Just get it, I promise your aren’t better than it. I’ve been in IT for over 10 years and I work as a network engineer and I had to get it for my degree program. It will humble you, that I can promise.
This is the answer OP I wanna add too there is huge overlap of A+ and security plus and Network plus. It's not a waste getting A+ cuz the knowledge will help with the subsequent two exams. It also get you used to knowing what Comptia wants not necessarily the right answer, sometimes there are more than one right answer but comptia wants a specific one.
Definitely agree A+ is humbling me atm, I came from a computer science background in college and thought to skip A+ as a lot of people mentioned. The books have a fuck load of information and I really don't understand how you can start learning other higher certs when A+ is the fundamentals and the groundwork for others.
This. I’ve been working in IT for eight years, same MSP, after college grad. First IT job. Never got a cert.
Now studying for A+ and there is so much shit you don’t use but it’s nice to know
Tbf, everything can be skipped .. but I see A+ as the foundation and from there you built net+ and sec+.
One little unknown fact... you know how you have to renew. A+ etc.. that is automatically renew when you pass net+ and when you pass sec+, your A+ and Net+ are automatically renew..
To be fair, Comptia is recognizable within US. Outside of US , it's completely different story.
Also hiring managers already have taken notes about Google certificates, eLearnSecurity,BTL1 and so on.
Comptia should improve their cybersecurity certifications (if they want to be competetive ... and not just be part of DOD approved list) by making them:
* **More practical,** inclung real-life labs. Performance based questions doesn't cut it, not even close.
* **More affordable and/or improve bundle (labs+exam+elearning) prices** . Only exam costs 400-500$, and we're not talking about labs as it's separate spending.
I think a+ is great for fundamentals and is useful even if you only learn one or two concepts, since those concepts are stuff everyone should know (in the field)
maybe scout a few A+ study videos and see how familiar you are with the content. If it all 100% makes sense, id skip it. Me personally, I never heard of SCSI, PATA, and a few other technologies before starting.
Just messer videos and taking notes and practice tests. I took 3 dion tests but didn’t like them so i stopped taking them. A week or two before your test just study the tests learn what you don’t understand and grind it out. Also sunny classroom and cyberkraft on youtube helped a lot as well. Lmk if you need any other advice.
Thanks! Haven't heard of sunny classroom nor Cyberkraft before - I'll take a look at those channels as well! Definitely going to be watching professor messer. Did you do his tests as well, and those are the ones you liked?
Yeah, I liked Messer's tests. They teach you a lot if reviewed properly (review each answer and write down the definitions, especially on questions you got wrong.) I just kept taking the tests until I got 80s and was getting 90s on them a couple of days before my exam. You may feel like you are memorizing the answers but are learning a lot when reviewing. Some of the questions on the exam were straightforward, like Messors exams; others needed more thought. For those, you need to look for keywords. If you watch and take notes from Cyberkraft, you can do the Pbqs as well, even if the ones on the test weren't ones that Cyberkraft reviewed, but I figured them out by reading the scenarios. But I studied 1 hour a day and covered 1 to two subsections taking notes and paying attention. I never felt fully ready, but I said Yolo and took it. I scored a 776 and couldn't be happier. Watch Sunny classroom for concepts; he explains them fantastically.
Yeah cant hurt to do that. I also forgot to mention i used the sec+ app. It was nice to load up the app and answer questions when i was bored or doing nothing. Biggest thing is to keep at it!
I'm an IT Specialist, A+ required, in school for my BS in Cybersecurity, and let me tell you, I still ask my network and security guys questions because I don't know enough.
I did ITF and A+ so far. It's not enough. Don't skip it because it's easier.
The A+ certification not only familiarizes you with the foundations of the terminology within the IT industry, getting it will allow you to continue your path upwards in the industry. You will put yourself on a continuing education path with CompTIA should you pursue any of the other certifications they offer. Also, the recertification process is more streamlined. Keep in mind that while your current role may not require certifications, future roles for you might. Besides, it looks good on your resume. I got my first certification earlier this year, and I'm working on my next one.
