I agree that many people can pass an exam but do not have a clue on repairing, configuring or upgrading a system. If you do not have hands on experience, you are in for a big surprise! I have been certified for 10 years as an A+ certified tech. I have studied several other applications but have not taken any other certifications except DCSE - Dell Certified Systems Expert. I do believe "many" of these certifications are about "getting the money", which is the bottom line of these companies. I even had a tech school try to get me to enter their school and take another A+ Certification test for an alleged upgrade. This was after I applied to the school as an instructor!

I have worked with many, many companies doing many, many different things, from installing RAM, to installing networks, working Help Desk, software migration, data transfer, ghosting and many,many other protocols. Hands on is the way to go, even though many companies want the certifications.

Most techs you work with will help you out if you do not know what to do. They will stop and lend a hand, but you had better know a stick of RAM from a hard drive!!! If you don't, you are wasting their time, the company's time and yourown time.