Prioritizing certificates

[lucid]

I'm feeling very overwhelmed at this point. Currently, I'm in school attempting to achieve my Network Specialist Certificate(Network Security Associates without all the random bullshit required classes). Now, there's three classes that I take which are meant to prepare me for the certs.

Network Essentials - Prepares for the Network+ Cert
Certified Ethical Hacker - Prepares for the CEH cert
Security+ Prep - Take a guess

Now I've already completed the Network Essentials class. I'd have to get the actual certificate on my own at a testing facility, so I don't have the Network+ cert yet because as soon as I finished the class I had to start other ones, so I've had no time to prepare for the Network+ cert yet. Obviously none of these classes will actually award me with the real certs. I have to get those on my own time.

I'll get to the point. I want to get CCNA certified at the very very least. I would also be interested in getting CEH certified, despite the fact that so many of you talk shit about Certified Ethical Hacker courses. On top of that I had hoped to get my Net+ and Sec+ certs as well. As I've said I'm feeling very overwhelmed, and I feel that I have to time to achieve any of these certs because as soon as the class is over I have to start another class and at this point it feels like I'm never going to get certified in anything. So here's my questions:

I know some of you here are CCNA certified. I'm interested to know how long it took you to get said certificate. How long did you study for it? What materials did you use?

And my most important question at the moment: Should I bother trying to get the Net+ or Sec+ certificates if I plan to get CCNA certified? I'm under the impression that being Net+ certified and CCNA certified is somewhat redundant.

[RedBullAddicted]

Hi Lucid,

tbh I am around the networking world for quite some time now and I have never met someone with a Net+ Certificate. Not sure if this is something regional but it seems that this cert means nothing were I live. Everyone I have ever worked with had at least a CCNA certificate and it is a very well known and respected cert. As for learning for it I can't be of great help I think. My CCNA certification is a long time ago and it was a bit more easy to get it these days Basically I needed to get certs for the company I was working with. I always got a 5 days preparation course and on the last day you took the test. All these courses require that you have been working with the vendors equipment for at least two years. When you take a look at what you need to know for the cert you will agree with me that 5 days are not enough to learn all of it when you never had any contact with it before.

So my advice.. focus on the CCNA Certificate and forget about that Net+ stuff. There are exam preparation guides available from cisco press which are very good. Try to get some sample tests from visual cert exam and see if you are able to answer the questions. If you can't go on learning until you feel comfortable with the different topics. If you need help understanding something feel free to contact me.

[lucid]

Thanks for the response. I think it might be a regional thing because I've heard of people having the Net+ cert and the Sec+ cert where I'm from.

You have a good point. CCNA is highly respected, so I see no reason why I would need to get my CompTIA Network+ cert if the CCNA covers the same material but more in depth. As for the Security+... well, it is strongly recommended to have received that cert before trying to achieve the CEH cert.

So I think I have it figured out. During the last semester of my schooling(beginning of 2014) I take the Security+ prep class, so as soon as I finish the class I'll set up a time to get my Security+ certificate, and then I'll start working towards either the CCNA next, or the CEH. Then whatever one I didn't get will be the last one I go for. I see no need for any other certificates really. Unless I feel like going for the CCNP... which is a different story.