A+ Cert

[destrekor]

Anyone taken the 801/802 exams recently? Some material I've been using seems to not even touch IRQs, Windows 95/98/Me, and similar ancient knowledge... yet a practice test on proprof's heavily suggests such material is on the test.

I've been led to believe the current exams are more focused on Windows 7 and lack IRQ questions. It's been a terribly long time since I had IRQs and boot error codes memorized, but now I'm at a point where I have an almost guaranteed job so long as I have the A+, which I brushed off forever ago.

 

[stargazr]

I would go to CompTIA's site and download the objectives for each test. Anything mentioned there could be on the test. I took the older version so not sure.

 

[Ichinisan]

I took my test in '98 or '99. I forgot everything I learned about IRQs/DMAs/etc.

 

[frodrick]

I recently took both for WGU courses. There weren't any IRQ, 95/98/me questions

 

[Lyfer]

Is this a retro thread?

 

[dave_the_nerd]

They recently redid the rest and removed some of that stuff. I'm sure there are tons of training material out there with the old objectives.

Why an A+? Most of the people I know let their certs lapse when they've had a couple good jobs and can let their resume speak for itself. (Notwithstanding the stuff their company pays for.)

 

[destrekor]

Why an A+? Most of the people I know let their certs lapse when they've had a couple good jobs and can let their resume speak for itself. (Notwithstanding the stuff their company pays for.)

I haven't acquired that yet. I had something going that I landed without any certs, but I managed to let a lot of things combine and screw me and I lost that one (unrelated to knowledge/performance, but still otherwise my own fuckup).

I landed a temporary/contract job, imaging systems for a local school district, and there's a strong chance that I can land a permanent spot with said district. Unfortunately, they have a pretty strict requirement of having at least an A+, or otherwise something comparable like an MCSE or Net+ or what have you.

I figure, especially thanks to modernization of A+ (if true), that should be far easier to obtain in very short notice. I haven't studied extensively on the material for years now, but if it's like what I have been told about, I'm actually more versed in experience with this material than I have ever been regarding A+ exam questions. Unless the practice test goes into IRQ and Win ME or earlier, I've been doing quite well. I still need to brush up briefly on the things nobody memorizes these days, like POST codes and other oddities that Google remembers more easily than our brains, but I feel ready if it is as I expect.

I'd rather be all motivated and go get a more useful and demonstrative certification, but with it being something I need to prepare for ASAP (hopefully, within the next two weeks before I go away for three weeks for annual training), I'd rather at least get the one that is cheapest and far more easily secured. With that, combined with what experience I do have, I should be able to build something from there so long as I keep my head out of my ass.

edit:
With the cert no longer being permanent, I'll surely let it lapse. After three years of gainful employment in the field, an A+ would be wasted space on the resume, unless I've seriously screwed myself over and never put forth any effort to do something.
I've been working hard to be the one who solves problems on the temp team I'm with (of which I have), and I think it's earned me some respect from those who may be involved in deciding my future potential.

I hate, at this point, to be at this stage, but I'm doing what I can to shine so I can move past all this. I'm basically hoping this A+ will open doors that have been previously shut in my face, both due to lack of certs/post-secondary field-related education, and lack of gainful employment. I hadn't had that issue before as I was at least working as a security guard. I've tried to only interview for IT and that basically bit me in the ass, though I was lucky to land this temp job.

 

[Maverickbcp]

I took my exam back in 2001 I believe when it was adaptive and RIGHT before they removed all the DOS stuff from the test...grr. One good thing is mine doesn't ever expire so I guess that's a perk.

 

[StinkyPinky]

Yeah mine doesn't expire either although I suspect an A+ from 2000 is kinda worthless these days

I got Network+ from them as well, in 2002 I think.

 

[Bateluer]

I took my exam back in 2001 I believe when it was adaptive and RIGHT before they removed all the DOS stuff from the test...grr. One good thing is mine doesn't ever expire so I guess that's a perk.

