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Title : Why are IT Certifications important for your IT Career?

In today’s business world, certifications are almost always a must! This is apparent in almost any job posting that you see. Most employers will not consider an applicant if they do not posses a certification, or certifications, that show that the candidate has the required skill set relevant to the job. Certifications allow you to not only advance your skill set, but to make more money! Study your IT exams with CertMagic.com

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CompTIA from the Computing Technology Industry Association has become a significant presence in the industry due to its varied membership which range from manufacturers, developers to Service Providers. The members of Comptia have a lot of access to the IT industry such as industry research, networking and partnering opportunities. Comptia aims to improve industry growth through standards, professional competence, education and business solutions. The initiatives are in major areas within the IT industry which are software services, IT training, public policy, e-commerce, convergent technology and certification for work force development.

Read more on Entry Level CompTIA Certifications To Networking And Security…

Employers always look at a candidate’s credentials, to assess their capability to handle a specific position. The IT/Computer field is highly specialized and employees with specific certifications are in great demand. Some of the credentials related to computer careers are:

- A+ Certification: Comp TIA sponsors A+. This certification proves that the person has the skills and the training to detect computer problems and repair them. This is a simple certification program for new hardware technicians. A+ certification is not based on vendor specifications, though the core necessity of this certificate is Microsoft knowledge of the Windows operating system.

- Accelerated SAP: This certification is supported by SAP AG. This notes that the person is trained to use this skill in more than one category: Accelerated SAP Implementation, Customer Solution Strategy and Continuous Business Improvement.

- ACDT or Apple Certified Desktop Technician: The holder of this certification has the competence to repair and troubleshoot Macintosh desktop systems, such as Power Mac G5 and iMac. They can resolve and identify the common OSX problems and use Apple Service and Support practices and products to repair Apple hardware.

- ACHDS or Apple Certified Help Desk Specialist: This certification indicates that the holder has the OSX core practicality and also has the capability to configure key services, assist end users with essential Mac OSX material and perform basic troubleshooting. This certification provides the technical skills needed by a Mac OSX specialist, who operates a desktop to help or assist Mac OSX users with technical issues.

- ACPT or Apple Certified Portable Technician: This certification holder has the capacity to detect problems and also repair Macintosh portable systems such as PowerBook G4 and iBook. They emphasize identifying and resolving common OSX problems.

- AIS or Advanced Information Security: This certification is used by IT networking and security professionals, who focus on assessing security risk to prevent security breaches. Security University offers this certification and it is a highly developed course that requires expert knowledge of security technologies. This certification is further broken down into two major areas: Anti Hacking Certification and Computer Security Fundamentals.

- CBNT or Certified Broadcast Network Technologist: This certification is designed for people who wish to use the basic networking hardware within broadcast facilities.

- CCDA or Cisco Certified Design Associate: This certification is supported by Cisco and authorizes the holder to demonstrate basic knowledge of network design within the Cisco Infrastructure. This certification also includes the designing routed and switched network involving WAN, LAN and also provides dial access service.

- CCE or Computer Certified Examiner: This credential is designed to authorize professionals in the field of computer forensics.

As the Internet world has grown in an amazing extent during the past two decades, the need for skilled professionals has also increased. IT professionals who attain the above certifications will almost always be gainfully employed.

Read more on Certifications To Consider For Computer-Related Careers…

If a business does not have the right IT team, then they may soon have some serious problems, that is why the Microsoft Certifications are so important to potential employers. The new generation of Microsoft certifications provides a simpler and more targeted framework for IT managers to validate core technical skills, professional skills, advanced skills, and architectural skills. It also provides professionals in the IT industry with a more relevant, flexible, and cost-effective way to showcase their skills.

Technology: Prove core technical skills on Microsoft technologies
The new Technology certifications enable professionals to target specific technologies and distinguish themselves by demonstrating in-depth knowledge and expertise in the broad range of specialized technologies. Microsoft Technology Specialists are consistently capable of implementing, building, troubleshooting, and debugging a particular Microsoft technology.

Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) Certifications

Professional: Professional skills and a proven ability to perform on the job
Professional Series credentials validate a comprehensive set of skills required to be successful on the job. These skills include design, project management, operations management, and planning, and they are contextual to the job role. By validating a more comprehensive set of skills, these credentials give candidates and their hiring managers a reliable indicator of on-the-job performance.

Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) Certification
Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD) Certification

The new Microsoft Certifications exams for .Net are the result of the Microsoft .Net Platform update to .Net Framework version 2.0. Microsoft has changed the way it certifies IT specialists, and most of the new certifications require the candidate to pass 2 Exams for MCTS instead of 1 Exam for MCP or 3 Exams for MCAD.Net (version 1.1) or 5 Exams for MCSD.Net (version 1.1), except for some like, SQL server 2005, and the BizTalk Server 2006 which only require one exam. The Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) certifications enable professionals to target specific technologies and to distinguish themselves by demonstrating in-depth knowledge and expertise in their specialized technologies. An MCTS is consistently capable of implementing, building, troubleshooting, and debugging a particular Microsoft technology.

In the new Microsoft Certification program for .Net, there are specialty certifications for Windows based Application Development (MCTS- .Net Framework Windows Applications), Distributed Application Development (MCTS -. Net Framework Distributed Applications), and Web based Application Development (MCTS – .Net Framework Web Applications). After achieving MCTS Certification, if you would like to acquire more thorough knowledge and higher Certification, then you can also go for MCPD (Microsoft Certified Professional Developer) Certification for .Net, which requires the candidate to pass one more Exam on the Windows/Distributed/Web platform. After achieving MCTS-SQL Server 2005, you can either opt for MCITP (Microsoft Certified IT Professional) as a Database Developer or Database Administrator. Each of these certifications (Developer/Administrator) requires the candidate to pass 2 more Exams.

So, to a degree Microsoft is making it a bit more difficult to get certified, but this can be beneficial to you. First because what you will study to become certified will make you an expert in your field. And secondly, because Microsoft has determined, that IT hiring managers have a difficult time trying to figure out which computer certification best qualifies an IT professional. This new type of certification will help identify the right candidates for a specific are of development-e.g Windows, Distributed, or Web. The new type of certification can help you prove your job skills and prove your qualifications making it easier for hiring managers to make the right choice, based on qualification and not on personal likes and dislikes.

Read more on Different Microsoft Certifications for Programmers and Developers…

Here I am going to give u free guidelines, video tutorials for all this certifications. I am working on that.. Expect the free stuffs soon..

Networking videos

Cisco Networking:

Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO, SEHK: 4333) is a multinational corporation with more than 63,000 employees and annual revenue of US$35 billion as of 2007. Headquartered in San Jose, California, it designs and sells networking and communications technology and services under five brands, namely Cisco, Linksys, WebEx, IronPort, and Scientific Atlanta.

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Information technology is perhaps one of the most profitable careers to embark on. There are tons of jobs available domestic and international. If you are exceptional with computers, then you are to win the high salary, and opportunities for cut backs is also much lower compared to their colleagues. That’s because you have a unique skill set that is portable across industries. It is hard for companies to find someone else to replace them as a good team of employees who possess a computer certification.

Read more on Free Certification Training For an Information Technology Career…

Certifications are becoming a necessary part in the IT industry. They were established to guarantee that IT professionals followed a standard set of rules using a standard set of skills to ensure proper interaction with various areas of IT. Many certifications such as Microsoft, Oracle, and Cisco are developing rapidly in the field of IT.

Read more on Why Should You Get Microsoft and Cisco Certification?…

The US economy is in the throes of a recession accompanied by a dwindling job market. While IT has traditionally been a demand field, it is now experiencing a significant drop in new job opportunities. Many companies have started to outsource jobs to low cost destinations where the cost of labor is cheap.

Companies that continue to hire on-site professionals are looking for employees that are not only qualified in the field but have certifications to confirm their qualifications.

Employers believe that certified employees are more productive on the job, have better customer relations, earn more customer trust and thereby improve the profit margin of the company. In addition, certified professionals can also command higher salaries.

There are well over 400 certifications available in the computer industry. A popular one however, is the Comp TIA A+ certificate. This has the advantage of being an international vendor neutral certification. Yet it is recognized by major hardware and software vendors as well as distributors and resellers.

The Comp TIA A+ certificate verifies that the technician and do such jobs as installation, configuration, diagnosing, preventive maintenance and basic networking.

The original exam consisted of two parts. One tested hardware technologies and concepts while the other covered operating systems and concepts. These two areas are considered to be the basic foundation of technical skills and knowledge required by entry-level workers.

