Here is the run down, CCNA is overrated but everyone has an A+ out of highschool anymore. Here is the run down i have... A+, N+, MCSE NT4, SQL 7.0, CCNA.. IMO, MCSE's run out too quickly, EG .net stuff is already out. CompTIA is highschool stuff now, Cisco is still so overrated not many people get one thinking they cannot pass the test. When a simple fact is, if you know the terms(DHCP, dnS, TCP/IP and other basic netwroking terms and theroies of operation) you can pass.. Sad to say, but my.02 holds saying CCNA and a MCP will go further in the IT market. maybe a database admin class in college class will help. I graduated college (before MIS was a degree) with a Database annalis & design. Stoneage of the internet, i know but with going on 8 years of IT i know a little bit about certs.