More on Certification!

Tim Jacks

Why certification?• Why?• Overcome lack of experience• Differentiate yourself• Shows commitment • Salary?

• Why not?• Cost• Some stigma

• “paper cert”• “alphabet soup”

The Vision for SIUE

Background

Testout productshttp://www.testout.com/home/it-certification-training/labsim-certification-training/routing-and-switching-pro

Discount codeThe following information is for students who would like to order their training courses for $89.00 ($125 for the PC Pro course) direct from TestOut Corp. Please go to www.testout.com and enter (14-297TA) in the “Enter Promotion Code” box on the home page and press enter.  There are a couple key points we require in before we can validate the order. One, your school name must match exactly the way we have it in our system, which is "Southern Illinois University Edwardsville."  Two, a teacher name must be included, though it does not matter how you type their name.  During the checkout process a default is set to grant immediate online access.  An email with download instructions which will be provided as soon as your order has been finalized.  Please follow this link Getting Started Guide - Students  for complete setup instructions, and how to find the class name in LabSim.

Testout vs. COMP-TIA• Same but different• Network Pro maps to Network+• Security Pro maps to Security+, etc.

Why Testout?• Interactive labs!

• Configure iPad Security• Install and Configure WAP/Firewall• Create a DMZ• Configure NAT on a device• Harden a switch/router• Configure VLANs

• Great vendor!• Great reporting!

• Examples of reporting

Demo• Show video on lab simulation (first 2 minutes)

Testout’s guarantee• Need to read the fine print:• http://

www.testout.com/home/it-certification-training/purchasing/it-professional-purchasing/exam-pass-guarantee

• http://www.testout.com/home/it-certification-training/purchasing/it-professional-purchasing/money-back-guarantee

Re-take policy• http://

www.testout.com/home/certification/pro-certification-retake-policy-and-instructions

• $39

Why COMP-TIA vs. others?• Vendor agnostic• Your company should pay for more product-specific

training!

A note on Security Pro• “Security+ opens doors”• “Best $250 you can invest in yourself”• “Gatekeeper for DOD 8570”

• Not just Security+ exam but also (ISC)2’s SSCP exam!

Testing center• Convenient test site in Granite City: http://

www.roe41.org/index.php/services/testing-center• 1314 Niedringhaus Avenue, Granite City, IL 62040

Not just COMP-TIA• Microsoft

• https://www.microsoft.com/learning/en-us/certification-overview.aspx

• Cisco• http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/certifications/index.html

It’s free to try!• If you’re not in a class that uses Testout, go ahead and

sign up and try it yourself!

Career tips• “studying for ….”• Ask in the interview • Use AITP site• http://www.aitp.org/?page=RHTresources

Questions