Certifications

[Mitternacht]

Everyone here knows all about computers, from upgrading to ground-up building one. Does anyone here have any kind of certifications? I'm A+ Certified.

[ESX]

Not yet, still in school, but I hope to get some in the near future.

[jdbnsn]

Nada, I wish I had some experience or schooling under my belt lately though.

[Mitternacht]

When I took the A+ test, they asked about NT4, 2000, 95/98, 3.1 and even DOS. AT and ATX motherboards, how do the connectors go in on the AT boards, 8086 processors, etc. It goes back so damn far. Luckily, most of the stuff is general. How to customize folders in the different OS's, DOS commands do what, name 'em, network topologies, etc. I think I'd do better now. I took it in March and I didn't know a lot then. My scores now would probably be over 600. BTW, you need 505/515 to pass OS/Hardware parts of the exam. 80 questions, 90 minutes.

If anyone is interested, I have a word document, study guide I made for the A+ test. If anyone would like the study guide, PM me.

[Airbozo]

Most of my certifications have nothing to do with _most_ of what I do today. How's this for a certificate: I am certified to operate a 20 ton overhead crane...(needed this to move some data acquisition carts around the long beach airport...) Or this one: I am certified to calibrate a geophysical plotter to within .0018"...( got this certification while working for AMOCO oil to be able to repair the Plotters). I also have several "certifications" I got in the Navy, but they don't really count for real world applications. Electronic Warfare anyone?

I would be interested in your study sheet Mitternacht...


Working on: LPI certification, RHCE and might go for my A+.

[SgtM]

I currently hold a Net+ and MCP. I'm hoping to continue with the MCSE track in 2007. I also need to knock out that damn CCNA test again.

[nil8]

A+, MCDST, WGNA Wideband Engineer. I've also studied for net+, ethical hacker and ccna, but haven't taken them. A+ is easy memorization and teaches a lot of the basic functions of a PC.
I also have a couple of rinky dink certs for cable termination. Nothing big, just proves I do it well.

Certs will get you in the door, but don't mean you are able to do the job or have any real idea what you're doing. They're a good thing to have with an associates or college degree.

Net+ recently redesigned their tests, I suggest taking them within the next 2 years if you haven't because the information will be current and viable. Be prepared for encryption methods for macs. It was on the beta test I took last year.

[Omega]

The Certs I want aren't computer based, but yeah, I want them. At least an ASE cert.

I'll probably pursue A+ Just in case, however.

(btw -- I want to be an auto mechanic)

[docturtle]

What is "A+" cert and how does one go about getting it?
I don't know much about computers or electronics, but I can save lives. :hurt::D:up:

[Omega]

What is "A+" cert and how does one go about getting it?
I don't know much about computers or electronics, but I can save lives. :hurt::D:up:

The A+ Certification is, to the extent of my knowledge, a basic computer certification, saying you're adept at fixing computers.

It's also usually a requirement if you wish to get a job fixing computers, however places like Best Buy don't require it (so they're all a bunch of ****wits).

[Mitternacht]

The A+ Certification is, to the extent of my knowledge, a basic computer certification, saying you're adept at fixing computers.

It's also usually a requirement if you wish to get a job fixing computers, however places like Best Buy don't require it (so they're all a bunch of ****wits).

Yeah, GeekSquad is pretty much a ripoff. I also ****ing hate those VW Beetles...

In fact, that's the reason why I'm starting computer repair near my house. They wanted to charge me $100 for a 150 Watt MicroATX PSU. I laughed and left.

[DaJe]

I'm currently in a certification course for 3ds Max. Can't do any work until my new video card arrives though.

[Omega]

Haha. My dad works for geeksquad (He's like the regional leader or some ****, fully certified), and has to drive around one of those beetles.

They're horrible.

[Mitternacht]

I'd rather turn my Corvette into a daily driver and make house calls in the vette for the company instead of driving that hippie-mobile. Man I feel sorry for your dad now.

[Omega]

I'd rather turn my Corvette into a daily driver and make house calls in the vette for the company instead of driving that hippie-mobile. Man I feel sorry for your dad now.

What sucks even worse is he was in a bad financial situation and had to sell his car ('06 Ford Focus) and now has to drive the Volkswagen... EVERYWHERE. And it doesn't help that his Porsche 914 has a bad tranny D=

[Slug Toy]

well i dont have any certificates. im not interested in them anyways. i can troubleshoot and build, and thats all i think ill ever need. the biggest thing i do for other people is suggest good setups for purchases... but most people dont seem to want to listen to me anyways.

[Omega]

well i dont have any certificates. im not interested in them anyways. i can troubleshoot and build, and thats all i think ill ever need. the biggest thing i do for other people is suggest good setups for purchases... but most people dont seem to want to listen to me anyways.

Same here, sans the "don't want to listen to me" part. As far as my friends go, they all know I am very knowledgeable in building/repairing systems (as long as it's hardware!) and getting parts that all work together.

[Mitternacht]

Same here, sans the "don't want to listen to me" part. As far as my friends go, they all know I am very knowledgeable in building/repairing systems (as long as it's hardware!) and getting parts that all work together.

Yeah, I'm more knowledgeable on the Hardware aspect of computers.

[Sudi]

No certs in computing for me. I just do it as a hobby, and I figure out whatever needs to be figured out on a per problem basis.

[Omega]

Yeah, I'm more knowledgeable on the Hardware aspect of computers.

Heh, with the exception of things I normally do, I can't do software troubleshooting for ****.

Luckily, nothing I have conflicts! :D

[Crimson Sky]

I'm a certified genius.















Or is it madman?


I forget.


maybe both.

[Mitternacht]

I'm a certified genius.















Or is it madman?


