A+ Certification Worth It?

[rjwilke]

I repair PCs on the side. I am considering getting my A+ certification to enhance a potential customers trust in my work.Do you think it is worth the trouble? Also, is there a job market out there for A+ techs? If so, what might the pay be? Thanks in advance

[AuraEdge]

Another related question, as I am also interested. Is the current A+ still on ~486 systems, or have they updated it? I got some study material a ways back, and most of it has to do with Pre-pentiums. I didnt start learning about comps til I had a PII on my desk, so I was wondering if they were ever updating it?

Also, how do you think small businesses would look upon a A+ Cert?
I know Intel or working in a comp lab would very much like a A+ cert, but what about the small business?

[Steve R Jones]

Certs look good on paper. Several years of job related experiance look better. Its the ol catch 22 thingie...There are lots of entry level tech support jobs out there. You can get paid to learn as you go. Working side by side with super geeks is how I learned much of what I know... http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/biggrin.gif

[plucky duck]

For your customer's sake, its a better idea of getting than not. The time and effort put into it ain't that much but it would prolly mean more to your customers than it does to you with them knowing that you are indeed certified and know what you're doing.

You may know what you're doing but the customer's don't so a little reassurance on their side would be nice and a good way to develop customer service relations.

Now I'm no sales techie, so what I say may or may not make sense but that's just my shiny 2 cents http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

BTW, I'm talking A+ right now and I hate it.
They go too far back into dinosaur stuff and just bore me to death, hehe.

Plucky

[rjwilke]

Auraedge
MS has published a new study guide for the A+ which was released this summer.It's a mere 700 pages for about $40. I'm going to pick one up soon. As far as learning from super geeks, that's basically how I learned, as well as having to troubleshoot PC's at sea with no tech help available on email or the phone (it WAS a few years ago...)I started on AST 286's.

[CMonster]

A+ test is slated for major upgrade around the first of the year.

The hardware portion of the test is still likely to cover some of the basic history of the PC, but not likely to dwell on ancient stuff.

The best place to start research is at www.comptia.org (http://www.comptia.org) or www.comptia.com (http://www.comptia.com) since they actually put on the test and provide the certification you can get the best information about study requirments and the like.

Is it worth it - yes, if you also apply yourself.. A high school diploma doesn't get much recognition and won't net you a high paying job, but you find out how valuable it is if you don't have one. However, the no-professional-experience-A+ only, entry level technition jobs I have seen only pay about $8-11 an hour.

Like anything else, promotion comes with experience, desire, extra effort, and a positive mental attitude.

[bdunn]

A+ cert will get you in the door places where you might not otherwise but if you prove yourself incompetent you'll be out just as quick.