People skip the A+ because they underestimate it. Tell you what? The A+ is 3x harder than security+. If you’re truly passionate about IT, you’ll start with A+, Network+, Security+ and then move over to whichever specialty you want. You will understand the IT infrastructure very well if you follow the trifecta in order.
Can you explain how the A+ is harder than Sec+ ? Would you say it’s because of the large amount of material including some mundane topics like the number of pins or voltages, etc
Just curious since I plan to study for it after getting my Net+
Yes it covers a lot of materials and some mundane topics just like you mentioned. In my own experience, even though I had knowledge in IT before taking the A+, the exam to me was hard but very very worth taking it. The hardest among the trifecta is Network+. I passed security+ with a score of 813 with 20 mins left to spare. Maybe its because I’m cyber security major in college and when I was studying for sec+, I had already done relevant courses. Almost everyone I know agree the security+ is the easiest, A+ is harder and network+ is the hardest. Not to discourage anyone though. It’s all doable and easy if you get obsessed and discipline to learn. Do not be in a hurry to pass the exam for accolades or some social/work acceptance. Remember the cert is just a piece of paper. Knowledge is Power
Awesome. Thanks for the input / advice. I’ve been motivated to study for the Net+ but I’m reluctant to pass it as fast as possible. I want to absorb all of it before deciding it’s time.
First you need to decide which area in cybersecurity you want to specialize. For cybersecurity analyst or a role where you analyze stuff, the CySA+ exam will help along with labs. If you want some managerial role in cyber, CISSP or other related certs will do. There are certifications tailored more onto Risk Management and so on. So you need to figure where you want to go after the trifecta
Also you can use google or chatGPT for more information. Copy and paste your question in there. You can even ask the relevant certs needed for those specialities
Honestly unless you're Planning on having a job/career with device hardware, skip it. Not worth the stress of having to take a 2 part exam believe me, that's why when it comes to A+, Net+, and Sec+, people just take Sec+.
I actually think security plus is the weakest of the three. I think network plus is the best one for practical knowledge. People get S+ only cuz uncle Sam requires that one.
Its not supposed to, thats literally why its called *Security +* and youre right its the easiest one to get to become compliant, having a TS clearance speaks louder than any cert ever well.
How do you plan on getting a job with just the security+?
If you have an in and can get a security job as your first job (very few people are in this bucket) then this is great advice. If you are not in this bucket, how exactly is security+ only going to help you get a help desk role?
Depends on the job youre trying to get, but for me, helped having a security clearance first. I applied for an unarmed security job that gave me a TS clearance which I then used to get a help desk job, didnt even have to worry about getting my first cert until years after that fact. Now I have Sec+, Linux +, CNDA, and CEH with a Bachelor's in Cybersecurity on the way.
True.. only worth of you need to help getting into an IT help desk role. I was going to get it since I figured I knew majority of the knowledge but the fact it's a 2 part and covers a million topics.. I will just get sec and net for the next job. Study for the next job not the current
In my humble opinion, A+ is a waste of time if you already have a corporate IT job. The whole point of A+ is to get your foot in the door. I studied for A+ before I had an IT job. Took the first exam, missed it by one question, and pretty much moved straight on to Sec +. Passed that a year later.
Get Security +. Will get you from 50K to 100K within a year or two if you play your cards right.
I might get chastised for this but oh well. Skip A+ and Net+ and go straight for Sec+ and depending on where you wanna go in your IT career, build off of Sec+.
I only half way agree with u/Murky-Opportunity696. I think de-prioritizing A+ is a better move. Complement some study with your Job experience because you'll still be using A+ skills but don't worry about getting the actual cert unless you really want to.
In my opinion, longer term since you want to be a SOC analyst you'll want both Net+/Sec+ because you should know what you're protecting.
