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I am wondering what certifications are considered the best to work toward. I have done some research into Microsoft certs and that seems a great way to go, but I’m not sure where to start. With MTA, MCSA etc?<\/p>\n
Any pointers or suggestions will be greatly appreciated, or a link to a good source for this type of information.<\/p>\n
@Microsoft<\/a> @CompTIA<\/a><\/p>","upvoteCount":5,"answerCount":17,"datePublished":"2014-05-06T20:29:05.000Z","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"gregpratz","url":"https://community.spiceworks.com/u/gregpratz"},"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":" I took the MTA exam a couple of months ago. I didnt really feel it helped me at all. It is a great starting point, and it very well would help you get your foot in the door. Although IMHO I would personally start with the A+ and Network+ certs. They both provide very basic understanding of computer functionalities. I am working on my Network+ right now, I do admit the starting material I am looking at is pretty darned basic as I do have a Diploma of Technology and all the concepts are fairly easy to understand.The certification will provide you with a foundation especially if you do not have a formal education (2yr diploma or 4yr degree).<\/p>\n I intend on getting it because I personally need to build my base of certifications. From personal experience in school, I attempted 1 of 3 Microsoft 2008 R2 exams, the questions on their were horrid. I had studied from the courseware material directly from Microsoft and it provided me with literally no knowledge that was on the exam. The second time I used MeasureUp and practice exams, I still failed with 650…I just want to warn you ahead of time that MSFT certs can be vary hard depending on what kind of learner you are/test taker.<\/p>\n I also want to comment on the validity of certifications, they can definitely help you validate your knowledge but they are by no means an actual measurement of skill. I myself am extremely good at troubleshooting but cannot take tests or study very well. This has made it difficult for me to obtain certifications. When I was in school for my 2 year diploma I had many classmates that were EXTREMELY great at book work and theory. But when it came to implementation and proving themselves in the trenches, they always failed miserably. Unfortunately school is heavily test/book based…so we have these people graduating with no real skills whatsoever but look great on paper. Also, I hope you have troubleshooting abilities…this will prove to be a great asset in the technology field as this is the BASIS of almost any and every IT job out there!<\/p>\n In the end though, go for what you feel will be most relevant in relation to the job you want to head towards. Definitely start with the basic certs at first though. That will give you your foundation and build from there.<\/p>\n I wish you luck.<\/p>","upvoteCount":1,"datePublished":"2014-05-06T21:26:21.000Z","url":"https://community.spiceworks.com/t/new-to-it-looking-into-good-certs-to-get-early/301149/5","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"jamesbecker","url":"https://community.spiceworks.com/u/jamesbecker"}},"suggestedAnswer":[{"@type":"Answer","text":" I am wondering what certifications are considered the best to work toward. I have done some research into Microsoft certs and that seems a great way to go, but I’m not sure where to start. With MTA, MCSA etc?<\/p>\n Any pointers or suggestions will be greatly appreciated, or a link to a good source for this type of information.<\/p>\n @Microsoft<\/a> @CompTIA<\/a><\/p>","upvoteCount":5,"datePublished":"2014-05-06T20:29:05.000Z","url":"https://community.spiceworks.com/t/new-to-it-looking-into-good-certs-to-get-early/301149/1","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"gregpratz","url":"https://community.spiceworks.com/u/gregpratz"}},{"@type":"Answer","text":" CompTIA is a good place to start as well as Microsoft.<\/p>\n Vendor neutral exams give you a base of working IT knowledge.<\/p>\n I personally have the A+, Network+, and Security+ cert.<\/p>\n I am looking to get Server+ and Linux+ sometime in the near future.<\/p>","upvoteCount":4,"datePublished":"2014-05-06T20:43:46.000Z","url":"https://community.spiceworks.com/t/new-to-it-looking-into-good-certs-to-get-early/301149/2","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"techtornado","url":"https://community.spiceworks.com/u/techtornado"}},{"@type":"Answer","text":" This is a frequent question here, and it really depends on the path you want to take. Are you interested in management, or do you get a buzz off of network engineering?<\/p>\n Certificates are nice, but they aren’t the end all. I know a few paper tigers. They have great certs, but couldn’t trouble shoot excel not opening on a desktop.<\/p>\n Spend some time in the trenches and get your hands dirty. Two base certs to consider might be CompTia’s A+ and Network+.<\/p>\n You will get a variety of opinions on whether these two are actually worth it, but but my take is that they are good entry level certs to fill in the gaps of what you might miss from not having a formal training program at work.<\/p>\n With these two and some time under your belt, you won’t need us to tell you which certs to take. You will see your own path forward.<\/p>\n ****side note. A PMP never hurt a resume A+, Net+ are great places to start although they wont land you a job on their own (geeksquad maybe?). MTA level microsoft certs would fall in the same space I think. I’m in a similar situation to yourself and I am starting with my MCSA in server 2012.