Where to write CompTIA A+ ?

[Hack&Lube]

Title says it all, for your IT guys, where do you write CompTIA exams in the Calgary area?

[MarchHare]

At one point there was a Prometric testing center on the SAIT campus. I'm not sure if it's still there or not.

[Raekwon]

Thats the first portion of the test. If you can't pass that then maybe the test isn't for you

[Rathji]

Since the thread popped up, I am going to derail it a little bit.

I have been thinking of getting my A+ cert for a while now. What are peoples opinions of this cert? Is it worth it for more than something an HR flunky might like to see on a resume? I understand that most if not all of it is stuff you can learn on your own, but how useful it is in terms of getting a job etc if you only have a couple years of experience in the industry.

[Torrie the Whaler]

The A+ cert is one of the basic qualifications you need to have if you are thinking of a career in it. With it you can go on and start to get other certifications so you can ask for more money.

[mykalberta]

Did your employer say you need it? If not dont bother with it. I have A+ Net+ Sec+ and they were all useless in getting a job and someone might actually laugh at you if you have A+. If you really want a + exam get the Net+ as that was a far better course.

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

Did your employer say you need it? If not dont bother with it. I have A+ Net+ Sec+ and they were all useless in getting a job and someone might actually laugh at you if you have A+. If you really want a + exam get the Net+ as that was a far better course.

No one has suggested that I need it, as my job consists of all the on the job training I will need. When I was having trouble finding an entry level position in IT last year, I was considering it, so when this thread popped up I thought I would gather some more opinions on the matter for furture refrence.

Network + is one that has been suggested by a guy at work as well.

[mykalberta]

I took A+ hoping to get a job as a Futureshop technician or something when I was in school 10+ years ago, no luck. Its good to have but honestly, who needs to know what all the pins on a serial cable does or what all the IRQ ports do. As for where to write it, dont most places that allow you to take the MCSE exams do this. If so there are alot in downtown Calgary, I cant believe SAIT is the only place to take it Calgary.

[Torrie the Whaler]

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[Hack&Lube]

It's just something to throw on my resume as I can probably just show up and write it (although it consists of 2 exams now) as I'm studying on MCSE things concurrently and will probably try Net+ as well.

[bomber317]

I'm currently going through the A+ book right now.

I've been in the industry for over 5 years, so I'm not getting much out of it, but I'm still doing it so I can throw it on a resume.

When I was browsing around jobs, a lot of them were asking for A+ and MCSE. Like Hack, currently working on both certifications.

What do you guys thing of the CCNA/CCNP certs from Cisco? Useful? Are they worth the time and effort?

[Frank MetaMusil]

Prometric still exists downtown. I took 2 exams there for work certs, paid around $150 per exam

[shermanator]

For those of you who have taken this test, what exactly is on it? I'm looking to get my A+ certification as well.

[stampsx2]

I took it and found it's a good way to get and keep a job but a pretty useless way to get a raise or promoted. But that is just my experience, every work place is different.

[Resolute 14]

I've gone through New Era for A+/MCP/MCDST exams, and Metafore for training on SCCM.

A+ is one of those assumed certs, I think. It wont help you, but with some companies, it could hurt you if you don't have it.

[mykalberta]

Originally Posted by bomber317

I'm currently going through the A+ book right now.

I've been in the industry for over 5 years, so I'm not getting much out of it, but I'm still doing it so I can throw it on a resume.

When I was browsing around jobs, a lot of them were asking for A+ and MCSE. Like Hack, currently working on both certifications.

What do you guys thing of the CCNA/CCNP certs from Cisco? Useful? Are they worth the time and effort?

CCNP was hard has he77. The problem is there are very few jobs that need it. And if they do they arent likely to hire someone off the street, they are much more likely to hire internally for that. The one good thing about Calgary is all the head offices as CCNP jobs arent typically in district offices. The company I work for only has 3 Network Engineers for the whole world and we have 9700 employees globally with about 5000 in the US and maybe 1800 in Canada.

Web presence companies probably need them as well, but there arent many of substance in Calgary that I know if, need to go to Vancouver or GTA for that in Canada for the most part.