Certification or Degree

As many of you know I just obtained my 2 year degree in computer information technology and I have begun working full time as a computer programmer. Now I am at a point in my life where I can not decide what path to take next. One path is to obtain my Bachelors in Computer Programming. The other path is to obtain certificates. For instance, A+ Certification, Computer Security, SQL, Microsoft etc. And after I obtain a few certificates I plan to then continue for my Bachelors. In hopes that obtaining these certificates will help me obtain my degree easier and with fewer classes.

My question to you is, should I go ahead and begin working on my Bachelors. Or work to obtain these certificates that I want.

 

Go for the bachelor degree!! Certificates are great, but a bachelor degree will help you the rest of your life far more when it comes to getting hired against competition.

When I graduated high school, I told myself college isn't for me. So I ended up getting my Associates of Applied Science in aviation Maintenance Technology within two years. Thought to myself, "hmmm, but a bachelor's seems so far away!" I ended up getting a bachelor's in Management with a Minor in Airport Management within another two years. Before I graduated, I told myself, "a masters is a waste of time"... And now I'm 1/3 into my Masters of Aeronautical Science degree with an emphasis in Aviation Management and Aerospace Safety Systems through Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

I'm telling you all of this because I'm proud of my education. At first, it didn't seem to be something I wanted or needed... but it's quite the opposite- It's changed my life around and now I encourage all of my subordinates at work to do the same!

Bottom line... GO FOR IT!

 

go for the bachelors.OJT is still the best though.

 

Degrees. They usually translate into more money than a cert.

 

Get your bachelors degree first while gaining more OJT experience which will then allow you to complete our some certs with reduced studying/classes. Degrees, especially in this area for your field, carry WAY more weight than certs.

 

Bachelors degree. Like others have said it will help you out for the rest of your life. It may be necessary to get certificates for certain jobs, but if you have the bachelor's, I'm willing to guess that the certificates will be a lot easier to obtain. You may even find that the degree will substitute for certifications at some jobs. I think some colleges are able to get certification exam discounts for students.

 

I have A+ already and was working toward MCP for XP before I realized that the certs are all very overrated. A+ will get you a $12 an hour job on Geeksquad, man. My VA counselor finally convinced me to get my ass into college at 34 and I'm now working on a 2 year degree that will include Cisco certs (which from what I've heard are about the only certs anyone even cares about). Everyone I talk to, every where I look in IT, all seem to say the same thing; it's who ya know AND what ya know that count. Certs look pretty and sound impressive to people OUTSIDE of IT. Degrees look prettier to hiring managers and HR. Actually getting a job usually requires demonstrated knowledge and lots of friends on the inside.

Keep working on the degree and talk to everyone you can. Although degrees also depend on what you have a degree in, mind you. My wife has a BS in History. That'll land you an $8 an hour job at Starbucks.

Best of luck. You're ahead of me at least.

 

You need to pick the right certs- but that is the direction I would go if you have a job already.
Degrees are good for theory in the most part. Being a certified (insert system here) engineer is stronger imo...IF that system is used where you work. Getting random stuff or general type certs won't be as helpful.

My dad has been an IT professional for the past 12 years. He started as a copier tech at Xerox, then was a flight engineer for them, then moved to IT. All without a Bachelors. But he is an MSCE with about all the Cisco system certs that exist. He got the job and then proceeded with education that would help him keep it and be valuable to the company.

 

Certs can get outdated and become meaningless after a few years. No one can take a degree away from you.

I am in kind of a weird situation myself. Me and another guy operate a computer consulting company. I have a few certs and no college experience. I have been doing this for over 5 years and found that computers and electronics come very easy to me and I have a natural troubleshooting mind, as well as a strong business sense. With that said though if I were to ever not be able to be here anymore I would have to just go on experience and a couple certs which most likely won’t even get me an interview somewhere.

I am 28 and just now I am looking into going back for a business IT degree. It will be worth more in the long run whether I use it or not.