<\/p>","upvoteCount":1,"datePublished":"2014-05-06T20:49:39.000Z","url":"https://community.spiceworks.com/t/new-to-it-looking-into-good-certs-to-get-early/301149/4","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"brandonmiller3070","url":"https://community.spiceworks.com/u/brandonmiller3070"}},{"@type":"Answer","text":" If you have zero IT experience, then I would recommend CompTIA’s A+ as a starting point. However, if you have more than a couple of months of experience, you may wish to jump to Network+ as a starting point.<\/p>\n The main thing that you need to define is what do you want to do in IT? That will help us to determine which certifications may be more applicable to you and give you an idea.<\/p>\n For instance, I’m not going to recommend you go for the RHCSA or RHCE if you have no interest in going into Linux administration.<\/p>","upvoteCount":1,"datePublished":"2014-05-06T21:40:11.000Z","url":"https://community.spiceworks.com/t/new-to-it-looking-into-good-certs-to-get-early/301149/6","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Bud-G","url":"https://community.spiceworks.com/u/Bud-G"}},{"@type":"Answer","text":" What area of IT are you in?<\/p>","upvoteCount":1,"datePublished":"2014-05-06T21:46:53.000Z","url":"https://community.spiceworks.com/t/new-to-it-looking-into-good-certs-to-get-early/301149/7","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"saluki","url":"https://community.spiceworks.com/u/saluki"}},{"@type":"Answer","text":" I got my first certs last year,<\/p>\n CCNA and CCENT, then got my Microsoft stuff this year<\/p>","upvoteCount":1,"datePublished":"2014-05-07T04:50:46.000Z","url":"https://community.spiceworks.com/t/new-to-it-looking-into-good-certs-to-get-early/301149/8","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"davidsumner2","url":"https://community.spiceworks.com/u/davidsumner2"}},{"@type":"Answer","text":" I’ll give another recommendation for CompTIA A+ and Network+. It’s true that they are pretty basic and entry level, but at the same time, employers looking to hire someone for an entry level job will favor someone with these certs over someone who doesn’t have them, so it gives you an advantage.<\/p>\n Then proceed from there to more advanced certifications. I recommend CCNA, even though it’s not vendor neutral. The concepts and features you learn about in studying for CCNA apply somewhat to other vendor’s products. You just need to learn the actual configuration syntax for the specific vendor product. In general, they’re all pretty similar.<\/p>","upvoteCount":1,"datePublished":"2014-05-07T12:11:37.000Z","url":"https://community.spiceworks.com/t/new-to-it-looking-into-good-certs-to-get-early/301149/9","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"toddadams7725","url":"https://community.spiceworks.com/u/toddadams7725"}},{"@type":"Answer","text":" Thank you for the really thorough response. I really am leaning toward Net+ now after reading all of these responses. I have my A+ and am lucky to be really good at troubleshooting. My four year degree was environmental science so used to the critical thinking and research aspects of the job and it’s definitely where I feel most comfortable.<\/p>","upvoteCount":0,"datePublished":"2014-05-07T13:40:16.000Z","url":"https://community.spiceworks.com/t/new-to-it-looking-into-good-certs-to-get-early/301149/10","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"gregpratz","url":"https://community.spiceworks.com/u/gregpratz"}},{"@type":"Answer","text":" Right now I triage any helpdesk ticket that opens. Whether SharePoint, Networking, Excel, Access database etc. It really runs the gamut. My work has volunteered to pay for some training and I’ll really like to do some certs so I can expand my knowledge and become more employable, because as we all know no job lasts forever.<\/p>","upvoteCount":0,"datePublished":"2014-05-07T13:41:41.000Z","url":"https://community.spiceworks.com/t/new-to-it-looking-into-good-certs-to-get-early/301149/11","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"gregpratz","url":"https://community.spiceworks.com/u/gregpratz"}},{"@type":"Answer","text":" If you have basic experience then I would say start with Network+, I went through a 2 year diploma and have been working for 8 months now. I have just ordered the Network+ certification study pack (link below). The reason I intend on doing this exam is to get me started on the road to having certifications. Again as I have said I suck at tests/studying so having some experience behind me will definitely help me get my second certification.<\/p>\n FYI: This is the package that I just ordered, I have heard good things about it although it is a LOT of reading. But people who have read it sais it doesn’t just give you the knowledge to pass the test, it helps you understand the actual concepts behind the whole exam. I would definitely recommend this route…that way when you are asked about something related…you will have an understanding of how it works and not just regurgitating the memorized exam material.<\/p>\n The first I did was the MTA, it was a useless waste of time in regards to what I learned from it, dont do it since you are already in a Helpdesk position!<\/p>","upvoteCount":1,"datePublished":"2014-05-08T18:33:57.000Z","url":"https://community.spiceworks.com/t/new-to-it-looking-into-good-certs-to-get-early/301149/12","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"jamesbecker","url":"https://community.spiceworks.com/u/jamesbecker"}},{"@type":"Answer","text":" It might be a little biased because it was written by the people at Comptia, but they have a career roadmap that is pretty useful.<\/p>\n![\":slight_smile:\"](\"https://emoji.discourse-cdn.com/twitter/slight_smile.png?v=12\" "\\":slight_smile:\\"")
<\/p>","upvoteCount":3,"datePublished":"2014-05-06T20:49:05.000Z","url":"https://community.spiceworks.com/t/new-to-it-looking-into-good-certs-to-get-early/301149/3","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"underwood","url":"https://community.spiceworks.com/u/underwood"}},{"@type":"Answer","text":"