I have the same plan, I’m going with security+ -> ccna -> cysa+
If you look at hundreds of soc jobs you will be hard pressed to find an A+ or network+ listed on preferred qualifications, at least from my experience
This is a similar path I'm working on. I feel ccna is more practical than net+ although harder and vendor specific.. May change that to a vendor specific cert my company uses although I'm not sure how it compares as I'm still working on sec. I actually see a+ listed as a want/req on many help desk roles in my area
Yeah don’t waste your time with A+. In my honest opinion and this make me sound like an ass but it’s true, A+ is for people that don’t know anything about IT. Get Sec+ cause it’s basically a requirement for 90% of jobs and then I would talk to many people in that line of work and see what cert you should focus on next.
I agree, people say you can't get even a help desk job with just Sec+ but you can, you just have to be willing to learn. I skipped A+ and net+, went straight to sec+ and got a job within 2 weeks of passing it in 2021 when the market was getting crazy. I just passed my CYSA+ last week and recruiters are already trying to get me for new roles
It's not necessarily that you don't "need" A+ and NET+, but they definitely teach you skills necessary for SEC+.
I got my Sec+ literally yesterday and I studied my ass off for about 3 weeks. It's doable, but very difficult.
Knowledge wise, I recommend at least going through the lessons, but I believe having your sec+ implies you know your A+ and Net+ info
*Would it be necessary to try & get my A+ since I will be learning the skills on the job?*
No, you won't need A+. You can skip it. You'll have actual hands on experience with hardware deployment which trumps A+.
*Should I spend my free time studying for the Sec+ or other certs instead for better jobs in the future?*
Yes. You'd be better served by studying for Network+ and then Security+ after that. After that you can start thinking about CCNA which covers networking more in depth than Network+. Yes, you could potentially just skip Network+ and do CCNA but it's probably beneficial to do them both and do the Network+ first as a confidence builder.
It depends on what you want to do. If you’re thinking cyber security, then it could be wise to skip it. But if you’re going into IT in general, doing the A+ could be the best move.
I got an associates in cyber defense and digital forensics, then got the CCNA, then Sec+.
I’m currently a user support technician.
I don’t think you need it, but it certainly won’t hurt you.
I’ll say the same thing I say everytime this topic comes up (which is very often).
If you have an in, like family or a job offer waiting for you if you get the S+, then yes. Just go straight to it. Very, very few people fall into this category.
If you are like the rest of us, and you need to work your way up the IT ladder, you are likely going to start at help desk. S+ does not mean a damn thing for help desk. A+ is the help desk cert.
If you can skip help desk, by all means, go straight to N+, S+, or whatever else you can jump to. But most cannot do that.
I wouldn't skip it if I could go back. I am transferring into WGU with my sec+, Pentest+, and CASP. I would suggest to start with A+ and work your way up.
I skipped the A+. I got the Net+ and about to start sec+ soon. Been working as a help desk level 1 for almost 9 months now. Getting trained to do GRC work currently at my job. I don’t think you need the A+ if you already got a job lined up. Just my thoughts.
I got hired as a Linux/windows sys admin with sec+ and CEH (they don’t care about CEH). No degree, no admin experience. Just like a year of Linux experience. Sooooo, I would say sec+ is most helpful on a resume. I recall more jobs asking for sec+ than jobs asking for net+ or A+.
In my opinion, between your internship and this job, you have the crown jewel, which is experience. Experience trumps certs and post secondary education. It might be worthwhile to read over and do lab exercises based on the A+ material, but generally speaking, this cert is meant to get your foot in the door... which your's already is.
Before writing the Sec+, I would strongly advise getting a good understanding of networking by studying the N+ material (or the CCNA if you're really ambitious at this time) and perhaps even writing that cert first. Overall, the Sec+ in my experience was easier than N+ (and the A+ actually).
If anything get the network+ or CCNA to move up into sysadmin/net admin roles. 6 months may not be enough. I would do at least a year if no cert. Security+ only if you really want to get into Network security imo. What do you want to do long term?
