I was embarking upon a new journey. I had invested several hundred dollars and was now taking my certification exam. Just over an hour later, I had the great news … I passed!!! was now an official CompTia A+ Certified computer tech. But what does that mean? To most people it means … well, … nothing. If I’m going out to look for a job in the tech support industry, the A+ certification means one thing … I’m a beginner. That’s what it really means. Now, if you get a M$ certification, that’s a different story. There are enough hoops and requirements to jump through that if you get your MCSE (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer), you really know your stuff! Does that mean I don’t know my stuff? Not necessarily, but it does mean that I haven’t taken the time and spent the money to prove it to someone.
However, there are other alternatives. Fore example, I am working on my DCSE (Dell Certified Systems Expert) right now through an online service provider that I am a part of. So what’s the difference. Well, the M$ certification is probably more widely recognized, and, of course, it’s costs a lot more as well. The Dell certification testing is free for me as a member of the aforementioned service provider company, as is the training material. Now this is a certification I can get my head into!
The bottom line in certifications is this: they only mean something if they really are saying something. The CompTia line of certifications are meant to be general certifications, not specializing in any particular brand of hardware or software. That being the case, some people are looking for Microsoft certified people, others are looking for Dell, others may be looking for Cisco, etc. It’s all in what you know the best, and sometimes the generalized guy just might have enough to get the job done all the way around. As a consumer, it’s a good idea to get a provider that is certified, but don’t let that be the be all and end all of your experience.