How old do you have to be to get A+ Certified?

I don't think there is an age requirement. Try looking at comptia.com

Is there a reason you need to be A+ certified? I've always thought of this as the least useful certification. Not really worth the money for the test unless you are looking at some job that flat out requires it. Not that I could pass it....there are some really detailed questions that require knowledge you may never need. Most cert tests are like that though.

I personally have my A+ certification. There is no age limit for taking the certification. I highly suggest that you study up on the software portion before going to take the test as the tests are rather expensive and the software test can be a bit on the difficult side.

Quote: Originally Posted by grue Is there a reason you need to be A+ certified? I've always thought of this as the least useful certification. Not really worth the money for the test unless you are looking at some job that flat out requires it. Not that I could pass it....there are some really detailed questions that require knowledge you may never need. Most cert tests are like that though.

Not right now at least, but I would like to get certified eventually.

i got mine right after I graduated highschool when i was 18

Just remember one thing. The A+ Certification does expire. This means that you will have to go renew it every so often. So I would suggest that you get it shortly before you actually need it for a job or college credit. Many colleges offer college credit for various certifications, but not all... check with the college that you plan on attending what their policy is on giving credit for certifications.

Quote: Originally Posted by ariesjj Just remember one thing. The A+ Certification does expire. This means that you will have to go renew it every so often. So I would suggest that you get it shortly before you actually need it for a job or college credit. Many colleges offer college credit for various certifications, but not all... check with the college that you plan on attending what their policy is on giving credit for certifications.

That's a big negative there ghostrider.... None of the Comptia certifications expire.

http://www.comptia.org/certification...qs.aspx?id=213

Quote: Originally Posted by FeRaL That's a big negative there ghostrider.... None of the Comptia certifications expire. http://www.comptia.org/certification...qs.aspx?id=213

Hrmm.. was informed differently, my mistake though. But think about this... would you want someone who was certified A+ in 1996 working on your new dual core rig? Or would you rather someone who was certified in 2006? I've seen how much has changed on the test just in the past 4 years and it's sickening. They may not expire according to CompTIA, but I would rather trust someone who received their cert that covered recent and decently up to date technology.

Oh I hear you ariesjj, but look at it this way too... Any tech who is worth his salt will also have keep up with the newer technologies and softwares.

I'd have to agree with both FeRaL and ariesjj here, but ariesjj makes a good point....most of the people I've known who were A+ did so just a filler for a job and fell out of practice after getting the job. The techs I've worked with At BestBuy in the Geek Squad were all A+ but after seeing the way they worked on computers You'd begin to wonder about their intelligence and their certification.

Geek Squad Member: Why does this Ram Stick not work anymore, ten minutes ago it booted into windows fine?

Wellmont the Barbarian: Well considering that you removed it from the computer without grounding yourself or taking precautions against ESD after walking barefoot across this carpeted area in silk socks we might reach a good assumption as to why it doesn't boot properly now.

Quote: Originally Posted by Wellmont I'd have to agree with both FeRaL and ariesjj here, but ariesjj makes a good point....most of the people I've known who were A+ did so just a filler for a job and fell out of practice after getting the job. The techs I've worked with At BestBuy in the Geek Squad were all A+ but after seeing the way they worked on computers You'd begin to wonder about their intelligence and their certification. Geek Squad Member: Why does this Ram Stick not work anymore, ten minutes ago it booted into windows fine? Wellmont the Barbarian: Well considering that you removed it from the computer without grounding yourself or taking precautions against ESD after walking barefoot across this carpeted area in silk socks we might reach a good assumption as to why it doesn't boot properly now.

I would disagree with you. Being a Geek Squad Agent in Precinct 940 your knowledge has to be pretty update. We do have a few guys that are learning but they usually do not last long. We weed out the ones who do not know or do not learn. Each agent has thier own speciality and usually we try to use them for that purpose.Now I am not saying all precincts are this way , but fortunatly ours is. One has to prove themselves or they will be moved to the sales floor.Now i am not saying I know everything or am the best, but I use what I do know to the precincts advantage. I am just about the only one that messes with hardware. Most of our guys are software and virius techs.

