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if you can't goto college now then i (like some others) would suggest going with certifications. check out  www (dot) comptia (dot) org and look up the certs there such A+ Network + and Linux+ these are not vendor specific. Yet Linux+ is the basic.

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CompTIA qualifications are good for introducing you to Compter hardware, yet i think employers would rather something like Microsoft Qualifiocations to get you a real job in IT

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Once you get that you might want to check out LPI (linux professional institute)  lpi (dot) org and they aren't vendor specific. Once you get the Network + then you can move on to ccna then ccnp (cisco certified network associate / professional)  cisco (dot) netacad (dot) net but you will have to requalify for cisco every few years.

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Cisco Qualifications are good if you intend in going into networking, and designing network arcetecture

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This is different with comptia because you are qualified for life but its in your best interest to reread the new material every few years or when a new test exams comes out for it. Also the microsoft side for certifications are also good. i don't know much about them because i'm tired of microsoft and their terror (ohh nooosss) but i know that for a certain certification in microsoft you will need some electives and comptia certifications will count as them.

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it looks like alot of work and it is but when you go through the qualifications then its worth it because it will show the employer that you are willing to study on your own and have the drive to succeed in life.

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This Is very true, and is the way i got my current job

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also if you get a job working with information technology then some companies will pay for your certifications. you might have to explain why you want the certification if it is for personal reasons and they might reimburse you if you spend your own money on certifications.

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This is pretty rare, but possible.

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there are alot of people that didn't goto college and got into information technology with certifications and some without but its great if you can do it over a period of time and it is awsome if you can work on the certifications in college. I don't have alot of  experience in information technology but i've done some research and what i just told you now is mostly what i know. i'm also going for the comptia exams that i listed in this post and the ccna then maybe the ccnp. if you are going to buy the books  for the comptia then i suggest amazon.com. this is where i got my a+ network+ and linux+ books. i got screwed on the network+ book because it was supposd to come with a cd and it didn't. the mike meyers a+ book is really good. you will save alot on these books because in the stores its like fifty dollars per book for comptia certifcations. then for the cisco stuff, if you can then try to find a cisco academy around you. this will be best because you will be signed up for cisco.netacad.net and you can keep your account for a while. i still have mine after atleast two years. if you are in highschool for cisco then its free. if you are in highschool and can dual enroll into a college that has cisco then your school should pay for the course but not the books and materials. if the highschool wont pay for it then you should get a discount price for tuition becaues of dual enrollment. yet if you can't get the course then check out amazon for the ccna ccnp books. also if you have the money get the routers, switches, a few computers, and the other tools you need for a cisco lab.

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books are a great way to learn if you intend on teacching yourself, personally i looked at myself and realised i wouldnt have the motivation to keep up a good pace of learning, thus i enrolled on a classroom based course. I would reccomend you look carfully at yourself and figure out how you learn best. Another thing is to use free resources, Microsft Technet will tell you EVERYTHING you need to know for ANY microsoft exam. you just have to get the exam objectives and find teh articals on them. personally i use it as an additional resource for revision.

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people might suggest an emulator but its best you buy the equipment because for the physical feel for it. it'll be alot better for learning. check out http://www.(dot) ciscokits (dot) com/ it might be more expensive than ebay but youll be more better off with this site because you can buy a router off of ebay and the ios is messed up or the hardware is messed. also superkiwi is correct. volunteer! even try to build your own system with dual boot windows and linux and network up a few computers.

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Personally i would say an emulator is fine, i have completed A+, N+ And MIcrosoft 70-270, 70-290, 70-291 (MCSA) all using Microsft virtual PC 2007. i've have no troubles at all.

ManicD

ECDL
CompTIA A+
CompTIA N+
Microsoft Certified Systems Adminstrator

Post edited at 7:37 am on May 1, 2008 by ManicD

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I touched the sky, then gave it away to make the world a lil better
LiveWire History Group
Not allowed to say lesbian anymore, Its women in comfortable shoes

also

i've had trouble with microsoft virtual pc and linux. it just doesn't like the free stuff lol