There are so many “computer companies” and now chain stores that offer IT Services. How do you know that the technician is competent to work on your system? How do you know the computer course you just signed up for has a competent instructor? This article is to help you, the consumer, know what some necessary certifications are and how they impact you and your computer.
The most basic certification for computer repair is the COMPTIA A+. This certification requires the candidate (technician) take two in depth exams. These exams cover hardware and all of the components inside your computer, basic operating systems and optional customer service. When the candidate has passed both exams they receive a certificate and wallet card showing they are certified. Please do not assume every computer repair shop or chain store technician is certified. I went into one of the chain stores where the manager did not know me. I questioned him as to if his computer repair technicians were A+ certified, and he replied, “No, any kid can replace a power supply”. When asked how their technician would know if it was the power supply causing the problem, he responded, "Who decides that?" Then shrugged his shoulders and walked away. Make sure you ask. Ask to see the technician’s A+ certification wallet card. Any technician that goes through the expense and the grueling exams will happily pull out their card.
The next on the certification list for PC troubleshooting is the MCP (Microsoft Certified Professional). This requires one exam that is based on an operating system in great detail. This exam is administered by Microsoft and again, the individual after passing the exam gets a certificate and wallet card. The MCP is really a base exam to build higher certifications on. This is the base exam for the Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST). To obtain the Certified Desktop Support Technician there is a second exam specialized for Certified Desktop Support Technician in addition to the MCP exam. The Certified Desktop Support Technician is the IT technician that would receive your computer related phone calls, chats or emails. Larger organizations require their Help Desk Technicians to have this certification. You, the consumer, have to rely on the company to decide to have their Help Desk Technicians be certified or not. One way to tell if they are or aren’t certified is if when they speak to you they seem to be reading from a “script” of steps to take and you ask a question “outside” their script they are lost for an answer and seem to sidestep your question.
The last certification that would impact the average consumer would be the Certified Master Instructor. If you sign up for an IT course at one of the growing Computer Training Centers, ask if the instructor you have is a Certified Master Instructor. To receive this certification the instructor must have taught for two years and have passed all of the expert exams (not basic) offered for each application. There are many “Learning Centers” that do not have Master Instructors or only have one to qualify to be a Learning Center. This does not mean your instructor is a Master Instructor. Again, a Master Instructor receives a certificate and wallet card. Make sure you ask! This is important so you know the instructor that is teaching you is fully competent in what they are teaching and that they also know how the applications interact with each other and the operating system.
Another good way to go learning about a company, is to see if they are listed on the Better Business Bureau.
There you can see their rating, and information on the business, including contact info, complaints, etc.
Another good way to go learning about a company, is to see if they are listed on the Better Business Bureau.
There you can see their rating, and information on the business, including contact info, complaints, etc.
There are many other certifications available besides the ones mentioned in this article. These certifications are more for businesses. The ones mentioned in this article are important to the everyday consumer. What this all comes down to is for you, the consumer, to know what you are getting. I do not know of one certified individual that went through any of the certification processes I mentioned that would not happily pull out their wallet card to show you their certifications if you asked. I have a wallet full and I know I wouldn’t mind. Be sure to always ask!
© Dawn Scardella
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