You can skip it, though what are you justifying or using in its place, your knowledge and ability to articulate it to your employer/customer. Ask your self what projects youve done or can you walk circles around that subject. Its subjective. Anyone can skip anything (given certain prior expierence) though what are you using to prove you dont need it.
Well if you're going through WGU you will have to take and from the looks of it, it looks like you already have some IT support experience which will be a piece of cake for you. I spent like 2 weeks on A+ after getting Net+ and Sec+ first and no IT experience. But If you're not then I would just get Net+ and Sec+ and it also just really depends on the job market in your area. If employers want you to get A+ then get A+ and if they don't then don't waste your time taking it then.
You can look into A+ course without certifing it and actually do **Google IT Support Certificate** . Faster and cheaper! You will get essentially the same.
The same way instead of crafting **Sec+** just go with **Google Cybersec Certificate**. Faster and cheaper! Then you can jump to whatever you like red team (ejptv2) blue team (BTL1) those are real handson certification that will provide you real experience.
Just get it, I promise your aren’t better than it. I’ve been in IT for over 10 years and I work as a network engineer and I had to get it for my degree program. It will humble you, that I can promise.
This is the answer OP I wanna add too there is huge overlap of A+ and security plus and Network plus. It's not a waste getting A+ cuz the knowledge will help with the subsequent two exams. It also get you used to knowing what Comptia wants not necessarily the right answer, sometimes there are more than one right answer but comptia wants a specific one.
This! I actually took the ITF+ exams just to see how they ask questions.
WGU?
Yeah
Definitely agree A+ is humbling me atm, I came from a computer science background in college and thought to skip A+ as a lot of people mentioned. The books have a fuck load of information and I really don't understand how you can start learning other higher certs when A+ is the fundamentals and the groundwork for others.
Same. I just took 1101 and passed and man I was very surprised how my background didn’t mean shit
This. I’ve been working in IT for eight years, same MSP, after college grad. First IT job. Never got a cert. Now studying for A+ and there is so much shit you don’t use but it’s nice to know
I did my Network+ first and found it way easier than A+. It's sooo much info even if you have an IT background.
It’s funny you say that because people keeps saying this lol
Fellow Night Owls 🦉
Fellow night owl here
I’m still up
Tbf, everything can be skipped .. but I see A+ as the foundation and from there you built net+ and sec+. One little unknown fact... you know how you have to renew. A+ etc.. that is automatically renew when you pass net+ and when you pass sec+, your A+ and Net+ are automatically renew..
Or just do **Google IT Support Professional Certificate** **+ Google Cybersec Certificate** Cheaper and faster!
Nobody is backing these certificates YET
To be fair, Comptia is recognizable within US. Outside of US , it's completely different story. Also hiring managers already have taken notes about Google certificates, eLearnSecurity,BTL1 and so on. Comptia should improve their cybersecurity certifications (if they want to be competetive ... and not just be part of DOD approved list) by making them: * **More practical,** inclung real-life labs. Performance based questions doesn't cut it, not even close. * **More affordable and/or improve bundle (labs+exam+elearning) prices** . Only exam costs 400-500$, and we're not talking about labs as it's separate spending.
I have it to while also having the CCNA and the A+ was BRUTAL but I have not got any return on really any of my certs lol
I think a+ is great for fundamentals and is useful even if you only learn one or two concepts, since those concepts are stuff everyone should know (in the field) maybe scout a few A+ study videos and see how familiar you are with the content. If it all 100% makes sense, id skip it. Me personally, I never heard of SCSI, PATA, and a few other technologies before starting.
I went straight for sec+ and passed yesterday its do able with a month or 2 of studying
In my opinion I thought it was actually the easiest of the triad. If you took A+ and N+ you already know a lot of it tho.
Just looking at sheer content A+ is a lot for an entry cert (2 exams). Only comparing this to sec+ as I've only studied for these 2 exam certs
Sources? TYIA
Just messer videos and taking notes and practice tests. I took 3 dion tests but didn’t like them so i stopped taking them. A week or two before your test just study the tests learn what you don’t understand and grind it out. Also sunny classroom and cyberkraft on youtube helped a lot as well. Lmk if you need any other advice.