Quote: Originally Posted by Wellmont I'd have to agree with both FeRaL and ariesjj here, but ariesjj makes a good point....most of the people I've known who were A+ did so just a filler for a job and fell out of practice after getting the job. The techs I've worked with At BestBuy in the Geek Squad were all A+ but after seeing the way they worked on computers You'd begin to wonder about their intelligence and their certification. Geek Squad Member: Why does this Ram Stick not work anymore, ten minutes ago it booted into windows fine? Wellmont the Barbarian: Well considering that you removed it from the computer without grounding yourself or taking precautions against ESD after walking barefoot across this carpeted area in silk socks we might reach a good assumption as to why it doesn't boot properly now.

i used to work at "fry's" (outpost.com retail) about 5 years ago as a tech, and believe me ..... the A+ cert. is good only if you're looking for a job at either Best Buy, CompUsa, and Fry's ..... during my time there 4 people transfered from BB, 1 moved to CompUsa, and 3 people just plain LEFT .... im not generalizing here but sometimes the A+ "TECH" would be faced with common problems and by all means he tried to solve everything using his "handbook" .... if it wasnt listed there, he'd be just standing waiting for an upper tech's opinion on what to do next ....
5 years, and 2 jobs later ..... i have finally achieved the "IT Manager" title, thus i've visited my good ol' coworkers a few times here and there and to my surprise, the elder are still struggling in the same way as the noobs did before .... (new tech, new issues they say) ... and of course, the new noobs are up to date but with the same "if is not on my book i can't fix it" attitude ....
my A+ cert. expired precisely 5 years ago and to this date i have yet to renew it, altho im still wondering "WHY ? " (most employers are aware of this issue, experience is more preferable than certifications)

( same goes to cable/dsl installation techs.... darn A+ cert n00bs )

Ah, someone who works there! I tried getting to work instore at my local BB but they weren't hiring, With my killer (ha.) qualifications (A+, Net+, Win2k MCP), I'm pissed I haven't heard back since like Sept. I've heard stories how people who are real techies, having to fall into procedure that just rapes customers like I know someone who said they couldn't get their printer to work, and they went to GS and they said "Oh you have virus, spyware, is your problem" and proceded to raid the man's wallet. But mostly, what's starting wages?

Quote: Originally Posted by ncgchlct How old do you have to be to get A+ Certified?

Missed first question, I got my Net+ when I was 15.

Starting wages for GS agents in my precinct are around 10.50 hr, DA are around 14hr, and Precincts deputies are around 17.00hr.Experience is defently looked upon more for positions than certs.However if you are A+ it is a 1.00 mor an hour than if you do not.We have a few guys with 4 yea degrees but only 2 with A+ certs. inclucing myself.But GS will pay for your A+ if you want it and they pay a lot of your college degree if you want to go for it.

Quote: Originally Posted by chef7734 ... and they pay a lot of your college degree if you want to go for it.

That's what I like to hear!

And about experience, I had 2 years experience running my own competitive service, with one of my most satifisfied and regular customers down as a refrence.

Quote: Originally Posted by the _klamper my A+ cert. expired precisely 5 years ago

According to the link FeRaL posted (and every other place I have read) the A+ certification never expires. How did your certification expire? The rest of the debating is most interesting to me, as I have no idea. I have never had a formal job working with computers, but this expiration subject is of great interest to me.

Quote: Originally Posted by ncgchlct How old do you have to be to get A+ Certified?

no age requirements... im 16 and am about to get certified.... its hard though, make sure you study and take many practice tests considering the test is like 230 bucks a pop

Quote: Originally Posted by WrathOfSocrus According to the link FeRaL posted (and every other place I have read) the A+ certification never expires. How did your certification expire? The rest of the debating is most interesting to me, as I have no idea. I have never had a formal job working with computers, but this expiration subject is of great interest to me.

is not really that the cert. has a due date (kinda like milk cartons do) by "expire" i mean "keeping the knowledge up to date" ........
imagine you got certified for cisco systems and networks years ago, now pretend cisco closed up 2 years ago, but no other company adopted cisco's technology .... that prettty much makes your cert. expire since the company is gone and your learnings dont apply to any of the current technology .