What's the best IT courses to take?

[Devilfish]

Hello everyone, this is my first post here so I'd like to say Hello to you all!

I'm looking to take a few courses on IT to try and get into the industry. I'm currently a technician (electrical/mechanical/engineering) and am being made redundant in July and I would like to get a job in IT.

I'm slightly confused about the levels and what courses are required, I was wondering if some IT engineers out there could offer some help please?

In the coming years, I think my goal is an MCSA certificate. But what do I need to achieve and what courses do I need to do?

I've been on many websites and seen many different courses, would any of these be relevant to my goal?

CompTIA A+® Certification
CompTIA Network+® Certification
Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST) certification

I'm in the UK and would be looking to complete these courses via open learning or home learning.

Any information would be great!

Thank you!

 

[FairDoos]

What computing side do you want to go on there are lots of options for you to choose?

 

[tossy]

Well, If you have ambition to do MCSA certificate, I would suggest you to go with Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST) certification, and for the open learning or home learning concern there are many online tutorials which will help you. I think you can get lot of information in google. Best of luck to your future.

 

[Devilfish]

Thanks for the information guys!

 

[Calibretto]

The A+ cert is always a good place to start. Then you can move onto Microsoft or Cisco certs

 

[DCIScouts]

The Oracle classes wouldn't be bad either considering that a lot of larger corporations use those programs. A+ certification is pretty much the base-level certification to get though, you definitely want to start there. (You'll probably find the classes a waste of time for the most part, though, it will cover a lot of stuff that you probably already know...)

 

[tlarkin]

I suggest you go get your basics. A+, Network+, Security+ and then kind of feel out what you want to do. Basically you will end up in some sort of niche down the road. I am now diving into directory services which is a big deal for large organizations.

Cisco is good too, but Cisco is losing market share and their devices are becoming easier and easier to manage. I can only see down the road they get even easier. Some of the highest paying jobs though are people that manage network equipment for ISPs, those jobs are also jobs that you are always on call, never home, and work a billion hours a week.

 

[Ambushed]

Yeah well, if you have got experience CCNA is good. I am doing my CCNA at the moment, your from the UK? I suggest you to check out these forums (www.certforums.co.uk) Very useful tips.