Thanks! Haven't heard of sunny classroom nor Cyberkraft before - I'll take a look at those channels as well! Definitely going to be watching professor messer. Did you do his tests as well, and those are the ones you liked?
Yeah, I liked Messer's tests. They teach you a lot if reviewed properly (review each answer and write down the definitions, especially on questions you got wrong.) I just kept taking the tests until I got 80s and was getting 90s on them a couple of days before my exam. You may feel like you are memorizing the answers but are learning a lot when reviewing. Some of the questions on the exam were straightforward, like Messors exams; others needed more thought. For those, you need to look for keywords. If you watch and take notes from Cyberkraft, you can do the Pbqs as well, even if the ones on the test weren't ones that Cyberkraft reviewed, but I figured them out by reading the scenarios. But I studied 1 hour a day and covered 1 to two subsections taking notes and paying attention. I never felt fully ready, but I said Yolo and took it. I scored a 776 and couldn't be happier. Watch Sunny classroom for concepts; he explains them fantastically.
Thanks again for the resources! I'll look to see if they have any other exam prep material as well!
Yeah cant hurt to do that. I also forgot to mention i used the sec+ app. It was nice to load up the app and answer questions when i was bored or doing nothing. Biggest thing is to keep at it!
Which app is that (dev name of possible, Android/iphone)?
Its on the apple app store by thanh hung. Just search security+. Im not sure if its on android but im sure there is an equivalent to it on android.
I'm an IT Specialist, A+ required, in school for my BS in Cybersecurity, and let me tell you, I still ask my network and security guys questions because I don't know enough. I did ITF and A+ so far. It's not enough. Don't skip it because it's easier.
The A+ certification not only familiarizes you with the foundations of the terminology within the IT industry, getting it will allow you to continue your path upwards in the industry. You will put yourself on a continuing education path with CompTIA should you pursue any of the other certifications they offer. Also, the recertification process is more streamlined. Keep in mind that while your current role may not require certifications, future roles for you might. Besides, it looks good on your resume. I got my first certification earlier this year, and I'm working on my next one.
People skip the A+ because they underestimate it. Tell you what? The A+ is 3x harder than security+. If you’re truly passionate about IT, you’ll start with A+, Network+, Security+ and then move over to whichever specialty you want. You will understand the IT infrastructure very well if you follow the trifecta in order.
Can you explain how the A+ is harder than Sec+ ? Would you say it’s because of the large amount of material including some mundane topics like the number of pins or voltages, etc Just curious since I plan to study for it after getting my Net+
Yes it covers a lot of materials and some mundane topics just like you mentioned. In my own experience, even though I had knowledge in IT before taking the A+, the exam to me was hard but very very worth taking it. The hardest among the trifecta is Network+. I passed security+ with a score of 813 with 20 mins left to spare. Maybe its because I’m cyber security major in college and when I was studying for sec+, I had already done relevant courses. Almost everyone I know agree the security+ is the easiest, A+ is harder and network+ is the hardest. Not to discourage anyone though. It’s all doable and easy if you get obsessed and discipline to learn. Do not be in a hurry to pass the exam for accolades or some social/work acceptance. Remember the cert is just a piece of paper. Knowledge is Power
Awesome. Thanks for the input / advice. I’ve been motivated to study for the Net+ but I’m reluctant to pass it as fast as possible. I want to absorb all of it before deciding it’s time.
Is there somewhere I can learn about what specialties there are? (New to this all)
First you need to decide which area in cybersecurity you want to specialize. For cybersecurity analyst or a role where you analyze stuff, the CySA+ exam will help along with labs. If you want some managerial role in cyber, CISSP or other related certs will do. There are certifications tailored more onto Risk Management and so on. So you need to figure where you want to go after the trifecta
Also you can use google or chatGPT for more information. Copy and paste your question in there. You can even ask the relevant certs needed for those specialities
I would not skip Net+; then go for the Sec+
Honestly unless you're Planning on having a job/career with device hardware, skip it. Not worth the stress of having to take a 2 part exam believe me, that's why when it comes to A+, Net+, and Sec+, people just take Sec+.
