Hey all. I have been working with computers for years. I thought I knew it all, and was going to jump into this exam knowing everything there was to know.

Man, was I ever wrong. I have learned something new every day for at least the past 10 days while studying for this. Now, I have been around computers and techs for a long time, and mostly, I don't think people give the A+ test a second thought in the real world. You hear about these certs and say, well, A+, so what. I was wondering if anyone else had these perceptions about this, and whether or not any of these people ever really looked at what was required in order to pass the test?

I guess what I am trying to ask is, " Did you have any misconceptions about this cert before you started studying for it, and do you now have a little more respect for the people that have earned it?"

Also, is it just me, or have the new tests become more difficult than they used to be? I used to take the practice tests back when it was DOs, and for the price of the exam, I just figured it really wasn't worth it. But now, when I look at the exam requirements, and what is really involved, to me at least, it seems like the test has increased by a magnitude in the order of difficulty.

I only hope that after investing the time and effort to get this cert that it proves to be somewhat worthwhile for me to have it. But there's no turning back now. I am on a mission. Bound and determined to get it now. Unless I stroke out, or become a full on retard, I am going to get there. Especially since the DOD now requires it for certain positions. Not that I work for them, but I figure if they require it now, then they must have some level of respect for it.

Patience is the hunter.

I am so glad you posted your observation about the A+. We had a tread about 5 months ago where someone was saying that some IT people where poking fun of that person for taking the A+. Like it was some type of push over cert that anyone can achieve. There are so many people that will welcome your input to this topic, including myself.

From my experience with the A+ and how it helped me as a IT person. I feel like someone that has the A+ should be better prepared for a formal IT job then someone with the same experience that doesn't have a A+ Cert. I say that with confidence, that the person who is A+ certified has more structured hands on experience. Since studying for the A+ requires one to have hands on along with Book study or video's to boot. Its one thing to do something, it's another to understand what your doing and why. .

Not saying someone with tons of IT experience can't be a good employee, but that he or she could better server his employer by knowing more about the whole picture.

I agree with your opinion on the A+. I have 5+ years experience, but wanted to start getting my certifications completed and it took me a good 3 months of studying hard to get to the point I was "comfortable" taking the exam. By comfortable I mean I believed I could pass.

It is such a wide ranging certification you need to know a little about everything. If I just jumped it to take the test with only my on the job experience I would have failed miserably.

When I started to look for a new job, I realized many companies ask for the A+, plus your 3-5 years experience. I did not think the certification would mean that much 6 months ago, but at least in Minneapolis it seems to be the standard and you are expected to have it at a very minimum.

Spent 2 weeks on Hardware so far, and am finally to the point where I can say that I am getting comfortable. I guess it's the biggest section of the first test. That's with mostly full time study.

At first I was doing the exercises including all topics, and getting frustrated. Now, I am doing just the sections that I am working on.

I know of someone who told me the test was easy but I didn't let that make me underestimate this test especially if I was going to have to pay a couple hundred to just take it. I didn't form an opinion about this cert until I started looking at practice questions and actual exam objectives. Long story short, I will never underestimate something I have to pay for. I really had to work hard to earn mine.
Good luck with the A+!

I think the fact is, that the A+ is mostly just a memory test.
To be honest, all you need to do is buy a decent book, read it, and then take the exams. That's what I did. Someone who is new to IT can quite easily pass the A+ in just a month or two with some decent study material and the professors videos to watch.
Once you get onto the Microsoft certifications, you will understand that the A+ really is just an entry level cert. It may seem to cover a lot, but it doesn't go into much detail at all. After all, this is an IT certification, and IT is a very complex subject with more to learn than anyone could possibly learn in their lifetime!

Although I agree that it is an entry level cert, it has a lot more to it than just memorization. If memorization could teach you to understand exactly how a computer does what it does, then maybe so. There may even be people who take and pass the exam who do nothing but memorize. But in all fairness, I think what people should be focusing on while they study is not just what part does what, but how they fit together and why.

You could put a jigsaw puzzle together just from looking at the picture on the front of the box. But eventually, you should be able to see what the actual picture is, and not just finding where the pieces fit. Same with the A+. I think a lot of people who study for it never quite understand exactly how it is a computer actually functions as a unit.

If you're taking the cert just to have it, and you have other experience to fall back on, then good on you. But if you're taking the cert because you are, or want to become a technician and build, install, troubleshoot and fix computers, then it helps to know more than just what it is that the requirements say. I'd like to think I am learning something more by watching all of the vids, and doing the book, and the practice tests, and flash cards.

I am surprised to see that the test doesn't specifically test out on the basics of how a computer actually works. I guess you should know that as a tech, but back in the days when I needed to take a basic computer course, they started with the history and then worked up to the actual functions of one without all the technical detail. The basic block diagram for people who were just learning how to use one. You don't see many courses that include any of that. An overview of how it all goes together. If I was to name a prerequisite for the A+ course, I would say that that would be a good starting point. So far, in my studies, I haven't seen anyone even touch upon that. I think that it is relevant.

If people understand what this stuff is actually doing, and not just 6400 Mbps a second, then maybe they'd get a better feel of what the exam is really all about.