01-27-2010, 09:43 AM
The A+ is the basic tech level certification. CompTIA also has more advanced certs like Inet+, Security+, Network+ and so on.
The A+ is a good start. Just make sure he gets it before 2011. After this year, CompTIA is changing the certification to expire after three years, requiring a renewal fee and test.
When I took my A+ back in '99, it was slightly outdated. (They hadn't changed the test since '93, and it showed.) I've heard that the newer versions have been better about having current content, but I haven't had personal experience. And the format of the test has changed as well. For my Cert, there were 2 tests, the General test and the Windows OS elective. (It was funny that they called it an elective, as there were no other elective choices for the longest time)
The General test had mostly hardware specific questions on it, several questions about the types of bus, memory, processors, printers, hard drives, and safety (that section I bombed... *zzzap*)
The Windows test had specific questions on Windows (duh.) How to do specific things (no shortcuts, they wanted you to do it 'correctly', even if there was a simple way to do it.)
I didn't really study for the test, as I was running on about 10 years professional experience, with another 7-8 of tinkering with computers on a personal level. For my other Certifications, I found the Exam Cram books to be great.
Another Certification that your son might want to consider is one of the Microsoft Certs for OSs... LIkely the only choices will be Vista or Win7, I'm not sure if they have retired the XP exam - Even though XP is likely the main OS he'll be dealing with if working in a Geek Squad type environ.
The other one that I'd consider to get him a leg up is the Linux+ from CompTIA..
The A+ is a good start. Just make sure he gets it before 2011. After this year, CompTIA is changing the certification to expire after three years, requiring a renewal fee and test.
When I took my A+ back in '99, it was slightly outdated. (They hadn't changed the test since '93, and it showed.) I've heard that the newer versions have been better about having current content, but I haven't had personal experience. And the format of the test has changed as well. For my Cert, there were 2 tests, the General test and the Windows OS elective. (It was funny that they called it an elective, as there were no other elective choices for the longest time)
The General test had mostly hardware specific questions on it, several questions about the types of bus, memory, processors, printers, hard drives, and safety (that section I bombed... *zzzap*)
The Windows test had specific questions on Windows (duh.) How to do specific things (no shortcuts, they wanted you to do it 'correctly', even if there was a simple way to do it.)
I didn't really study for the test, as I was running on about 10 years professional experience, with another 7-8 of tinkering with computers on a personal level. For my other Certifications, I found the Exam Cram books to be great.
Another Certification that your son might want to consider is one of the Microsoft Certs for OSs... LIkely the only choices will be Vista or Win7, I'm not sure if they have retired the XP exam - Even though XP is likely the main OS he'll be dealing with if working in a Geek Squad type environ.
The other one that I'd consider to get him a leg up is the Linux+ from CompTIA..
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Bachelor of Science in PsychoRabbitology degree
Master of Education with a specialty in Rabbit-specific destructive munitions (or eLearning & Technology, I forget which)
Doctor of Philosophy in Wile E. Leadership with an area of specialty in Acme Mind Expansion - 2017 Hopefully
Bachelor of Science in PsychoRabbitology degree
Master of Education with a specialty in Rabbit-specific destructive munitions (or eLearning & Technology, I forget which)
Doctor of Philosophy in Wile E. Leadership with an area of specialty in Acme Mind Expansion - 2017 Hopefully
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