The Time is Now...

Studying for an IT industry certification is not as fun as it may seem.  Many of my friends have certifications (and some don't but should) and they always talk about it like it was cake.

I picked up my first certification manual for CompTIA A+ in 2000.  I will take the tests for this certification next Monday, about 7 years after I began studying.  Since the beginning of this journey, CompTIA has changed the objectives twice.  Once in 2003, and last year.  It's time I bit the bullet and got certified, don't you think?

That's the reason I haven't been blogging lately.  I scheduled these exams last Friday and put my brain to work in a 600-page book that covers the following exam objectives:

A+ Essentials (Exam 640-201):

1. Personal Computer Components
   
2. Laptops and Portable Devices
3. Operating Systems
4. Printers and Scanners
5. Networks
6. Security
7. Safety and Environmental Issues
8. Professionalism and Communication

A+ IT Technician (Exam 640-202):

1. Personal Computer Components
   
2. Laptops and Portable Devices
3. Operating Systems
4. Printers and Scanners
5. Networks
6. Security
7. Safety and Environmental Issues
8. Professionalism and Communication

The overall objectives of both exams are the same, but I'm sure the IT Technician exam is a bit more technically in-depth and focused on actual field support than the Essentials exam.  For instance, the IT Technician exam objectives include performing preventive maintenance on printers and scanners while the Essentials exam stops short of that.

After one certification with CompTIA (they have many, including Network+, Security+, Linux+ and more) I can use the CompTIA logo on my business card and resume.  In college I learned that it sometimes helps to just put a logo on there.  Same for Microsoft, Cisco, and Novell certifications.  Catches their eye.  Although now most large corporations run your resume through a computer to find matches.  Logos don't help when you're being selected by an Intel Processor and a Perl script.

I'll be busy until Monday afternoon.