Certifications?

[RaeRae]

Basically you can be any age you want . . . I wish I knew more about it when I was your age. If you know your stuff, then study a little and get your A+, though that's not alot to brag about anymore. MCSE requires a good bit more time, money, and tests to get. As for Cisco, hmmmph, I have no idea, but I know it's worth ALOT!

[jl123]

Yeah i think i might start off with my A+ certification. I found this ad in some magazine. www.CyberStateU.com (http://www.CyberStateU.com) They have MCSE, CNE, A+, CTE, and Cisco. I can take my lessons online and do my labs. I don't know about my tests. Visit it and tell me if it's any good. Thanks for your help. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

Yeah i think i want to get ahead. A+ isn't something to brag about even at my age? http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif Just kidding http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

~Joel(jl123)

[CMonster]

Please note that the A+ test is about to go through a major revision near the end of this year. Although the current study materials will help you pass the hardware module, new study materials will almost certainly be required for the software requirements, unless you plan to test before December.

Here is a link where you can find out more: www.comptia.com (http://www.comptia.com)

"A+ Certification is a testing program sponsored by CompTIA that certifies the competency of entry-level (6 months experience) service technicians in the computer industry. Anyone who wants an internationally recognized credential as a competent entry-level computer service professional can take the A+ examination. The program is backed by major computer hardware and software vendors, distributors, resellers and publications. The A+ test was first available in July 1993, with a complete revision of the exam occurring on July 31, 1998. Earning A+ certification means that the individual possesses the knowledge, skills, and customer relations skills essential for a successful entry-level (6 months experience) computer service technician, as defined by experts from companies across the industry. The test covers a broad range of hardware and software technologies, but are not related to any vendor-specific products. To become certified, you must pass two parts -- the Core and the Microsoft DOS/Windows module portion. When both the Core and the DOS/Windows portions are passed within 90 calendar days, the candidate receives the A+ designation. Once an individual is A+ certified this designation is not required to be updated as the test is revised."



[This message has been edited by CMonster (edited 05-25-2000).]

[jl123]

How old do you have to be to get one of these? A+? MCSE?(which is expensive), and cisco? I'm just wondering. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif I'm 15 years old and just wondering if i could get a head start. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif Is it true you can do the labs and tests online?

~Joel(jl123)

[tantone]

A+ isn't really all that hard to pass. I think the required score out of 100 is like 60. That's pretty **** low! And there's 70 questions if I remember correctly.

As for MCSE...each test is 30 questions, other than Enterprise which is adaptive.

If you really wanted to study and pass all MCSE tests, go to www.cramsession.com (http://www.cramsession.com) and print out their cramsession notes for each test. Those things are invaluable for the test. If you knew EVERYTHING on those notes without question, you'd pass.

At your age, go for it!! I paid a lot of money for a course for the MCSE but it's well worth it since you get a lot more understanding and hands-on than you would trying to learn and pass on your own. But with the materials I have from my course, those cramsession notes, and a few practice tests (where at LEAST 20 out of the 70+ questions on it were right off my actual exams), anyone could pass. If you lived in the DFW area I'd let you borrow 'em.

[tantone]

Well, look at that. You do live in the DFW area. Actually, my course is in Irving.

[Tex_Gex]

I think brain dumps are great if you want to memorize the material but learn nothing. If you want some lively discussions about brain dumps try here..
http://www.2000tutor.com/cgi-bin/Ultimate.cgi

[desmocat]

I have just completed the first semester of the cisco course to prepare to take the ccna exam. You might go to cisco's site,they have a lot of good info about the networking acadamies.

They might even give you info about where one is located near you.They are really pressing to get some of the curriculum into high schools, so I would be willing to bet you could start on some of the stuff.
The only prerequisite that the junoir college that I went to was basic computer skills.
The CCNA test as it is will be retired at the end of July this year, to be replaced with one that is a little bit tougher,in that
it has some stuff on configuring catalyst switches,and ISDN and dialup config that isn't on the current exam.

[Red Rage]

duno bout youall but the tests are too darn costly for me.. I prefer the free ones http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

BrainBench (http://www.brainbench.com)

I know they don't mean much to most people here but to some employers they are just as good as MSCE..

[Gene C.]

CMoster is right on it. I did this post a while back when I first heard about the new changes ect. and this might be a little more easy for you to understand it.

the test will change to a format like this some time in Aug. this year.
These changes may include:
Elimination of the Windows 3.1 objectives and items
Elimination of the Customer Satisfaction objectives and items
Developing new test objectives and items in the following areas.
Windows 98
Windows 2000
Windows NT, version 4.0
Linux - baseline, elementary information only

they will also be changeing over to a more advanced method of testing:
Computerized adaptive testing (CAT) is a test format that determines the test taker's ability to answer an item to the best of their knowledge. If the item is incorrect, the next question will be less difficult. If the item is correct, the next question will be more difficult. The adaptive methodology for how the selection of the items that will be presented depend on the item response theory (IRT) to adjust items and estimate the candidate's ability to answer the items. The adaptive test format may reduce the number of questions and shorten the test without affecting the reliability of the test.

what this means if you miss to many. the test system will shut the test down. and you will not pass. and than again. if you give the right answers. the test will get harder and you won't have to answer as many question to pass.
all these changes will come in effect in august this year and the new updated test will begin in dec. 2000

so if you have been studying for the old test. you had better get it over with. or start on the new studies now, to be able to pass the test.

and I think the changes are for the better. you will need to know the real stuff.

Hope this helps you out and good luck to you all.

[jl123]

Yeah it sure does help. I am going to study the old test but where are some souces for the new one. But i have info from www.brainbuzz.com (http://www.brainbuzz.com) about the MCSE test. I'm not sure if it's the newer test or the older one. It sure doesn't have anything to do with windows 3.1. It has Win2K and NT 4.0. Is this the newer test or the old one? I think i'll start studing tonight. Got to get on the ball eh? http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

Although $4,000 bucks is a lot for a test. But i guess that's one of the reasons i need to study so that i don't fail, right?

But which test should i take first. MCSE? or the A+? Or which one should i study for first?

~Joel(jl123)

[tantone]

$4000???????

You must be looking at a course. The tests are $100 each. Check out a few places in Irving that offer CNE/MCSE for a combined discount for about $6000 fot the courses. If you sign up for CNE first, you'll be right on track to take the Win2K courses as opposed to the WinNT4 which retire at the end of this year for the MCSE. Both are better than just one.

A+ won't take as long. Maybe start there. Get a good foundation set and then build on it with MCSE/CNE/CCNA.