Anyone done/have experience of the A+ IT Qualification?

[Rick]

Hopefully its ok to post this in Tech Chat..

I've been asked by work if I want to do any training courses this year. I've been doing IT support for about 6 years or so but don't actually have any recognised IT qualifications. I've been checking out this A+ course as it doesn't take very long and it will at least give me something on paper to go with my experience. I don't expect it to be particularly challenging but I don't feel at the moment that I've got a whole load of time to commit to something like this either so it seems to fit the bill.

My question is: Is this qualification actually held in any regard by employers or am I better off getting myself on an SQL/mySQL course and slogging it out? I'd prefer not to start on a one or two year course right now but it is an offer of free training so its not to be sniffed at...

A Database course is probably going to be more specifically relevant to my current role but would involve a lot more commitment but I guess the potential rewards would be worth it???

Cheers

Ric

 

[Munday]

I haven't done the course but my company are sending me on it next month (its all booked, just can't remember when). I have been working in IT for 4 years and work in a very specialised area but moaned that I wasn't going on courses so they booked this for me. I know most of the stuff on the course but I want it for my CV and to also take the exam at the end.

RE: Your Question - I don't think its manjorly recognised as its quite a basic course but however it is an IT qualification and if you pass the exam it does prove you know your stuff with regards to what was on the course.

 

[BenWall]

I have my A+

its pretty easy to get, I did it with college and was free. There is a hardware and sofwtare test. hardware is easy and the software is a little harder.

 

[fulhamfcboy]

I did it about 2 years ago, and all of the stuff I got tested on was pretty out of date, i.e winnt, ISA cards etc.....HP and IBM require you to do it though before you can get qualified in some of there more hardcore hardware certs...

 

[ukaskew]

I did it in 2004, the course was really out of date though. I would say it's better to get some specific qualifications rather than the A+, probably better in the long run if you get a recognised SQL qualification.

 

[Cookie]

It's an absolute piece of piss, and was all multiple choice when I did it a few years back (2003 IIRC)

If I saw it on someones CV I wouldn't really think of it as a proper qualification, experience is much more useful to me

There are quite a few others in the + thingys too, Network+ and Security+ are worth doing for a basic foundation in their respective areas

MS also accept either the A+ or the Network+ (one or the other) to count as points towards a full blown MCSE, just means doing one less MCP which is always handy

 

[dk]

It's an absolute piece of piss, and was all multiple choice when I did it a few years back (2003 IIRC)

If I saw it on someones CV I wouldn't really think of it as a proper qualification, experience is much more useful to me

There are quite a few others in the + thingys too, Network+ and Security+ are worth doing for a basic foundation in their respective areas

MS also accept either the A+ or the Network+ (one or the other) to count as points towards a full blown MCSE, just means doing one less MCP which is always handy

I don't believe they accept either the A+ or network+ towards the MCSE, its only the security+ which is and thats quite a hard one compared to the other 2.

 

[fUbAr]

I could do the A+ with my employer.... however i just dont want to. Ive realised that I dont have a career in IT, so may as well carry on doing my retail training.

 

[BenWall]

It's an absolute piece of piss, and was all multiple choice when I did it a few years back (2003 IIRC)

If I saw it on someones CV I wouldn't really think of it as a proper qualification, experience is much more useful to me

There are quite a few others in the + thingys too, Network+ and Security+ are worth doing for a basic foundation in their respective areas

MS also accept either the A+ or the Network+ (one or the other) to count as points towards a full blown MCSE, just means doing one less MCP which is always handy

I don't believe they accept either the A+ or network+ towards the MCSE, its only the security+ which is and thats quite a hard one compared to the other 2.

I got told that it does count towards the MCSE, A+ and the network+

 

[dk]

I don't believe they accept either the A+ or network+ towards the MCSE, its only the security+ which is and thats quite a hard one compared to the other 2.

I got told that it does count towards the MCSE, A+ and the network+

take a look at this link

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/mcse/windows2003/default.mspx

the 3rd party certifications are listed about 3/4 the way down, there are only 2 of them.

I am doing an MCSE bootcamp in october in Boston, USA and have my network+ but can't use it towards it but another guy has his security+ he can use.

 

[Cookie]

It might well have changed now then dk, but a friend not toooo long ago used his A+ towards his MCSA

Edit: It's the MCSA you can use them both with, not the MCSE

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/mcsa/windows2003/default.mspx

 

[dk]

It might well have changed now then dk, but a friend not toooo long ago used his A+ towards his MCSA

Edit: It's the MCSA you can use them both with, not the MCSE

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/mcsa/windows2003/default.mspx

ah ok, not checked that, i'm having to do the full blown MCSE.