Cross-Platform
CompTIA designed the Network+ certification as a "vendor neutral" way of measuring the technical competence of networking professionals with "18 to 24 months experience in the IT industry." That last part can probably be ignored. If so many people can be MCSE certified without experience, you can pass the Network+ tests without experience.
This is not a criticism. Just a realistic expectation that people wishing to enter the networking field should not expect many companies to give them an entry-level job in networking and then let them wait one and a half to two years to get a basic foundation certification. Why should they hire somebody with no experience and no certification over somebody who at least has a tough to obtain piece of paper?
Network+ is designed to be foundation from which people can move onward and upward with vendor specific more difficult specifications such as MCSE and CNE. Before Network+, people entering the networking field had to immediately choose between going for one of those major certifications or the other. Now you can learn basic networking theory and practice without having to commit yourself to a major operating system.
CompTIA Network+ Certification
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Standard disclaimer: Whether or not any certification is "worth it" is an individual decision. You alone must decide what your career goals and needs are. Look at certifications from a cost/benefit or Return On Investment (ROI) basis. If they help you get a better paying job or make more money at your current job, they are obviously "worth it." The problem is, there is no real way of measuring how much you can expect your income to go up as a result of any given certification. It also depends on non-related job search skills such as how well you network. |
The vendor-neutral aspect of Network+ is important in an industry defined by the business war over networking software between the older Novell and its CNE certification for NetWare and the newcomer Microsoft and its MCSE certification for NT and now Windows 2000. Plus, Linux has recently made the contest a three player game. Red Hat has introduced its RHCE certification.
Network+ therefore gives the beginner a chance to learn the basics of networking without having to take sides first.
From the listing of test subjects, it is apparent that there is a lot of overlap between Network+ content and the Networking Essentials exam that used to be part of Microsoft's MCSE exam requirements.
I cannot say that Microsoft discontinued the Networking Essentials exam because of the Network+ exam, but I would say that since Networking Essentials is no longer part of the MCSE 2000 exams and coursework, that makes it all the more important for anyone wishing to go into the networking profession but who does not yet know all the basics about TCP/IC, cables etc, should certainly make sure they buy a Network+ textbook and possibly take a class in it -- and make sure they know the material well BEFORE spending the big bucks on an MCSE or CNE. Microsoft does support Network+
This could save you some time and money. If you cannot hack the Network+ requirements, you can forget a networking career, because it only gets harder after that.
Novell accepts Network+ certification in place of its own Networking Technologies exam that is a requirement for its Certified Novell Engineer (CNE) certification.
Intell accepts Network+ in place of its own Technology Essential exam for its Intel Certified Integration Specialist (ICIS), Network Infrastructure Track, and Intel Certified Solutions Consultant (ICSC), Solution Design Track (though you also need A+ certification for this too).
Lotus accepts Network+ toward meeting the networking competency portion of its CLP Domino Messaging Administrator R4 certification.
Therefore, Network+ is widely recognized through the industry itself as indicating good broad basic networking knowledge.
The value of a Network+ certification is not particularly high among employers. There are just too many MCSEs and CNEs running around looking for work. However, you may be able to leverage a Network+ certification into an entry-level Help Desk job, so you can get some experience WHILE you are working on your more advanced certification.
After all, although it's good to first learn the general basics of networking before you learn about the specifics of the software, employers don't use "general software." They have NT or NetWare etc. They need someone who can work with their operating system.
That's why Network+ is a good beginning but only a beginning.
CompTIA stands for The Computer Technology Industry Association, a non-profit organization with the goal of encouraging cooperation within the computer industry. It was formed in 1982. The advantage it had in founding the A+ certification is that certifications to foster a company's own products were not so common years ago. Plus, the most fierce competition is in software and networking, not hardware. Repair of computers is not where the big money is in the IT industry.
You must pass just one test to get your Network+ certification.