Anyone CompTIA A+ Certified?

[Squilly]

Is anyone here CompTIA A+ certified, specifically as a computer technician? I'm trying to get a job as one but everyone says you need to be certified before working with computers hands-on. For those of you that are, is the test difficult, so-to-speak? I was looking over some practice questions, some of which I didn't know the answers to but some were obvious. Do they give you multiple tries, ie. able to go back for a second test?

[ezramoore]

Originally Posted by Squilly

Is anyone here CompTIA A+ certified, specifically as a computer technician? I'm trying to get a job as one but everyone says you need to be certified before working with computers hands-on. For those of you that are, is the test difficult, so-to-speak? I was looking over some practice questions, some of which I didn't know the answers to but some were obvious. Do they give you multiple tries, ie. able to go back for a second test?

I am CompTIA A+ certified.

The test should be relatively easy if you know enough to diagnose and repair a broken machine (and peripherals, and basic networking issues).

If you are planning to learn on the job, you will likely need to study up a bit. I walked in and took the test after having worked repairing computers for 5 years (and doing it for fun/free prior for quite a bit longer) and got a near perfect score on both tests.

Depending on what practice info you had, there is a good chance it is a little outdated. You definitely have to know some legacy stuff to pass.

I would recommend Professor Messer's free online video classes for all the CompTIA tests. His videos are very thorough, and he does a great job explaining things for the novice. (http://www.professormesser.com/)

In my opinion, if you watch the videos all the way through for A+ once, you should be able to walk in and take the test.

When it comes time to take the test, be sure to search around for deals or vouchers, I save $120 by buying from a 3rd party and redeeming the vouchers on the registration website.

PM me if you have specific questions about my experience.

[Squilly]

Originally Posted by ezramoore

I am CompTIA A+ certified.

The test should be relatively easy if you know enough to diagnose and repair a broken machine (and peripherals, and basic networking issues).

If you are planning to learn on the job, you will likely need to study up a bit. I walked in and took the test after having worked repairing computers for 5 years (and doing it for fun/free prior for quite a bit longer) and got a near perfect score on both tests.

Depending on what practice info you had, there is a good chance it is a little outdated. You definitely have to know some legacy stuff to pass.

I would recommend Professor Messer's free online video classes for all the CompTIA tests. His videos are very thorough, and he does a great job explaining things for the novice. (http://www.professormesser.com/)

In my opinion, if you watch the videos all the way through for A+ once, you should be able to walk in and take the test.

When it comes time to take the test, be sure to search around for deals or vouchers, I save $120 by buying from a 3rd party and redeeming the vouchers on the registration website.

PM me if you have specific questions about my experience.

Is the test really that expensive? O_o
I used this: http://certification.comptia.org/Tra...Questions.aspx and http://certification.comptia.org/Tra...Questions.aspx

[ezramoore]

Sounds like you used UTD practice questions, like I said, there are some legacy questions on there (you will see more legacy hardware then you will cutting edge).

I think I paid $300 instead of $330 or $360. I doubled my estimated savings in my first post. Whoops.

[Squilly]

I'm checking Professor Messer's site now. Looks good. Do you suggest the 801-802 or the 701-702?

[rick snagwell]

i took this test in 1998!!

not in computers anymore, didn't know the cert was still around!

[Squilly]

Guessing it was the 701-702? Was it easy, persay?

[elizabethberger]

Why don't you just enroll in a program and learn? Careerstep offers online programs. You should get the Careerstep computer technician course details and see if you're cut out for it.

[Squilly]

Originally Posted by elizabethberger

Why don't you just enroll in a program and learn? Careerstep offers online programs. You should get the Careerstep computer technician course details and see if you're cut out for it.

I saw http://professormesser.com/ but haven't started it yet.

[lifeinhd]

I am certified as of 2010, but they updated the test shortly after I took it. Not sure if they removed the legacy questions like "a customer wants to upgrade their pentium II machine from windows 95 to xp..." or "a customer with a daisy wheel printer...." You will definitely need to know some basic command line stuff and how networking works (the layers and such).

As for cost, no idea. I actually took a class in school, at the end I took the test for free

No they do not give you multiple tries. But the "pass" threshold is pretty low iirc.

Not a difficult test, but then again I've been doing this stuff since I was four. Some of my classmates did not pass