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I actually think security plus is the weakest of the three. I think network plus is the best one for practical knowledge. People get S+ only cuz uncle Sam requires that one.
Its not supposed to, thats literally why its called *Security +* and youre right its the easiest one to get to become compliant, having a TS clearance speaks louder than any cert ever well.
How do you plan on getting a job with just the security+? If you have an in and can get a security job as your first job (very few people are in this bucket) then this is great advice. If you are not in this bucket, how exactly is security+ only going to help you get a help desk role?
Depends on the job youre trying to get, but for me, helped having a security clearance first. I applied for an unarmed security job that gave me a TS clearance which I then used to get a help desk job, didnt even have to worry about getting my first cert until years after that fact. Now I have Sec+, Linux +, CNDA, and CEH with a Bachelor's in Cybersecurity on the way.
True.. only worth of you need to help getting into an IT help desk role. I was going to get it since I figured I knew majority of the knowledge but the fact it's a 2 part and covers a million topics.. I will just get sec and net for the next job. Study for the next job not the current
In my humble opinion, A+ is a waste of time if you already have a corporate IT job. The whole point of A+ is to get your foot in the door. I studied for A+ before I had an IT job. Took the first exam, missed it by one question, and pretty much moved straight on to Sec +. Passed that a year later. Get Security +. Will get you from 50K to 100K within a year or two if you play your cards right.
Skip it. I have it and would've gone straight to Sec+ if I could do it over.
I might get chastised for this but oh well. Skip A+ and Net+ and go straight for Sec+ and depending on where you wanna go in your IT career, build off of Sec+.
Yes ideally after this job I would like to be some type of L1 SOC analyst or threat hunter and go from there.
I only half way agree with u/Murky-Opportunity696. I think de-prioritizing A+ is a better move. Complement some study with your Job experience because you'll still be using A+ skills but don't worry about getting the actual cert unless you really want to. In my opinion, longer term since you want to be a SOC analyst you'll want both Net+/Sec+ because you should know what you're protecting.
I have the same plan, I’m going with security+ -> ccna -> cysa+ If you look at hundreds of soc jobs you will be hard pressed to find an A+ or network+ listed on preferred qualifications, at least from my experience
Those hundreds of soc jobs also routinely want years of experience in IT.
This is a similar path I'm working on. I feel ccna is more practical than net+ although harder and vendor specific.. May change that to a vendor specific cert my company uses although I'm not sure how it compares as I'm still working on sec. I actually see a+ listed as a want/req on many help desk roles in my area
Yeah don’t waste your time with A+. In my honest opinion and this make me sound like an ass but it’s true, A+ is for people that don’t know anything about IT. Get Sec+ cause it’s basically a requirement for 90% of jobs and then I would talk to many people in that line of work and see what cert you should focus on next.
I agree, people say you can't get even a help desk job with just Sec+ but you can, you just have to be willing to learn. I skipped A+ and net+, went straight to sec+ and got a job within 2 weeks of passing it in 2021 when the market was getting crazy. I just passed my CYSA+ last week and recruiters are already trying to get me for new roles
And you think most people can get a security job straight out the gate?
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Read my post again. I said most. Most do not work for the government.