Took mine in 2008, and it doesn't expire either.

Can't recall if there were any Win9x stuff on mine or not, I'm leaning against it. Don't recall any IRQ related questions beyond the basic 'What is it?'.

Last I heard, the recent revisions drop a lot of the more obsolete junk as well.

 

[k3n]

PropProfs is garbage/useless for the modern tests. Since Microsoft has ended free security updates for XP, don't expect much XP (or any pre-xp OS) questions for the newer exams in the future.

Last time I checked, beginning on early 2013, the A+, Net+, and Sec+, have "simulation" based questions. I.e., these aren't multiple choice. An example is matching (by click & hold, and then dragging pictures with certain terms. These are nothing compared to CCNA, so I wouldn't be too worried.

The future of computer fixing/maintenance are tablets, smartphones and laptops, with the 1st two commonly using non-Microsoft operating systems. A+ is quite useless in that regard, but it's still worth getting, so the HR/recruiter has a lesser chance of tossing your resume in the trash. Net+ and Sec+ (escpecially Sec+, the hardest, since some questing feel like they should have 2 answers instead of just 1), are worth studying and getting imo. Net+ ($250), is kinda useless, if you are willing to study for the CCNA ($300), but then again, if you want the HR/recruiter, to not trash your resume, it's still worth getting.

If you take A+, Net+, and Sec+, then you only need to take the Sec+ to have the other two re-newed as well. If you only take A+, and Net+, then you only need to take Net+, to renew Net+ and A+ at the same time; no need to take A+ again. If i were hiring, I wouldn't hire those who took their tests before 2010, when renewal every 3 years is required because, technology has come quite far, e.g., IPv6. IMO, these certs are there, so one doesn't ask stupid questions on the job, like, "what's virtualization?", or "whats that invention that came out in 2011 or so....?"

By the way, if you don't have any real industry experience, or a 4 year STEM college degree with a good GPA, or not willing to do unpaid internships (free work), you're gonna have a hard time getting an entry level job, no matter how much certs you have.

 

[brianmanahan]

port 220, irq 7, dma 1

 

[bbhaag]

Is this a retro thread?

Nah. I think the OP just needs to sign onto IRC. If he uses the Freenode server he should be able to join #Apluscert and the guys should be able to help him out.

 

[brianmanahan]

in software development we don't use any of these cert thingies

 

[Red Squirrel]

Funny I always wanted to take my A+ and other certs but hated the idea of having to learn so much stuff like that by heart when I can just look it up. Never ended up bothering to take it, or any other cert. I probably should, but I'm just lazy, and have a good job. If certs did not expire I'd probably put more effort towards it, but I don't really see the point, unless I was told that my job is going to be eliminated soon then I know I'll "use" it within 3 years.

 

[StinkyPinky]

Funny I always wanted to take my A+ and other certs but hated the idea of having to learn so much stuff like that by heart when I can just look it up. Never ended up bothering to take it, or any other cert. I probably should, but I'm just lazy, and have a good job. If certs did not expire I'd probably put more effort towards it, but I don't really see the point, unless I was told that my job is going to be eliminated soon then I know I'll "use" it within 3 years.

Meh, just list the expired certs on your resume anyway. It's not like they become useless the second they expire.

Expiring certs are a sham anyway. Degrees don't expire.

 

[unokitty]

... I landed a temporary/contract job, imaging systems for a local school district, and there's a strong chance that I can land a permanent spot with said district. Unfortunately, they have a pretty strict requirement of having at least an A+, or otherwise something comparable like an MCSE or Net+ or what have you.

Just a thought.

I found Net+ to be pretty easy. And since its only one exam, rather than 2 like A+, you might find Net+ to be a more straight forward ( and more economical) path to certification.

I've heard that local school districts can be strict on their requirements, so I would be sure to check with them prior to taking any of the exams.

(Full disclosure, I've never taken the A+ exams. Though, I do have the Security +, Inet+, and Net+.)

Best of luck,
Uno