Going for A+ next year

[Antallica]

I am going to go for it next year via PC Technicians course. http://www.avonmore.ac.nz

Qualifications:
Towards National Diploma in Computing Level 5 [Support]
AVONMORE Computer Technician's Certificate
A+

The AVONMORE Diploma will be awarded to students completing 64 credits and meeting the required attendance criteria.
Includes: Hardware & software fundamentals,
Troubleshooting, Data security and protection, Using diagnostic software, Install network work stations.

So anyone been to Avonmore or has A+? Tell me what it has enabled you to do in terms of the workforce, cause this is what I plan to do with my career.

Cheers, Ants

[asanthadenz]

omg im going there too nxt year.
but ill be going to the North Shore Branch, what about you

[Antallica]

Whangarei branch, I have heard that it's pretty good, my mate has been doing the same course this year. I must ring him up and see if they are in the technical stuff yet. When they 1st started they were doing bloody Lv2 typing, I was a bit iffy about the course when I heard that. But for $4000 you'd expect them to doin the real stuff by now. But I guy I talked to who did the course told me anyone could do it, it was easy. (he has his A+ now)

I'll give him a ring later on and post back.

[paul rhee]

man.. A+ is nothing to piss about.. and certainly nothing to invest 4g in it.. if you just have a basic knowledge about hardware and able to build a computer by yourself. then you will surly pass hardware one. software exam is a bit more difficult, but give it about a week of study (tons of matarials are around the web) then you will surly pass A+. and spend 4g on MCSE or CCNA.

[Antallica]

Originally posted by paul rhee
man.. A+ is nothing to piss about.. and certainly nothing to invest 4g in it.. if you just have a basic knowledge about hardware and able to build a computer by yourself. then you will surly pass hardware one. software exam is a bit more difficult, but give it about a week of study (tons of matarials are around the web) then you will surly pass A+. and spend 4g on MCSE or CCNA.

hmm..... you have a point there. I would have to take out a loan to pay for it too, seeing as I will be leaving school next year I could possibly try to get a job in one of the local computer shops and learn 1st hand, or go full time at my current job and get money for the A+ test and/or higher qualifications. Yeah I've seen heaps of stuff about A+ on the net, and my mate has books on it as well.

Time for some searching........

What do you suggest I should be looking at atm? (I'll go right to the basics I suppose, need to freshen up my brain)

[Antimatter]

If you have the will to self-study, you're better off getting a couple of books and an old computer and only paying for the exams. I'm sure local computer repair shops would be happy to give you some hands on work experience (and to see what you're made of ;) ). If you are a fast learner and have good communication skills, your chances of getting work are very good... even if your experience is limited.

IMO, for MCSE you're better off getting the study kit, setting up a client-server network with M$ evaluation S/W and learning how to do it hands on.
It's worth more to actually know what you're talking about when you have the cert.

Don't ignore Linux either. Having skills with Linux would be a real bonus when you're looking for work.

[Antallica]

Cheers for that Antimatter. I think going the self learning road is best seeing as a $4g course is out of the question really. It'll be sweet cause the only thing I can do really is stuff around on pc's. I have fully taken apart my old IBM Aptiva and put it back together, it worked to!! hehe :D.
I'll have to get a better pc to muck around on 1st though seeing as '97 tech is old, but still gives me experience on the old crap that used to be around.

[Antimatter]

Messing around with old stuff is the best way to learn. A lot of companies use out of date computers and don't want to update what already works. You could try asking the local PC shop for old dead parts to test out in the Aptiva so you can accustom yourself to hardware caused BSOD problems. You might even find some working stuff as a bonus.
A good book that gives you a lot of the hardware basics is "Upgrading & Repairing PCs", by Scott Mueller.