The A+ is good for entry level, I've been going to school for computers for awhile and studying for the Win2k MCSE recently, but to be honest none of this replaces a college degree in computer information/science or whatever field of study your interested in. If you have the degree and certification you have greater potential. You have to think about all people that have the certifications and what sets you apart from them, I've met a lot of consultants that had mad certs but don't have the troubleshooting skills which is what you really want, and the reason I never really wanted a cert until now was because I felt I didn't need it I know what I know from "actually doing it" not memorizing the questions and answers. But I've come to realize that having a certification can help you out in your career and you can learn a lot.
For independent study you can reserve your spot to take a test with
www.prometric.com or
www.vue.com
I would suggest setting up your own (computer) lab at home if you don't have one already with some old beat up machines and installing all the software you need to study for. There are mad study guides online for you to practise with. If you need further assistance respond to this post I can email you certification e-books that I have on the major tests, such as A+, CCNA, MCSE, Network +, etc.