Although the two tests of hardware and operating system concepts have been preserved, the exam has been updated to include additional areas such as security, safety, environmental issues and communications.

Once having passed the Comp TIA A+ exam, one can sit for the Comp TIA A+ 220-602. This confirms a technician’s skill in installation, building, repairing, configuring, troubleshooting, optimizing, diagnosing and preventive maintenance in a field service or enterprise environment. It is highly recommended for those technicians who plan to work in a mobile or corporate environment.

The Comp TIA A+ is part of the certification track for corporations such as Hewlett Packard, Cisco, Novell and Microsoft.

It is also recommended that individuals who have received A+ certification pursue a Microsoft certification for Microsoft Windows since most desktop computers use this system.

There are also many certification opportunities open to entry-level technicians who are working with specific systems. For instance, Sun offers the “Sun Certified Associate for the Java Platform.” This is recommended for entry-level programmers, for students studying to become Java programmers or for program managers working with Java technology.

Sun Java offers various certifications for people working with Java. These are categorized as basic, intermediate and advanced. An example of a basic certificate if the Sun Certified Java Programmer.
The Sun Certified Java Developer is an intermediate certificate for Java developers.

Cisco also has many certifications available, which cover Cisco products as well as Internet working technologies. Cisco certifications cover three levels of proficiency: associate, professional and expert. They have a campus in Silicon Valley.

These companies also offer considerable support to technicians who wish to acquire these certificates.
Sun has pre-assessments on their web site to help a technician determine which courses to enroll in and readiness for exams. In addition, Sun offers free proficiency assessments, practice exams and coaching programs in Java and Solaris.

With the vast amount of opportunities available, any technician who desires certification will have no trouble accomplishing that goal.

Read more on Computer Certifications – the Low End…

The CCIE is the most prestigious credential one can hold in the IT industry. CCIE stands for Cisco Certified Internet Work Expert and the certificate is truly the Rolls Royce of all computer certifications. The CCIE occupies the number one position on various Top Ten Computer Certificate lists.

However, the CCIE is also the most difficult credential to acquire. One has to sit for a grueling exam that is more difficult than the CPA exam or the State Bar of California, which is considered the most difficult of all the states.
The State Bar Exam of California has a pass rate of 48.2%. No other state in the United States has that low a pass rate. By comparison, the CCIE has a pass rate of only 26%. Some examinees attribute some of the difficulty of the exam to the tremendous amount of determination and self-motivation that is required.

However, CCIE holders complain that their achievement garners no respect outside the industry. While mothers brag about their sons and daughters who are lawyers and CPA’s, little is said about the son or daughter with a CCIE. Fortunately, in Silicon Valley it is a different story. A CCIE holder can look forward to an annual salary of about $115,000 or more.

Second on the list of “in demand” certifications is the CISA, which certifies auditors. And there is good news for this group. Auditors are much in demand in a dwindling economy.

Due to phishing, hacking, and spamming, security has become a major issue in the IT industry today.
So security certificates are also in demand. A security certificate that is seen on many “Top Ten” lists is the CCSE. This is a high level security certification for employees who work with check point products and are required to maintain secure VPN’s.

Another security certificate that usually makes the Top Ten is the CISSP or Certified Information Security Specialist. A holder of this certificate can look forward to an excellent salary of around $94,000 annually. Only a few years of experience or education are required to qualify and only one exam needs to be passed.

On the other hand, the PMP or Project Management Professional requires an extensive amount of skill and experience. However, once these requirements have been fulfilled and the exam has been passed, one can expect an annual salary in excess of $100,000.

The holder of a CAPM or Certified Associate in Project Management also earns a high salary. However, one can qualify for this certificate with 1500 hours of work on a team or twenty-three hours of project management education. In addition, the candidate must pass a three hours exam consisting of 150 questions.

The MCSD or Microsoft Certified Solution Developer is another certificate that commands a high salary from $70,000 to $120,000 per year. However, one is expected to have more than just developer skills. One must be knowledgeable in the field of enterprise solutions and Microsoft products and then be able to apply business analysis skills to recommend the best solution for a particular business.

There are many other certificates available that enable people who qualify for them to earn high salaries. A quick search of job sites such as Monster or Dice will reveal those most in demand and the salaries offered.

Read more on Computer Certifications – the High End…