So... Go for the degree.

 

What you also have to factor in is if you have any aspirations of being a manager. Business mgmt degrees will help there.
You can do whatever you set your mind to do. Degrees and certs just help grease the wheels

 

I agree...bachelor's is by far the best route in the end (assuming you have the funds/aid). I wouldn't count on certs counting as classes, you might get one or two waived, that's probably about it. However, don't neglet your certifications because they are things you can put on your resume that might give you that edge over the competition.

 

Lots of good advice, but keep one thing in mind, without a degree you won't make the first cut for almost any job that you may want later. Jobs are not plentiful, if you are in a job search situation, forced or voluntary, you want to ensure you keep yourself moving up through the hiring process.

Certs may be beneficial AFTER the bachelors cut. I've rarely see a hiring cut that starts with certs though. Both my wife and I both went through the "I have a 2-year degree and plenty of relevant job experience", but do not make any of the interview stages. With a degree on your resume, you make many more. BTW, she is in HR, I am in IT.

This all also assumes that you will work your bachelors while you remain employed! Not a good idea to quit and finish the degree if you are already in the field you want to be in.

 

X2.

 

You already have a job.....and you're gonna need those certificates anyway regardless. Talk to your employer. Ask them what they think you should do.

How long does it take to get these certificates VS how long will it take to get a bachelors degree? It sounds like the certificates are 'short term' - GET THEM.

Take care of the short terms stuff and work on your Bachelors degree for the long haul.

Bachelors degree is nice - BUT - those certificates are directly related to your career and will almost immediately benefit you. Get the certificates done now and work on your degree after that. Certificates are something employers will like to see. Regardless of how lame they may be to some - I can quarentee you - employers like to see it.

Yeah, I have a BA - but I'm certainly not in my career field. I make good money as a Machine Operator, but the department I should've ended up in got laid off, replaced by computers, & sent offshore. So, in a sense....I'm glad.

 

I was going to say certs, but apparently that's more of a Cisco thing. I'm in a Cisco shop, and we pay more for a CCNP CCIE even CCNA than someone with a bachelors in computer science...

 

Is it me or are there alot of IT guys / Taco owners lol???

 

I work for a telecommunications company. 1 person in our dept has a degree. The other 11 of us do not. And you know what? He's been here 2yrs longer than me and I make 20 cents less an hour than he does.
I have certifications out the ying yang (MCSA, MCTS, MCP, CCNA, CCDA, Certified Fiber Optic Tech, NM Journeyman ES7J & ESJ..etc etc) and that's what my company pushes. Since we are partners with Cisco, Alcatel/Lucent, Mitel, Panasonic, Microsoft etc. they like the certs. I have to go to Panasonic phone system training in August and will have another cert.
Then again...there's a very large oil company here that won't even look at you unless you have a degree. You can have all the certs and exp in the world but without that degree your resume goes in the trash.

So it's a tough choice really. I'm all about real world experience. To me a degree means you could stay in school. Now if you can get BOTH a degree and some certs.....you're going to be ahead of the game.

 

Congratulations on getting your AA in CIT.

Does your school have an assistance program that when you get your AA that they provide guaranteed acceptance into a 4 year university ? If so, defintely go for it.

I have been in IT for 18 years now. I have a BA and a MS in Management Information Systems. I also have multiple Microsoft and CompTia certifications. It was until I finished my Masters that six figure salary opportunities opened up for me. I don't know of too many IT jobs out there that you can get into six figures unless your are a CCIE or possess that level of expertise in a specific area.

I would defintely concentrate on your degrees. If you want to get into a management position, you may even want to consider a MBA with a minor in IT security. This is one of the hot positions there are in the IT world.

I am currently looking at other positions right now and the folks that I have interviewed with look at the degrees first. The degrees show how dedicated you are in achieving your personal goals.

Good luck in your endeavours.....