A+, is it worth it at this point?

NavyIT

I recently finished my CCNA: Security cert and am looking towards my next certification goal. Given that I have all the certs listed to the left, is it worth it for me at this point to pick up A+? I am also thinking about CCNA: V, but the problem with that is I do not use VoIP at all at work, and do not want an employer to see it on my resume and expect me to have practical application experience with it. I only look to A+ because I see at some places it is a job requirement and I can get almost perfect scores on practice tests that I have done.

ptilsen

No, it's not worth it. You're certified and experienced way above A+ level. It is not a requirement for any job to which you should be applying. Some job ads may still list it, but not many. I do not recommend A+ for anyone with more than two years of experience, and it's really only necessary if you're unemployed and have no full-time professional experience.

Even if you are confident you can pass both tests without studying, I don't think the cost of and time to take the tests would be justified. I'm not so sure CCNA:V is a good next step at all, unless you really want to break into voice as a specialization. CCNP, a more current Microsoft certification, or something else entirely (e.g. Linux or security certs) would be a more logical next step for you.

MrAgent

Unless youre looking to get a help desk job, I'd say its not worth it.

Iristheangel

Nope. Not in the least bit.

NavyIT

Thank you everyone for a quick response and for confirming what I was already thinking. My fear with CCNP is that I feel confident that I can study and lab and be able to get certified, but at my job we do not get to play with the routers and switches at the CCNP level. I do not want to be certified at the CCNP level but only have practical application at the CCNA level. Do you see something like that being a problem?

Codyy

I say go for it if you can get a voucher through the Navy. It's free, why not?

ptilsen

I do not see a problem with certifying above your experience level. Certifying is one of the ways you get to that next experience level. As long as you are honest with your experience and skill level on your resume and interviews, there should be no problem.

steve13ad

You're already past the A+ level, and really with your CCNA:S alone you've moved beyond Comptia.

DoubleNNs

No. You already have IT experience. You're also already far above A+ cert level.
If you want, just pick up Upgrading and Repairing PCs by Mueller for a leisure read-thru. You'll pick up the info you'd gain from an A+, be able to apply it to the real-world better, and save the money from taking the cert. Or you could study w/ one of the cert study guides, such as the Exam Cram, and just not take the exam.

Edit: or in GENERAL, you could choose this time to leisurely learn w/o being confined within what is on an exam. There are plenty of books you could read that aren't Cert STudy Guides. Have you read Network Warrior by Donahue?
Or, when was the last time you hung out with friends? Saw a movie on theaters If there are no certs you feel you need to take, maybe dont take any until the need/want comes around.

Kasor

If you don't know anything about computer and you want to show that you can be a Technician, then go for it. It's just like college 101, that you need to take the 100 level course before you can take the 200.

Ivanjam

@NavyIT - go for the CCNP, man!

instant000

Go for CCNP. It'll help you do your CCNA-level job a lot better. It won't hurt you in the least.

If you're not going to cert on anything right now, like a previous poster said, read Network Warrior (make sure to get the more recent second edition).
If that's not enough for you, then I recommend Cisco LAN Switching (the old book).
And if that's not enough, then go for TCP/IP Illustrated (it also has a more recent edition)

Even if you don't want to cert up, you can still make yourself a lot stronger at your current job.

Since you're Navy, I'm pretty sure that you have to know about DIACAP, and the transition to DIARMF, etc. (Heck, the DIACAP Knowledge Service is hosted on a Navy website!) .... anyway, the point is that it helps to know more than CCNA-level, to properly secure your network. I'm pretty sure that CCNA-Security covered a lot of things that the CCNA did not, especially with regards to network security.

CCNA is only the beginning. A very solid foundation, but only the beginning.

I'd recommend going for the 'NP while also reading some deeper networking books. I see that you do like the security track, but according to Ahriakin(sp?), you'll run into some issues later on in your IE:Security studies, if you skip the regular 'NP on the way up ... I believe that it was something to do with BGP, which an 'NP would know, but someone who skipped it would not know.

N2IT

I hate to say any certification is a waste. it takes a lot of time, efforts, and money to get them.

However with your current skillsets I would recommend skipping A+/N+

If you are focused on networks I would slowly work toward the CCNP. Tons of jobs perfer or require that certification, especially in high level engineering and adminstration roles.

NavyIT

Thank you everyone for the responses. You all have inspired me to start my CCNP studies. I also think I'm going to go for the regular NP rather than security so I can have a better foundation. DoubleNNS, good advice on taking a break also. I'm not sure I can actually do that, I always feel like I need to be working towards something. I did order Network Warrior (2nd edition) though, as I have seen that many people on this forum favor that book. I start a new semester on the 14th where I'll be taking 18 hours while working full time so that should help settle some of my restlessness!

DoubleNNs

Good luck on your studies NavyIT.

Just remember to enjoy the journey itself instead of always focusing on the destination. (Hard advice to follow, but I'm sure it becomes easier the more you accomplish.)