Well, to be honest, there is one thing: the website has been a mess. While the concept for Microsoft Learn is amazing, the execution, at least for a while, has been a shambles.

When I first went looking for a Microsoft Certification last spring (2022), I literally spent hours trying to figure out the web interface and what I needed to do to get the learning required for the certification I was aiming for. In the end, I spent weeks doing coursework, only to realize the course I was working on was incomplete, and some of the tested material wasn’t to be found in the training. It was an incredibly frustrating experience.

Things Have Gotten Better

The good news is that in recent months Microsoft has revamped the site. They’ve made it a lot easier for users to navigate, along with updating a lot of course material! That said, it still takes some time to figure out the structure and navigation of the Microsoft Learn website and courses.

Fortunately, I’m here to help. In the video below, we take a look at the Microsoft Learn website. We look at selecting appropriate courses and how to navigate the course material. Finally, we review some tips for booking and passing the exams.

I’m a huge believer in the value of Microsoft Certifications. Taking the time to get comfortable with the offering and engaging with the training will be time well spent.

Best wishes for huge success in your learning!

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If you are just starting out with the A+, or just want to see the original post, it can be found here: How To Pass The CompTIA A+ Core 1 Exam The FIRST Time

Everything I said in the original video regarding the Core 1 exam still applies when you are looking at the Core 2. I still used the same study materials and processes, but now that I have written the exam, I can see a few things I would change up if I had to do it all over again. All of my study and preparation recommendations can be found in the video below, but I have also summarized them in point form below the video, for those who prefer.

Recommendations for Passing the A+ Core 2 Exam

• There is not much (if any) overlap between the Core 1 and Core 2 exams EXCEPT that you need to remember the ports/protocols you learned studying Core 1. So outside of that, you don’t need to stress about retaining a lot of Core 1 material for this exam.
• Make sure you practice the CLI commands you learn, and not just memorize them. You may well get a Performance-Based Question that requires correct use of CLI commands for completion.
• Know what Group Policy Objects are, what they look like, what they are used for, and how to find them via the Command Line Interface using “gpresult”.
• Know the types of protected data (privacy protection) and the necessary considerations for each.
• Make sure you get down the recommendations for documentation and communication.
• Consider getting training material from more than one source (like Mike Meyers and Professor Messer) for some of these topics (especially Group Policy Objects and documentation and communication)
• Keep in mind, these recommendations are based on the experience I had with my exam, your experience may be different.

A Memorization Tool To Help With Your CompTIA A+ Core 2 Exam

Just like I did with the Core 1 exam, I built a tool to help with many of the memorization aspects of the CompTIA A+ Core 2 exam. It’s now an Excel spreadsheet (so it’s a little different than what is demonstrated in the video, but not significantly so) that I am happy to make available to anyone that would like to make use of it. It worked great for me by allowing me to test myself every day on some of the important details needed to be successful on the Core 2 exam. There’s likely more there than will appear on any given exam, but you never know what will be tested and it’s better to be over prepared than under.

The memory tool can be downloaded via this link: A+ Core 1 and 2 Memory Tool

NOTE: The memory tool was written for the 220-1001 and 220-1002 exams in effect at the time of writing. However, it can be easily modified to add or remove information to align with your current learning needs. You MUST download the file to use it for yourself and make edits. At the bottom left you’ll see two different sheets included – one for the Core 1 material and a second for Core 2.

Instructions for using the tool are in the video starting at the 5:36 mark.

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That said, the question on a lot of minds will be: “How does it stack up against the more popular, and common, Comptia A+ certification?”

The video below will answer this question, giving an overview of the course and content, an idea of where it stands in comparison to Comptia’s offerings, and a discussion of who this course is ideally appropriate for. However, if you are short of time, you’ll also find a summary of the key points below the video, as well.

What Are The Main Points You Need To Know About The Google IT Support Professional Certificate?

• The content is not A+ specific – so it’s not ideal as a prep course for the A+ exam.
• The material is a lot more in-depth than is needed to successfully write the A+ exam.
• A lot of the Google material is covered in Comptia’s Network+ and Security+ programs, which are more intermediate level, and because of the more challenging material, some may find it a bit discouraging if they are just starting out.
• The best use of the course is for getting general knowledge of IT infrastructure (PC hardware, software, networking and security) in a low-cost and no-exams offering, as opposed to looking for employment-ready certification.
• It’s also an excellent way to get your feet wet and see if a career in IT is something you really want to do, as Google spends considerable time discussing the pros and cons of working in IT, different career paths in IT, and much more.
• A potential drawback is that there are no proctored exams, so its value to potential employers is an open question.
• The course is very low cost ($48 Canadian per month when I took it) so it’s a low-risk way to try something new that may be of interest to you.
• The quality of the course material and instruction is very high.

Where To Find More Information

The Google IT Support Professional Certificate program is offered only via online learning through Coursera. More information can be found here: https://www.coursera.org/professional-certificates/google-it-support

Google has further information on the course and their rationale for developing it, which can be found here: Google IT Certificates – Grow with Google

Final Thoughts

This IT training program is an excellent (and very accessible) option for many people looking at either starting a career in IT, or looking to transition from an existing career to IT. I personally received a lot of value from it and I’m glad I took it. However, I would not look at it as a replacement for some of the more common IT certifications out there if your primary focus is to be employment-ready as soon as possible.

The post Should You Take The Google IT Support Professional Certificate Program? appeared first on tektoc.

That said, obtaining the certification can be a little confusing. There are a ton of people and organizations offering training, so it can be hard to really know the most effective way to prepare for the certification exams. Plus, the costs are all over the place. CompTIA itself offers training programs, which may seem at first to be the most obvious way to go. I’m sure the training is excellent, but there are certainly less expensive ways to get the training and exam prep you need. Since most people looking to enter the IT field will be wanting to obtain multiple certifications, saving on costs for each one can really add up and make the process accessible for more people. And the two best ways to save costs are by paying less for training, and making sure you aren’t needing to pay to rewrite exams!

In the video below, I detail the exact process I used to prepare for successfully writing the CompTIA A+ exam on the first try. It’s very budget friendly and explains exactly what’s needed to not only pass the exam on your FIRST attempt, but to also master the material so you can be confident that you have made significant progress in your IT career.

A Memorization Tool To Help With Your CompTIA A+ Core 1 Exam

Like many people, I have a very hard time with anything that involves rote memorization. To help with that, I built a tool to help with many of the memorization aspects of the CompTIA A+ Core 1 and Core 2 exams. It’s now an Excel spreadsheet (so it’s a little different than what is demonstrated in the video, but not significantly so) that I am happy to make available to anyone that would like to make use of it. It worked great for me by allowing me to test myself every day on some of the important details needed to be successful on the A+ Core 1 exam.

The memory tool can be found here: A+ Core 1 and 2 Memory Tool

NOTE: The memory tool was written for the 220-1001 and 220-1002 exams in effect at the time of writing. However, it can be easily modified to add or remove information to align with your current learning needs. You MUST download the file to use it for yourself and make edits. At the bottom left you’ll see two different sheets – one for Core 1 and another for Core 2.

Instructions for using the tool are in the video starting at the 12:25 mark.

If you’re looking to complete the A+ certification yourself, I genuinely hope you find both the video and the memory tool useful, and I wish you all the best in your studies!

The post How To Pass The CompTIA A+ Core 1 Exam The FIRST Time appeared first on tektoc.