IT Certification... can u online?

pi3yeargrad · 05-31-2007, 08:45 PM

Can u get A+ certified or any well known computer tech certification online? Anyone got one? And howd u get? Regular school or tech school?

pgthe1 · 05-31-2007, 09:19 PM

I got mine from New Horizons in Burbank way back in 99... also have MCP, MCSE, CCNA and so on. I know you can get an A+ cert from Compusa for about 250 bucks.

FreezyTitan · 05-31-2007, 09:20 PM

From my knowledge, no...I have done some research, but none in a while. In all of my research you can find online test prep...CompTIA websites has some great info. But, most programs are taught at continue education campuses and at local colleges. Sometimes the price of the certification test is included in the cost of the preparation program, many times it is not.

I too am looking to get some certs, but still don't have the best idea of which ones are the best. But you cannot go wrong with A+ because is seems to be the starting point towards getting the higher level certs. Remember though that there is an A+ Hardware and Software...

FreezyTitan · 05-31-2007, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pgthe1

I got mine from New Horizons in Burbank way back in 99... also have MCP, MCSE, CCNA and so on. I know you can get an A+ cert from Compusa for about 250 bucks.

Does the CompUSA price include preparation and the test or just the test? I want the Network+ and the Security+. I wouldn't mind getting any of the certs you have as well. But, I working on a Masters and really just want to manage not really turn the bolts, etc, if you know what I mean. Got a BS.CIS....Sorry not trying to jack the thread, just nice to see some IM/ITers...

pi3yeargrad · 05-31-2007, 09:25 PM

that sucks I can only find tests and stuff like hours away from me...

**vipzach** · 05-31-2007, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pi3yeargrad

Can u get A+ certified or any well known computer tech certification online? Anyone got one? And howd u get? Regular school or tech school?

No, you can get all the test prep stuff you want online though, but you have to take the cert exams at a testing center. I took a class that prepped you for the tests and did both hands on and computer based training. The cost of each test was included in the tuition. Atleast the first try was. I have a MCP and an A+. I thought the MCP was an easier test than the A+. I failed the the first time I took the software test and passed the hardware with no problem.

I am currently looking into getting the MCDST from microsoft next and trying to get work to pay for the class.

If you really want to do computer type work, I would start with the A+. Every employer seems to require or want you to have it. It really depends on what part of the computer world you want to get into though. Desktop support, networking, programming????

**vipzach** · 05-31-2007, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pi3yeargrad

that sucks I can only find tests and stuff like hours away from me...

Have you called comp tia and asked for the closest exam center? Alot of the small colleges and tech centers can do testing.

pi3yeargrad · 05-31-2007, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vipzach

Have you called comp tia and asked for the closest exam center? Alot of the small colleges and tech centers can do testing.

yes they told me to go to www.2test.com but nothing is available in my area... at least anything I wanna do... they only have like networking and different software stuff (im not interested in) and java stuff... I know a good amount I feel when it comes to hardware tech stuff but would like to get my certifications... Ive had college courses for programming but I dont want a certification in that... I have also tested out of college "information systems" courses by just takin the tests and gettin credit... I wish they did something online... this was theire response

"Visit www.2test.com for test locations.

Also, until "retina scanning" is available, you'll need to go to a test center with a valid ID.

Make sense?"

**vipzach** · 05-31-2007, 10:00 PM

Man that sucks that there are no testing centers around you!! They will check and double check your ID when you enter. They will even ask again if you walk out to talk on the phone or anything like that. (before the test) I had two forms of ID everytime.

What are you wanting to do? Break/Fix type work? I started with that and got really bored with it.

pi3yeargrad · 05-31-2007, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vipzach

Man that sucks that there are no testing centers around you!! They will check and double check your ID when you enter. They will even ask again if you walk out to talk on the phone or anything like that. (before the test) I had two forms of ID everytime.

What are you wanting to do? Break/Fix type work? I started with that and got really bored with it.

Well as of now Im doing repair, maintenance... network setups... just regular stuff...

rholland · 06-01-2007, 04:58 AM

Try online expert.
I got my A+ though Texas State Technical College, but I am taking ,Server 2003 Active Directory, IC3, and Network + 2005, though my school district now, though :
http://www.onlineexpert.com/elearning/
where in Texas are you, I took my test in Shreveport, La. in 1999, but now they have testing at TSTC in Marshall, Tx.

bestatchess · 06-01-2007, 06:34 AM

I think it is important to work under somebody good that can train you where you can actually get some experience. I have met people with A+ and MCSE certification that can't swap a hard drive. I helped a friend setup comps and a network at his internet coffee house. He had a woman there with MCSE cert and she couldn't even open a computer case. There was another guy that was fresh out of a local MCSE cert school who was equally lame. One of the young guys that worked for him running a coffee roaster knew way more.

Another time, a couple of A+ certified techs spent six hours at a law firm where I worked, and couldn't diagnose a broken pin on a mouse connector.

pi3yeargrad · 06-01-2007, 07:36 AM

Well I have had a few years of experience now... at least 6 good years and I mean I dont know it all but I know a lot. Id like to get certified to maybe teach me the things I dont know and also to just have the paper saying Im certified...lol

CFowler · 06-01-2007, 11:46 AM

Sucks that the testing centers are so far away from you but to recieve the cert you must goto the testing center. It's a way for them to ensure that you actually take the test with no help from anyone or via openbook. I totally agree with bestatchess. I myself am A+ certified as well as an MCSA. I will finish my MCSE in the next few months. I work in the tecnology department ofr a school system in Maryland as a Systems Admin. I have seen in my day way too many folks go to a boot camp to get their cert and want to start right away making $50 -$60,000 and couldn't even install server OS on a box. If you have experience just take a drive to the testing center oneday and take the tests. For A+ it's two test. One for hardware and one for software. Lots of info online and even some test prep software you can get. Either way good look. The IT field is a great field to be in.

rholland · 06-01-2007, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CFowler

I work in the tecnology department ofr a school system in Maryland as a Systems Admin. I have seen in my day way too many folks go to a boot camp to get their cert and want to start right away making $50 -$60,000 and couldn't even install server OS on a box. If you have experience just take a drive to the testing center oneday and take the tests. For A+ it's two test. One for hardware and one for software. Lots of info online and even some test prep software you can get. Either way good look. The IT field is a great field to be in.

When I retired from the oil industry, part of my retirement package was 2 years of college, paid for by the company, so I went to college and got an associate’s degree in Networking.
I work for a school district in Texas were we have to take care of everything from the phone system to changing printer toner to taking care of the time clocks, and 750 + workstations and 12 servers.

The beta for Server 2008 is available for download now.