I am new to the site and have an IT question

Due to my work schedule 7 on 7 off I cant go to a traditional college so I am thinking of taking the Ashworth or Penn Foster route.

I currently work in aviation and I would like to get my IT certification to perhaps work at a help desk or at Best Buy in their geek squad department.

If I take classes from either one of these is it worth it? Can you really walk into an employer and get a job or am I wasting my time?

Should I go to a community college

 

For most entry-level IT jobs like you mentioned certification is going to be important as it shows you can grasp basic concepts and are willing to commit to learning new things. As such, many don't have to go to a college to prepare to pass the A+, Network+, and other entry-level certs. They just grab a book, an old pc, and start learning. If you feel you would need to go to a college, which some people prefer as it gives them an opportunity to bounce questions off the professors, etc., I'd recommend pursuing credits at a regionally accredited institution (like the before-mentioned CC) to make it easier to transfer them later. The schools you mentioned are nationally accredited, and thus transferring earned credits later may be more difficult if not impossible. Good luck in whatever you decide.

 

Thank you for your response

I really have no desire to go to a 4 year college or get my degree I would just like to start a new career in IT and get the certifications. Starting at Best Buy and then maybe moving up to an IT department in a small company. So that being said does the forum think that an Ashworth or a Penn Foster school the way to go?

With my work schedule I work 7on and 7 off so a regular school is out of the question but I have PLENTY of time to study at Work

 

If it were me I'd just self study for entry level certs, then after you gain some experience decide what path you want to specialize in and pursue the relevant certs (MS, Cisco, security, etc.)

Just throwing the community college thing out there because you never know when your needs will change or you may decide that you want or need to go further in school. When I started out I had an AS degree from a nationally accredited school (like Ashworth and Penn Foster), and when I discovered that employers wanted more education I had to start over (with zero credits) at a regionally accredited school because my credits were non-transferrable.

 

In an effort to clarify I'd like to point out that Penn Foster is both NA and RA.

 

yeah, if you have a pc that you can take apart then just play with it and get the A+ and Network+.
That is more than enough to get hired by BestBuy.
If you want a degree then I'd go with Excelsior.edu or cosc.edu
or start with a certificate from a regionally accredited school; a certificate made up of transferable credits; not "adult education courses"

Jamestown, one of the SUNY (State University Of New York) schools offers this one
JCC - Information Technology

but I live in New York so I get the inexpensive state tuition.
You should check out the schools in your state to see which ones offer online classes. Maybe you can earn a certificate.

If you earn a college certificate from an RA school or even take just 1 or 2 courses online, they will be able to be transferred to excelsior or cosc.

Cosc and excelsior will accept CLEP and DANTES exams, so it is possible to fulfill the entire AS degree just by studying on your own and taking tests. No class ever required. At cosc you can get an AS in General Studies, and at excelsior you can get an AS in Liberal Arts.
This is probably the cheapest way to go, and depending on your self discipline, the fastest way to go.

COSC does have some interesting online computer courses, but its better to start off with something less technical, like the A+ (in my opinion)
Computer Security Certificate at Charter Oak State College

excelsior does have an AS degree in computer technology, but I think that requires calculus and advanced programing courses.

you say you currently work in aviation.
Did you server in the military and study aviation technology ?
if you did, then excelsior is definitely the way to go.
You can transfer all your military training into an "AS degree in technology with a focus in aviation technology"

 

Penn Foster's degree programs are only NA. Middle States Associations accredits PF's high school program.

 

Respectfully, I suggest you aim a bit higher than that. Not that it is necessarily wrong to start at the bottom (I did).

If this is what you enjoy, then go for it.

 

Community college is not a bad idea for your first year or so. Eventually, you may find that a University gives you access to better technologies and that specialized degrees that will get you into the niche of IT field you desire. I took some 100 level classes at a community college and all of them transferred to the University when I made the switch. The community college courses are definitely cheaper though so you can save some money that way if you want.

 

Can IT certifications help to secure jobs?

 

It helps make you more competitive for the jobs that are available, but nothing can guarantee you a job, unless your parents own the company.

 

Yes..Nothing can guarantee a job, but I think IT Certs will help a little to get a job..