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Im just finishing my A+ this coming week, was wondering which i should

do. Go network administration and go for CCNA/CCENT or do Systems

Administration and go for Configuring Windows 8, and MCSA Installing

and Configuring Server 2012, Administering Server 2012, and Configuring

Advanced Server 2012. If i do server administration, i get Net+

included whereas if i go network admin i dont but ive been told it

overlaps with ccent/ccna? im just trying to eventually do security+ then

move to CEH which the previous 2 are prereqs for it.

4 Spice ups
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You haven’t told us what area(s) of IT that you plan to specialize in. It’s touch to recommend an appropriate path when we don’t know what you want to do.

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well i didnt exactly say that but i did mention security+/CEH towards the end. ultimately id love to do something in that field/line of work

so officially, security.

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Your going about it all wrong. The certs only prove you can read a book. You need a good 2 plus years of a random job where you do just about everything. After that, you can narrow your focus. Accept that job as Sys Admin in a small company. Do all levels of support, build new systems, even replace light blubs. After that, everything comes natural. Trust. Been there, done that. Sitting pretty.

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i understand the job experience part, i have lifetime placement with my school. there offering 5k and 14k courses for free with no liability for payment. so im just trying to take advantage of what i can. im going the network administration route for ccna/ccent but im going to do net+ before in the mean time while i wait because i heard its easy and covers very basic things so when i get to net admin class ill not be so green horn. then after that do sec+/ceh and of course change light bulbs :stuck_out_tongue:

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Definitely, milk it while you can. But get your self a part time job in the trenches while you can. 1 year in the trenches = 3 years of study. FACT.

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appreciate the responses, will get something along the way. just want to get another cert or 2 first. thanks again

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I got to Level 3 without any certs. Find an ish job, get it done and then build.

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Ok, thanks for clarifying things :slight_smile:

So you have an interest in Security. Your next step, if you are going to pursue certifications, yet be marketable, would be to do the Net+. This then gives you a baseline for Sec+. From this point, what in the ‘security’ side of IT do you wish to pursue? There are plenty of routes to go and if you are trying to base this in relation to certifications, sometimes it isn’t going to be a simple route.

First, let me reiterate something that has already been said here and throughout these forums - experience > certifications > degree. By all means, I’m not knocking the route you are taking, but if you could squeeze in some real world experience during your studies, it’ll add more to your resume than some of the certifications. Remember, volunteer experience counts too. It can help to supplement your resume.

If I receive a resume that has someone that just has a bunch of certifications (strictly test not the practical application/lab tests) I’m going to think that someone just has done a bunch of studying or boot camps, but they don’t have the experience to back up those certifications.

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Exactly!

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ty to both of you! yes im going to be voluntering at a refurbishing center within my school. thats more tailoring towards A+ side of things but eventually i would love to intern/ volunteer for my instructor which was mentioned from here and gain experience + learning on the job.

so yes ill be taking net+ here after nov 11th, typically speaking what is avg length for the testout net+ course? or just to get net+ i believe a+ on testout took me roughly 2-3 months so far.

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You don’t need the A+. The A+ is typically for someone that has zero experience. Typically used to get a job during or right after high school with something like the Geek Squad or some kind of similar role. Your best bet is if you haven’t taken the A+, skip it. Go straight to the Net+. The amount of time required to study for it is going to depend on you and how you study, etc. There is no prerequisite exam for the Net+. It is suggested that you have, if I remember correctly, A+ and/or six months experience.

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i see no reason not to take it as im scheduled to take it for free monday(801) and 802 the week after…

is testouts network+ correct?

i will be activating that using my student discount from my instructor as soon as i pass the 802

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A year ago I earned Security+ (my very first cert, I went for that one), but still had no official job experience… Just at-home virus removals/troubleshooting for the community, offering a rate much lower, as well as friendly/local service, than the established computer shops in town 30 miles away. I was hired here, at the casino, about 4 months after obtaining my Security+ cert, and have been working toward passing that ICND1 exam.

I’ve taken the ICND1 twice now… first time failed about 100 points away, then just this Friday, missed it by 55 points… Third time’s a charm, right?

Agreed with the others, experience is the way to go, but certs can help, especially with the Cisco stuff because you’re diving into the Cisco IOS commands. Whatever you go for though, definitely take some devices or something and get some hands-on with the content (or get a hold of some labs, or do what I did and telnet to the switches and poke around with show commands :slight_smile: ).

Sorry for my goofy sentence structure… end of shift is nigh, and I’m completely wiped this morning…

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thanks joey, the icnd1 u have to have job experience for? or was that 2?

my current train of thought:

A+/Net+/CCNA CCENT/Sec+/CEH/CCSP

but throughout that process of course trying to get hands on experience, i currently do free labor as well fixing ppls pcs mostly virus protection and simple things like backups, restore points, and os installs. but yes labs are my friend… im super visual/kinestetic soo thats the only way i can learn

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Dave Lock has hit the nail on the head.