Why bother with the A+ certification?

A+ is a beginners cert, it is good for places like best buy or bottom tier service desk. If it presents a challenge to you and you want to learn it then do it, if it is a silly requirement placed on a job you want by people who cannot power on a computer, do it. otherwise i wouldn't waste my time. Personally i don't like to let people know i have that one.

If it's free and you have time, do it. It's good for staying current and as you move up in the certifications, it can help ensure you don't forget those areas when you see them again on future tests. I'm actually looking at attending a Network+ course as a refresher. I don't plan to take the test as I already have the higher level certs. CompTIA has been revising their certifications to make them much more challenging I recently heard. I took Security+ several years ago and it was a joke then. I've heard that's changed. Still, the bottom line is, if you're able to take and pass the higher level DOD 8570 certs, go ahead and get them squared away for your job's sake.

SPC(P) (Join to see) you are talking practical versus instructional. Instructional is for the HR people who have to decide if a candidate gets an interview. Practical is what that person can actually do. If you can't prove it on paper first, not likely to get the chance to prove it. I was fortunate that my boss took a chance after I completed the Microsoft XP certification, now I have been at the same company for coming up on ten years.