appreciate all you'll suggestions as I am desperate to work within IT industry especially networking.

From a content perspective, Network+ and CCNA have the most cross-over. If your only concern is what will be the easiest to get (A+ or Network+) while doing the CCNA, Network+ is the answer.

However, as several people have suggested, Security+ is a valuable CompTIA certification within the IT field and the Security+ cert also has a lot of crossover with CCNA. One of the most difficult elements of Security+ is the networking, but you'll cover much of that in your CCNA study so you'll be fairly close. Also from a marketability standpoint, you'll be more valuable to a company if you have some understanding of security, and some diversity. In other words, someone with two networking certs (CCNA and Network+) won't necessarily be as valuable to a company as somone with a networking cert and security cert.

HTH,

Darril Gibson
Security Blog

techie2012

Darril wrote: »

From a content perspective, Network+ and CCNA have the most cross-over. If your only concern is what will be the easiest to get (A+ or Network+) while doing the CCNA, Network+ is the answer.

However, as several people have suggested, Security+ is a valuable CompTIA certification within the IT field and the Security+ cert also has a lot of crossover with CCNA. One of the most difficult elements of Security+ is the networking, but you'll cover much of that in your CCNA study so you'll be fairly close. Also from a marketability standpoint, you'll be more valuable to a company if you have some understanding of security, and some diversity. In other words, someone with two networking certs (CCNA and Network+) won't necessarily be as valuable to a company as somone with a networking cert and security cert.

HTH,

Darril Gibson
Security Blog

I agree. I am taking Security+ and then CCNA:Sec. I am hoping the Sec+ will give me a good foundation to work with for taking the CCNA:Sec. It is also part of my curriculum for WGU. After that getting my CCNP and then probably learning Unix scripting then venturing out more into the Microsoft world.

brad-

FWIW i dont think that the comptia certs are as valuable in terms of ROI or the time put in. I think you get more of your time and money's worth out of cisco or MS. I think the foundation everyone mentions can be had just as well studying a vendor specific technology. I know some will disagree, but i have the A+ and N+ and i really dont think they amount to much but resume fodder. If you have targetted an employer that values them, thats another story, but all things being equal...since the certs arent lifetime, im done with comptia.

lsud00d

FWIW Linux+ perks ears and earns you the LPIC-1..and 2 Novell certs.

That ROI is better than most IMHO.

Darril

brad- wrote: »

FWIW i dont think that the comptia certs are as valuable in terms of ROI or the time put in. I think you get more of your time and money's worth out of cisco or MS. I think the foundation everyone mentions can be had just as well studying a vendor specific technology. I know some will disagree, but i have the A+ and N+ and i really dont think they amount to much but resume fodder. If you have targetted an employer that values them, thats another story, but all things being equal...since the certs arent lifetime, im done with comptia.

While this is true for some people, I've had many students in Microsoft classes that have gaping holes in their knowledge that prevents them from grasping many of the higher level concepts. MCSE and MCITP certification tracks assume basic knowledge and without this knowledge, they stumble.

A significant part of the problem is that they don't know what they don't know. One of the values of a certification is it provides a guide on what to study. Pursuing the certification helps ensure that a person doesn't accidentally skip over important concepts.

An analogy I often use is that they're trying to learn calculus without first learning multiplication. It isn't that calculus is beyond their capabilities, but they won't get it until they've mastered multiplication.

The result is often that they grasp as much as they can but it isn't enough to actually pass the higher level certification exams. And then, a few years later, they still don't have the certification or the advanced career they were seeking and they are trying again.

Admittedly, everyone isn't the same. However, a solid foundation is extremely important for any endeavor.

Darril Gibson
Security+ blog
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