[quote name='JolietJake']Hey Plume, did you take any classes before getting any certs or did you just get a book and teach yourself? Just wondering, i've already had to take an A+ hardware class for my degree, thinking of taking the optional software class, may just get the book the class uses instead.
And McCain's crowd goes wild....[/quote]
In 2000, I took a week long class for the A+ only because work sent me to Fort Lauderdale in the middle of Feburary. I spent the days in classes pointing out where the text books were incorrect or flat out contradicted themselves and the nights spending my expense budget on alcohol on the beach with co-workers.
I took a course at New Horizons for the MSCE's 70-210 and 70-215 exams (again, because work paid for them). All I took from that was an easier way to split subnets.
Other than that, I have always used MOCs, other text books, home lab set ups, etc. I have always been better at self-teaching, though. Plus, I have been in the industry since the mid 90's, so I have the experience to fall back on, which you can't get from just reading a book.