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Hello everyone I really need some advice on what certification to get. I am currently a help desk tech and I don’t have any certs. The bad part is I have been doing the same job for 5 years. I am really good at my job but I think its time for me to move ahead. I am currently trying to decide between A+, Network+ and Security +. I have gotten complacent with my current job because of the nice environment and the people I work with. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

@Cisco

7 Spice ups
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Personally I would choose Network+. You might want to check out Mike Meyer’s Learn Key videos and read the book. His teaching is pretty solid and demand for networking professionals is pretty high. Next I would go with Security+ for the same reasons.

1 Spice up
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This topic can get pounded for days but imo, CCNA and MCSA/E certs will get you more call backs if you couple that with a AS or BS degree. Net+ and Sec+ are relevant but I can’t remember ever seeing it on any job site, ever. Just remember most of the people doing the applicant filtering only know buzzwords.

2 Spice ups
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Well the question is what field of IT do you want to be in as those 3 are for different areas.

If you want to do more of desktop support then A+ would be the first one, then follow the Microsoft certifications for desktop support (I am on the bus now so I can’t tell you which)

If you are looking for more networking side then Network+ would be the first choice then followin the Cisco certification route (CCNA/CCNP etc)

You may also want to look into HealthCare+ Exam (HIT001 from COMPtia) as the need for HIPAA is needed a lot and it will help you find a job in the healthcare IT field it at least you can freelance as a consultant :slight_smile:

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I would say you have two options:

1 - take the network+ since it is applicable to most IT careers. Nobody will hire you just because you have it, but you will learn relevant info.

2 - decide on what you want your next job to be and start getting those certs. Obviously certs for Linux Admin, MS Server, Cisco etc… are all different.

If you are unsure then you may want to hold off on certs and get your home lab beefed up. Do some Linux work, buy a couple of Cisco 2960 and start doing basic configs etc…

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In your case, with 5 years of experience in helpdesk I would skip A+ and just do NET+. After which you can move on to whatever technology suits your fancy. VMware certs, cisco certs, microsoft certs, the could is the limit. ba dun chsssss

Or you could just do the A+ anyways to validate your experience from help desk.

I’ve seen a lot of people say that in a case like this it might be best for your career and education to move jobs. Do what makes your happy.

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5 years experience, check what the old MCDST is called now, you will be able to pass the first exam fairly easily, and that gets you an MCP to add to the CV :o)

CompTia has its place, but it will all depend on what you wish to end up doing ?

for me, I would prefer to do that pairing game, match two certs, run a pros n cons against both, and select a winner to add to the wish list

ie - Network+ v CCNA

for me, CCNA FTW as it is a far more relevant ticket to hold, and even though Cisco isn’t the only game on the network today, it still has a lot of boxes out there

Network+ is hardware agnostic, and in reality the exam is 100 questions with 4 options, so is effectively a memory test, albeit one you have to get through in quite a fast rate, so read - reread and answer and move on, no time to think, you would need to know it dead, but still no real depth in there

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The MCDST I believe is now the Desktop Certification Path and has the following:

Microsoft Specialist - Windows 10 or Windows 7
MTA: IT Infrastructure
MCSA - Configuring and Supporting Windows(8.1 or 7)
MCSE: Enterprise Devices and Apps

EDIT: The MCSA is the most closest fit.

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Apart from just IT Certs like these, you could also consider things like Project Management qualifications (Prince), Change management (I.T.I.L.), Processes (6 Sigma), these may help you stand out from the other 50 people who also have an MCSE or CCNA etc.

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Network+ is technically a prerequisite for Security+ (not as in you need the certification, but you’re supposed to already know all about the OSI model and stuff before you start learning security stuff) so between the two of those, go for Network+ first.

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+1 on the CCNA certification. Even though the commands learned in the CCNA are proprietary to Cisco hardware, you will learn a ton about networking especially about addressing and TCP/UDP. This will help immensely when chasing down the more advanced certifications later or administering other devices. If you are familiar with the OSI layers (which you learn a lot about the first 4 in the CCNA), it can certainly help when working with firewalls from different vendors.

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I think with your experience you could skip A+, maybe net+. For comptia I’d probably say sec+, server+, maybe Linux plus. Perhaps project+ if you think maybe you would like to head towards an admin type position at some point.
If you want to get into networking stuff I’d probably look at like CCENT and CCNA (I’d recommend you do both as CCNA is a bit of a monster cert.)

Maybe if you want to do server stuff look at some of the MS certs. I wouldn’t say the certs are useless, but I really dislike them as they seem to have some “Microsoft method” to do things and if you don’t use even if would work you get the question wrong. They also like to give lengthy confusing questions which I think is annoying too. MS stuff changes so fast anymore too I see little point. Cisco at least is quite consistent with IOS on devices so that more changes in theory, or maybe some new interface, etc.

@Cisco @CompTIA

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I want to thank everyone that replied to me. I don’t really have many people that I can talk to in the IT field so this was a big help. I will get my Network+ cert. After that cert I will go for my CCNA. All the replies was really a big help.

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First of all, look down the road to the next 5 to 10 years. What is it you hope to be doing then? What do you think you would enjoy? IT is a wide field with many branches. Determining what you want to do will determine what certs you should pursue.

You mentioned A+, Network+, and Security+. These are all fairly standard “first certs” for many people. If you want to pursue networking and security, I think these are obviously good choices, but they’re just a place to start. To really get some heft in those fields, you’ll need to go on to CCNA and CCNA Security, then on to the P-level Cisco certs like CCNP, CCDP, etc. These are Cisco specific, which will serve you well. There are also other vendor-specific certs that are equally valuable.

At the top tier of network engineering certs is CCIE. Probably the (still) top cert and most widely recognized in IT security is the CISSP.

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Net+ would probably be what I’d pick out of your list but A+ seems to be standard from what I’ve seen. A+ is like the “High School Diploma or Equivalent” of the IT world. To be honest though, I think that 5 years of experience will look better than most of the certs you are wanting simply because it says you know the field, been in the field and have shown dedication to the field.