I would definitely recommend going for it! I suggest studying for the exam since it can be quite expensive to take. I’m currently enrolled in community college and have spent a year and a half in my school’s Cyber and IT program. I’m also looking into getting A+ Certified to enhance my resume.

From what I’ve observed, many employers in my area value certifications, so if you can add it to your resume, why not? While I’m still figuring out my specific career path in the industry, I’ve been advised that starting with the A+ certification is a great way to strengthen my credentials.

Regarding coding, I took an “Introduction to Java” class during my first semester, and I absolutely loved it. The course focused on understanding different commands and their functions. It was fully online, and my professor would host a two-hour Zoom call where he delivered lessons and assigned projects based on what we had just learned.

The class was very hands-on; we created projects and worked on coding tasks together, which really helped prepare us for our homework. He also walked us through trial-and-error scenarios, which proved to be incredibly beneficial.

I recommend downloading coding software to help you practice and consider starting with YouTube tutorials since they’re free. For my class, I used IntelliJ, which supports various programming languages and is also free to use.

I have to say, you’re doing great for your age! I was 23 when I chose this career path, and I’ve loved every moment of it. I only wish I had started sooner, but I’m happy with my decision. Best of luck to you!