I forget.


maybe both.

That depends. Are you Jekyll, .......or Hyde? :D

[Crimson Sky]

I'm Hyekyll

[nil8]

The only reason to have certs is professional use or as a personal milestone.
The Microsoft tests are a pain in the ass for anyone that wants to give them a crack.

Even though I want out of IT in the next 10 years, I'm still going for MCSE.

Geeksquad blows. Large chain PC repair shops generally blow.

[ownaginatious]

I'm getting Cisco certification at my school, and I'm currently doing CCNA Semester 2. It kinda sucks though because nearly everybody in my class cheats from the quiz answers posted on the internet, which is making this certification become more and more worthless. Some people are getting in the 90s range at my school and don't even know easy **** such as the difference between a switch and a router...

[Omega]

I've decided I'm going to pursue my A+ and WinXP Certs pretty soon. Just in case my whole Auto Mechanic/ASE Cert doesn't work out, and also to make money while in college. Certs = Good jobs.

[Airbozo]

BA and PHD's in Computer Science = <100K per year.

Well.. like 60+ to start with. Like THAT is any little piece of change. sheesh.

That's what I would like to ultimately get. Cert's are just something to "tie me over," until I can get in for comp. science. or net. infrastructure.

We'll see.







Oh yeah, still no baby :(

-Jeremy

I know this is the Sillycon Vally, but several of my friends with only BS's, no cert's are making well over $100k as system administrators. Contracting here can also _easily_ push you into the $130k range... That is if you want to go salaried and on call.


Jeremy, I heard jumping jacks work wonders...

[SgtM]

Anyone on the MCSE track, let me know if you have questions. I sat the CCNA back in 2002, missed the cert by a few points. I need to take it again.

That sounded really stupid..

If you are on the MSCE track, let me know if you have questions. I'm studying for it also.

I'm going to try and knock the CCNA out before summer. I sat the test back in 2002 but missed it by a few points. I'm being assisted with it by a CCIE.

[DaveW]

I'm in the 3rd year of a Software Engineering course which finishes me with a BSci in SE. I've got qualifications for basic and advanced programming, networking, database management, interface design, microprocessor programming, hardware design, algorithmics, etc. etc. I have additional qualifications in C programming under Linux and can program at an advanced level in C, Ada, Java and PIC Assembly, and at a more basic level in PBASIC, Visual BASIC, and PHP. I can script in CSS and XHTML to a very high standard, although my PHP doesn't allow me to go very far with it, as I'm still getting to grips with the language.

I also have qualifications in Maths, including 2 second year courses in Number Theory & Cryptography and Graphs & Networking, 1st Year Physics, and 1st Year Literature.

When i leave, i'm hoping to get into the Engineering Doctorate Program, and leave university with a EngD (a new kind of PhD) in Software Engineering and Electronic Engineering.

That's where i am now. We don't have the same certifications here, and they don't really count for much. We have the Microsoft and Cisco ones, but like i said, they're only of interest to people who run computer repair shops/PC World stores.

I'm very single minded about my degree, and it pretty much comes before everything in my life, including my health. They only take 8 people a year into the course i want into, so i have to graduate with a 1st class degree in order to get in, so i spend a lot of nights in the Computer labs till 9am. That's right folks, I'm a hard bastard, late nightin' student.

-Dave

[public_eyesore]

i've paid for my A+ tests, but have yet to take them

[simon275]

Finished high school

About to go to university and do information technology.

[tybrenis]

Dave. Du bist ein tier.... ich liebe du.

[Slug Toy]

I also have qualifications in Maths, including 2 second year courses in Number Theory & Cryptography and Graphs & Networking, 1st Year Physics, and 1st Year Literature.

When i leave, i'm hoping to get into the Engineering Doctorate Program, and leave university with a EngD (a new kind of PhD) in Software Engineering and Electronic Engineering.

those are very different than math courses here. theres no such thing as cryptography in math... ive got to take two second year calculus courses that deal with differential equations for the most part, but no cryptography. heavy on the graphing though. thats what calculus is all about... graphs of trig and log functions. ill be getting into the physics later... four months from now to be precise. fun stuff though, i like physics in theory... not so much in practice.

any type of engineering degree should rightfully be a new type of PhD... all that stuff is tough. i take pity on the poor fools that go into med school or engineering... so many sleepless nights and such retarded project deadlines.

[DaveW]

heavy on the graphing though. thats what calculus is all about... graphs of trig and log functions.

It's a different kind of graphs. It concentrates mainly on Path-finding algorithms.


Dave. Du bist ein tier.... ich liebe du.

Unfortunately, languages are not my strong point. Anyone want to translate that for me? ;)

-Dave

[Aero]

It's a different kind of graphs. It concentrates mainly on Path-finding algorithms.



Unfortunately, languages are not my strong point. Anyone want to translate that for me? ;)

-Dave


he said "Dave you are an animal. I love you."

although it should have been "Ich liebe dich."

[tybrenis]

Ahh, you're right Aero, my bad. I wanted to say beast but I didn't know how.

[Mitternacht]

Ahh, you're right Aero, my bad. I wanted to say beast but I didn't know how.

Not bad, you were close.

[Commando]

I was laughing my butt off when I read Slug Toy's "Nobody listens to me." I feel you man. Heaven forbid listen to someone that knows what they're talking about.

Hell, I can't even get my dad to build a computer. He'd rather blow the cash on a POS Sony or something. The worst part is his last one went down hard and he bought another one.

Certs are great. But they're just like a resume, it just there to get your foot in the door. Know your stuff, be able to work with others, and posses some basic leadership skills and your unstoppable in the corporate world. It's easy to be able to one of the preceding but being the whole package is the challenge.