From time to time friends and fellow techs have asked me “is Comptia A+ worth it?”, and being honest as always, I have to say this certification is a complete waste of time and money. Employers don’t really care if you passed this Mickey Mouse exam. The study or preparation for this exam can be done literally in a day, so that gives you some idea of what you’re going to be dealing with..
Some of the questions are ridiculous like what RAM stands for (Multiple choice too) I am completely serious! These are less than basic computer knowledge type questions that someone who isn’t technical might know. This example is just one of the 90 multiple choice questions that are stuff that an elementary school kid would know.
Some companies like Best Buy with their so called “Geek Squad” will employ based on the A+ Certificate… so beware if you leave your computer at geek squad to be fixed… it could come back fuxed.
To add to the fact that the A+ certification isn’t worth anything, the physical certificate is sent to you with pixelated with graphics from a color dot-matrix printer from early 90’s also the paper is thin and cheap like public toilet paper.
The $300 they ask for Comptia A+ certificate would be far better spent at a community college doing 8 to 12 week courses like CIS105 that has you learn all of the aspects of basic computing. Employers that are looking for entry level and trainee technicians will look at these exams more favorably if they care for what efforts you have made to learn the basics.