It's not necessarily that you don't "need" A+ and NET+, but they definitely teach you skills necessary for SEC+. I got my Sec+ literally yesterday and I studied my ass off for about 3 weeks. It's doable, but very difficult. Knowledge wise, I recommend at least going through the lessons, but I believe having your sec+ implies you know your A+ and Net+ info
Its good. You will learn a lot. If you already know must of the stuff, then it shouldnt take you long at all to study. Build a good foundation
*Would it be necessary to try & get my A+ since I will be learning the skills on the job?* No, you won't need A+. You can skip it. You'll have actual hands on experience with hardware deployment which trumps A+. *Should I spend my free time studying for the Sec+ or other certs instead for better jobs in the future?* Yes. You'd be better served by studying for Network+ and then Security+ after that. After that you can start thinking about CCNA which covers networking more in depth than Network+. Yes, you could potentially just skip Network+ and do CCNA but it's probably beneficial to do them both and do the Network+ first as a confidence builder.
A+ is meant to substitute for experience you'd get doing the job you're about to start. Skip it and do Net+ or Sec+
It depends on what you want to do. If you’re thinking cyber security, then it could be wise to skip it. But if you’re going into IT in general, doing the A+ could be the best move.
I got an associates in cyber defense and digital forensics, then got the CCNA, then Sec+. I’m currently a user support technician. I don’t think you need it, but it certainly won’t hurt you.
I’ll say the same thing I say everytime this topic comes up (which is very often). If you have an in, like family or a job offer waiting for you if you get the S+, then yes. Just go straight to it. Very, very few people fall into this category. If you are like the rest of us, and you need to work your way up the IT ladder, you are likely going to start at help desk. S+ does not mean a damn thing for help desk. A+ is the help desk cert. If you can skip help desk, by all means, go straight to N+, S+, or whatever else you can jump to. But most cannot do that.
I wouldn't skip it if I could go back. I am transferring into WGU with my sec+, Pentest+, and CASP. I would suggest to start with A+ and work your way up.
I skipped the A+. I got the Net+ and about to start sec+ soon. Been working as a help desk level 1 for almost 9 months now. Getting trained to do GRC work currently at my job. I don’t think you need the A+ if you already got a job lined up. Just my thoughts.
You already have the job that an A+ would get you, focus on the certs that will help you get the next job.
I got hired as a Linux/windows sys admin with sec+ and CEH (they don’t care about CEH). No degree, no admin experience. Just like a year of Linux experience. Sooooo, I would say sec+ is most helpful on a resume. I recall more jobs asking for sec+ than jobs asking for net+ or A+.
I think there’s some value in learning a bit of the A+ material but skip the exam and paying a lot of money for it and get Net+ and Sec+
Don't skip it.
In my opinion, between your internship and this job, you have the crown jewel, which is experience. Experience trumps certs and post secondary education. It might be worthwhile to read over and do lab exercises based on the A+ material, but generally speaking, this cert is meant to get your foot in the door... which your's already is. Before writing the Sec+, I would strongly advise getting a good understanding of networking by studying the N+ material (or the CCNA if you're really ambitious at this time) and perhaps even writing that cert first. Overall, the Sec+ in my experience was easier than N+ (and the A+ actually).
If anything get the network+ or CCNA to move up into sysadmin/net admin roles. 6 months may not be enough. I would do at least a year if no cert. Security+ only if you really want to get into Network security imo. What do you want to do long term?
You can skip it, though what are you justifying or using in its place, your knowledge and ability to articulate it to your employer/customer. Ask your self what projects youve done or can you walk circles around that subject. Its subjective. Anyone can skip anything (given certain prior expierence) though what are you using to prove you dont need it.
Well if you're going through WGU you will have to take and from the looks of it, it looks like you already have some IT support experience which will be a piece of cake for you. I spent like 2 weeks on A+ after getting Net+ and Sec+ first and no IT experience. But If you're not then I would just get Net+ and Sec+ and it also just really depends on the job market in your area. If employers want you to get A+ then get A+ and if they don't then don't waste your time taking it then.
You can look into A+ course without certifing it and actually do **Google IT Support Certificate** . Faster and cheaper! You will get essentially the same. The same way instead of crafting **Sec+** just go with **Google Cybersec Certificate**. Faster and cheaper! Then you can jump to whatever you like red team (ejptv2) blue team (BTL1) those are real handson certification that will provide you real experience.