CrysisCore
Baseband Member
- Messages
- 33
When should I start getting computer certifications? Before college, during college, or after college? Do most colleges pay to get certified? Which certification is the easiest to get?
When to get certified?
- Thread starter CrysisCore
- Start date
- Status
Start working on your certifications right now if your in college and taking basic classes such as brush up's in math, english or any other advance remedial classes it'll help.
If you take the A+ and Net+ certification and pass them both, go to your college counselor and mentioned that you really did past the certifcations with proof of a license that is given to you once you pass the test.
If your going for a microcomputer specialist diploma or any other higher IT degree in college it will easily and 80% of most colleges and technical schools will advance you far enough to a class or certification that you haven't gotten yet.
Mostly it will shorten the amount of years or months it will take you to get your degree related to the IT field.
Be warned though you must study for the certications in order to pass them or else you will "NOT" have a very good day or week afterwords you will be more than 300.00 bucks broker before you took the tests.
Last, beware most technical colleges have stopped paying for certifcations do to people failing and scholarship money being wasted on it.
My college Augusta technical college stopped paying for the certifications right before I graduated that really put me in a bad position I am in after 2006.... v_V
If you take the A+ and Net+ certification and pass them both, go to your college counselor and mentioned that you really did past the certifcations with proof of a license that is given to you once you pass the test.
If your going for a microcomputer specialist diploma or any other higher IT degree in college it will easily and 80% of most colleges and technical schools will advance you far enough to a class or certification that you haven't gotten yet.
Mostly it will shorten the amount of years or months it will take you to get your degree related to the IT field.
Be warned though you must study for the certications in order to pass them or else you will "NOT" have a very good day or week afterwords you will be more than 300.00 bucks broker before you took the tests.
Last, beware most technical colleges have stopped paying for certifcations do to people failing and scholarship money being wasted on it.
My college Augusta technical college stopped paying for the certifications right before I graduated that really put me in a bad position I am in after 2006.... v_V
Lexluethar
Fully Optimized
- Messages
- 4,708
- Location
- 127.0.0.1
If you are going to college, get certified during college. Try to make it to where you will have your 'core' certifications (IE A+, Net+ and maybe an operating system certification) by graduation. This will provide the largest advantage as you have an education and proven skills with certificaitons.
Most colleges will not pay for certifications unless it is a trade school like devry or pheonix. 4 year universities will not pay for certifications but may offer a class on it in which you could take the course then take the exam. Your advisor will have that information for you.
Most colleges will not pay for certifications unless it is a trade school like devry or pheonix. 4 year universities will not pay for certifications but may offer a class on it in which you could take the course then take the exam. Your advisor will have that information for you.
CrysisCore
Baseband Member
- Messages
- 33
I'm still a junior in high school right now. Shouldn't I get certifications like A+ before entering college to be able to get a job in the college and include it in my application? Should I consider double major? Is there a list where it shows colleges with good computer programs?
wafflehammer
Fully Optimized
- Messages
- 2,502
- Location
- Logan, WV
Personally if you're going to go to college I would just skip out on certifications.
#1- They only last so many years before you have to retake. Your degree doesn't expire.
#2- Each time you take it cost you $100-300. (Basically the cost of 1 class.)
#3- You will probably learn more in one class than you would learn from studying for a cert.
#4- I'm sure if you're majoring in IT that'll be enough to get you a job on campus doing something with IT (assuming your college of choice even hires students for these type of jobs).
So yea, if you're going to college I'd skip out on the certifications and just focus on your degree.
#1- They only last so many years before you have to retake. Your degree doesn't expire.
#2- Each time you take it cost you $100-300. (Basically the cost of 1 class.)
#3- You will probably learn more in one class than you would learn from studying for a cert.
#4- I'm sure if you're majoring in IT that'll be enough to get you a job on campus doing something with IT (assuming your college of choice even hires students for these type of jobs).
So yea, if you're going to college I'd skip out on the certifications and just focus on your degree.
turcottejustin
Beta member
- Messages
- 1
I disagree with Wafflehammer...nothing personal, just based on personal and professional experience.
I've been working in IT for over 6 years now, since earning my BBA in Computer Information Systems. When I graduated from college, I had no certifications.
In the last 6 years I have earned the A+, Net+, Security+, MCP, MCSA, and MCSE. I have a few other certifications, but nothing really worth mentioning because they are specialized certs.
When I was in college, every tech job or internship I looked at wanted you to have at minimum an A+ just to do depot or bench work.
I studied on my own to get all of the CompTIA certifications that I have, and I have used a boot camp (only after having real world experience) to attain my MCSA and MCSE. I used a company called CED Solutions and they helped me out and got me where I needed to be to pass the exams (a total of 7 in all). They're a good school if anyone is interested in the boot camp experience.
Get your degree, but you can get the CompTIA stuff in your spare time before college, and it will only put you ahead of other applicants for jobs in college. If I had known that before college I would have gone out to get them. I was already working for my high school as a computer tech for high school credit, I should have just gotten the certifications.
*EDIT* My certifications have also done quite a bit for my salary...doubled it in the last 2 years.
I've been working in IT for over 6 years now, since earning my BBA in Computer Information Systems. When I graduated from college, I had no certifications.
In the last 6 years I have earned the A+, Net+, Security+, MCP, MCSA, and MCSE. I have a few other certifications, but nothing really worth mentioning because they are specialized certs.
When I was in college, every tech job or internship I looked at wanted you to have at minimum an A+ just to do depot or bench work.
I studied on my own to get all of the CompTIA certifications that I have, and I have used a boot camp (only after having real world experience) to attain my MCSA and MCSE. I used a company called CED Solutions and they helped me out and got me where I needed to be to pass the exams (a total of 7 in all). They're a good school if anyone is interested in the boot camp experience.
Get your degree, but you can get the CompTIA stuff in your spare time before college, and it will only put you ahead of other applicants for jobs in college. If I had known that before college I would have gone out to get them. I was already working for my high school as a computer tech for high school credit, I should have just gotten the certifications.
*EDIT* My certifications have also done quite a bit for my salary...doubled it in the last 2 years.
- Status
